While it is difficult to elucidate how differences

in “malate shunt” genes affect end-product synthesis patterns by comparing reported yields, eliminating MDH has been shown to increase lactate and ethanol production, and decrease acetate production in C. cellulolyticum[78]. The elimination of this transhydrogenation pathway may increase NADH:NAD+ ratios for reduced end-product synthesis and reduce NADPH:NADP+ ratios for biosynthesis. While presence of LDH is not a good predictor of lactate yields, LDH, when activated, diverts reducing equivalents away from H2 and ethanol. In contrast to PFL, eFT508 clinical trial PFOR and PDH produce additional reducing equivalents (reduced Fd and NADH, respectively), and thus promote reduced end-product synthesis. Organisms that do not encode pfl generally produce more ethanol and H2 (based on sum redox value) compared to those that do encode pfl. Of the organisms surveyed, those that did not encode (or express) both adhE and aldH produced near-maximal H2 yields and little to no ethanol. While the type(s) of encoded H2ases appear to have little impact in organisms that do not encode ethanol producing pathways, they do seem to influence reduced end-product yields in those that do. For example, Ta. pseudethanolicus, which encodes an adhE, NFO, and a single bifurcating H2ase, but no discernable Fd or NAD(P)H-dependent H2ases, generates low H2

and near-optimal ethanol yields. The inability to oxidize reduced Fd via Fd-dependent H2ases may elevate reduced Fd levels, which in turn can be used by Selleck GS 1101 NFO to produce additional NADH for ethanol synthesis. Interestingly, in the absence of H2ases, lactate production was favoured over ethanol production, suggesting that H2 production can help lower NADH:NAD+ ratios, and thus reduce flux LY333531 datasheet through LDH. Given the impact that MDH, PFL, Aldh, AdhE, and the different H2ases have on end-product yields, screening for these biomarkers can streamline ethanol and H2 producing potential of sequenced and novel organisms through in silico gene mining and the use of universal primers, respectively.

Furthermore, understanding how end-product yields are affected Sodium butyrate by (i) the framework of genes encoding pathways catalyzing pyruvate into end-products, and (ii) thermodynamic efficiencies of these reactions, we can begin to develop informed metabolic engineering strategies for optimization of either ethanol or H2 (Figure 2). For example, in order to optimize either ethanol or H2, we would recommend elimination of ldh and pfl in order to allow accumulation of additional reducing equivalents. Given that ethanol and H2 compete for reducing equivalents, elimination of one product should direct carbon/and or electron flux towards the other. Figure 2 Differentiation between fermentation pathways that favor (A) hydrogen and (B) ethanol production based on comparative genomics and end-product profiles.