Metabolic Engineering of C. thermocellum to improve ethanol production

• Grant number: 25/13532-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: October 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2027
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Daniel Groban Olson
• Grantee: Isabela Uematsu Zambello
• Host Institution: Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética (CBMEG). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 18/25682-0 - Advanced second generation biofuels laboratory, AP.BIOEN.SPEC

Abstract

Clostridium thermocellum exhibits lignocellulose-deconstruction capability, significantly higher than commercial cellulase preparations. However, achieving commercially viable ethanol titers and yields requires enhanced metabolic engineering to combine this native deconstruction ability with efficient ethanol production. This postdoctoral project focuses on engineering C. thermocellum strains for higher ethanol output. The main goals include: (1) identifying thermophilic glycerol production pathways based on homology to genes from Clostridium acetobutylicum through bioinformatic analysis, HPLC screening, and enzymatic assays; (2) functionally expressing these pathways in C. thermocellum and confirming glycerol production; and (3) deleting the triose phosphate isomerase (tpi) gene to redirect half of the glycolytic flux toward glycerol synthesis, helping to elucidate carbon balance and redox effects. This integrative strategy aims to develop robust microbial platforms to produce advanced biofuels.