Department Seminar: Dr. Daniel Amador-Noguez

Department of Integrative Genomics, Princeton University

All dates for this event occur in the past.

Scott Lab N0054
201 W. 19th Avenue
Columbus, OH 43210
United States

Metabolomics of clostridial biofuel production

Dr. Daniel Amador-Noguez

Department of Integrative Genomics, Princeton University

Tuesday, March 5, 2013, 11:30 A.M., Scott Lab N0054, 201 W. 19th Ave

Effective engineering of microorganisms capable of economical conversion of cellulosic biomass into biofuels relies on understanding the relevant metabolic pathways and their regulation, including how the integrated networks function as a whole. Towards this goal, we have pioneered the development of integrated metabolomics-computational technologies for the quantitative dissection of metabolism in biofuel producing microorganisms (i.e. C. acetobutylicum and various cellulolytic clostridia). The application of these methodologies resulted in many significant advances in the understanding of the metabolic networks and metabolism of these organisms. For example, using mass spectrometry, isotope tracers, and quantitative flux-modeling we mapped the metabolic network structure in C. acetobutylicum, and while genome annotation suggested the absence of most TCA cycle enzymes, our results demonstrated that this bacterium has a complete, bifurcated TCA cycle. We also discovered that biofuel production in C. acetobutylicum, which only occurs during stationary phase, requires a global remodeling of central metabolism (involving large changes in metabolite concentrations and fluxes) that has the effect of redirecting resources (carbon and reducing power) from biomass production into solvent production. This new holistic, quantitative understanding of metabolism is now being used as the basis for metabolic engineering strategies that enhance the biofuel producing capabilities of these microorganisms.

 

Category: Seminar