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2012 - 11th Annual NC State Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium
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Session Time :
8/1/12 1:30 PM - 8/1/12 2:45 PM
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Content Area : NC State Independent Researchers
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Lead Student Presenters : Erika J England
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Abstract Title : Recombinant expression of Clostridium ljungdahlii OTA1 alcohol dehydrogenase (CLJU_11880) in Escherichia coli
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Abstract :
Biofuels research is a continuously growing field as the push towards renewable energy sources increases. The use of biological catalysts for the production of ethanol from biomass is one of these areas of research. Clostridium sp. are ideal catalysts for their ability to convert carbohydrates or C1 gases like carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide into ethanol. Clostridium ljungdahlii OTA1 is a mutant strain that produces more ethanol and has been shown to have higher alcohol dehydrogenase activity compared to the wild-type strain. Recently, two bifunctional acetaldehyde/ethanol dehydrogenases and an ethanol dehydrogenase gene from OTA1 strain have been identified in the C. ljungdahlii genome. We are interested in assessing whether mutations in the enzyme coding regions or operator regions may play a role in the improved ethanol production of C. ljungdahlii. To do this, the three dehydrogenase genes were isolated from the wild-type and OTA1 strains and cloned into Escherichia coli expression vector pET28a for sequencing and expression. Promoter regions were also sequenced and compared separately. We have found that there is no difference in either the enzyme coding regions or operator regions for the mutant strain. Here we are presenting the cloning and expression data for one of the C. ljungdahlii OTA1 alcohol dehydrogenases, CLJU_11880.
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Mentor and/or Co-Author : Amy Michele Grunden
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