Manipulating Fermentation Pathways in the Hyperthermophilic Archaeon <i>Pyrococcus furiosus</i> for Ethanol Production up to 95°C Driven by Carbon Monoxide Oxidation
Gina L. Lipscomb, Alexander T. Crowley, Diep M.N. Nguyen, Matthew W. Keller, Hailey C. O’Quinn, Tania N. N. Tanwee, Jason L. Vailionis, Ke Zhang, Ying Zhang, Robert M. Kelly, Michael W. W. Adams
Abstract
Previously, the highest temperature for biological ethanol production was 85°C. Here, we have engineered ethanol production at 95°C by the hyperthermophilic archaeon Pyrococcus furiosus. Using mutant strains, we showed that ethanol production occurs by different pathways at 75°C and 95°C. In addition, by heterologous expression of a carbon monoxide dehydrogenase complex, ethanol production by this organism was driven by the oxidation of carbon monoxide. A genome reconstruction model for P. furiosus was developed to guide metabolic engineering strategies and understand outcomes.