Reconstruction of a genome-scale metabolic model and in-silico flux analysis of Aspergillus tubingensis: a non-mycotoxinogenic citric acid-producing fungus.

Background: Aspergillus tubingensis is a citric acid-producing fungus that can utilize sugars in hydrolysate of lignocellulosic biomass such as sugarcane bagasse and, unlike A. niger, does not produce mycotoxins. To date, no attempt has been made to model its metabolism at genome scale.

Marine cyanobacterial biomass is an efficient feedstock for fungal bioprocesses.

Background: Marine cyanobacteria offer many sustainability advantages, such as the ability to fix atmospheric CO, very fast growth and no dependence on freshwater for culture. Cyanobacterial biomass is a rich source of sugars and proteins, two essential nutrients for culturing any heterotroph. However, no previous study has evaluated their application as a feedstock for fungal bioprocesses.

Integration of Aspergillus niger transcriptomic profile with metabolic model identifies potential targets to optimise citric acid production from lignocellulosic hydrolysate.

Background: Citric acid is typically produced industrially by Aspergillus niger-mediated fermentation of a sucrose-based feedstock, such as molasses. The fungus Aspergillus niger has the potential to utilise lignocellulosic biomass, such as bagasse, for industrial-scale citric acid production, but realising this potential requires strain optimisation. Systems biology can accelerate strain engineering by systematic target identification, facilitated by methods for the integration of omics data into a high-quality metabolic model.

Understanding regulation in substrate dependent modulation of growth and production of alcohols in Clostridium sporogenes NCIM 2918 through metabolic network reconstruction and flux balance analysis.

Flux Balance Analysis was performed for Clostridium sporogenes NCIM 2918 grown on sole glucose and glycerol or glucose-glycerol combinations at varied concentrations. During acidogenesis, glucose and glucose-glycerol combinations favored improved growth and butyric acid production. Glycerol fermentation was however marked by reduced growth and predominant ethanol synthesis.

Substrate dependent modulation of butanol to ethanol ratio in non-acetone forming Clostridium sporogenes NCIM 2918.

Present study reports a non-acetone producing Clostridium sporogenes strain as a potential producer of liquid biofuels. Alcohol production was positively regulated by sorbitol and instant dry yeast as carbon and nitrogen sources respectively. Media optimization resulted in maximum butanol and ethanol titer (gL) of 12.