Advanced biofuels produced by microorganisms have similar properties to petroleum-based fuels, and can 'drop in' to the existing transportation infrastructure. However, producing these biofuels in yields high enough to be useful requires the engineering of the microorganism's metabolism. Such engineering is not based on just one specific feedstock or host organism. Data-driven and synthetic-biology approaches can be used to optimize both the host and pathways to maximize fuel production. Despite some success, challenges still need to be met to move advanced biofuels towards commercialization, and to compete with more conventional fuels.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature11478 | DOI Listing |
Sheng Wu Gong Cheng Xue Bao
January 2025
Frontier Science Center for Synthetic Biology and Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300072, China.
With the rapid development of synthetic biology, genetic engineering, and molecular manipulation methods in recent years, microalgae, as representatives of microbial cell factories, have been widely used as hosts in the production of high-value bioproducts, such as oils, pigments, proteins, and biofuels, demonstrating promising prospects of application in biochemical energy, food and drugs, and environmental protection. Despite these advancements, the low production efficiency of microalgae limits their industrial application. In addition to strain improvement and culture condition optimization, the regulation by exogenous chemical additives serves as a promising optimization strategy.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Total Environ
January 2025
Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Assam University, Silchar 788011, Assam, India. Electronic address:
The global shift towards sustainable energy and bioproducts has intensified research on algae. Renewable green biofuel can address and provide solutions to both energy crisis and climate change challenges. Botryococcus braunii, a bloom forming green microalga, known for its high lipid content and potential for biofuel production has been explored in the present study.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWorld J Microbiol Biotechnol
January 2025
Biofuels Institute, School of the Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212013, China.
Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable polymer that belongs to a group of polymers called polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). PHB can be synthesized from renewable resources, making it a promising alternative to petroleum-derived plastics. It is also considered non-toxic, biodegradable, and biocompatible, which makes it suitable for various applications in the medicine and biomedicine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNanoscale
January 2025
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, College of Design and Engineering, National University of Singapore, 117585, Singapore.
Bioelectronic devices with medical functions have attracted widespread attention in recent years. Power supplies are crucial components in these devices, which ensure their stable operation. Biomedical devices that utilize external power supplies and extended electrical wires limit patient mobility and increase the risk of discomfort and infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAppl Microbiol Biotechnol
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14049-900, Brazil.
Second-generation (2G) bioethanol production, derived from lignocellulosic biomass, has emerged as a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels by addressing growing energy demands and environmental concerns. Fungal sugar transporters (STs) play a critical role in this process, enabling the uptake of monosaccharides such as glucose and xylose, which are released during the enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass. This mini-review explores recent advances in the structural and functional characterization of STs in filamentous fungi and yeasts, highlighting their roles in processes such as cellulase induction, carbon catabolite repression, and sugar signaling pathways.
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