Cell-free ethanol biosynthesis: a new approach to fermentation optimization by S. cerevisiae in different biomasses

• Grant number: 24/07454-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: September 01, 2024
• End date: August 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Gonçalo Amarante Guimarães Pereira
• Grantee: Brenda Cristina de Souza
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biologia (IB). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Technological advances in bioethanol production have been driven by the search for renewable energies in the face of climate change, both for expanding its traditional application and for its use in advanced fuels (ethanol to jet) or in hybrid vehicles. In this scenario, other biomass sources beyond sugarcane - such as those experiencing rapid growth in the country (corn), or with enormous energy potential in semi-arid regions (agave) - have been explored to meet this demand. Advanced strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, with optimized metabolism through genetic engineering and suitable fitness, have been widely employed commercially. However, known trade-offs arising from the use of heterologous pathways for the consumption of carbohydrates not naturally metabolized by this yeast, or the susceptibility of this microorganism to the recalcitrance of some biomass, inhibit optimal fermentation yields necessary for the advancement of profitable biorefineries. In this sense, the use of cell-free technology emerges as a viable alternative since the maintenance of cellular homeostasis, competition for carbon and energy, and membrane transport can be overcome in a cell-free system. The optimization of ethanol biosynthesis from different substrates can be easily applied through in vitro metabolic engineering, bypassing cellular complexities. Thus, this project aims to use this still underexplored technology to expand knowledge for use in the bioethanol production chain. (AU)