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A time- and cost-efficient two-step gene elimination procedure was used for acetogen Clostridium sp. MT1834 capable of fermenting CO/H blend to 245 mM acetate ( p < 0.005). The first step rendered the targeted gene replacement without affecting the total genome size. We replaced the acetate pta- ack cluster with synthetic bi-functional acetaldehyde-alcohol dehydrogenase ( al- adh). Replacement of pta- ack with al- adh rendered initiation of 243 mM ethanol accumulation at the expense of acetate production during CO/H blend continuous fermentation ( p < 0.005). At the second step, al- adh was eliminated to reduce the genome size. Resulting recombinants accumulated 25 mM mevalonate in fermentation broth ( p < 0.005). Cell duplication time for recombinants with reduced genome size decreased by 9.5 % compared to Clostridium sp. MT1834 strain under the same fermentation conditions suggesting better cell energy pool management in the absence of the ack- pta gene cluster in the engineered biocatalyst. If the first gene elimination step was used alone for spo0A gene replacement with two copies of synthetic formate dehydrogenase in recombinants with a shortened genome, mevalonate production was replaced with 76.5 mM formate production in a single step continuous CO/H blend fermentation ( p < 0.005) with cell duplication time almost nearing that of the wild strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: To engineer acetogen biocatalyst capable of fermenting synthesis gas blend to acetone as the only liquid carbonaceous product. Methods and Results: The metabolic engineering comprised inactivation of phosphotransacetylase via integration of a cassette comprising synthetic genes erm(B), thiolase and HMG-CoA synthase. Acetaldehyde dehydrogenase was inactivated via integration of a cassette consisting of synthetic genes cat, HMG-CoA lyase and acetoacetate decarboxylase. The engineered biocatalyst Clostridum sp. MAceT113 lost production of 253 mmol l−1 ethanol and 296 mmol l−1 acetate and started producing 1·8 mol l−1 acetone in single-stage continuous syngas fermentation. Conclusions: The acetone concentration in culture broth is economical for bulk manufacture because it is about twenty times of that achieved with known acetone-butanol-ethanol fermentation of sugars. Significance and Impact of the Study: The process shows the opportunity to produce acetone from synthesis gas at concentrations comparable with production of acetone from products of petroleum cracking. This is the first report on elimination of acetate and acetaldehyde production and directing carbon flux from Acetyl-CoA to acetone via a non-naturally occurring in acetogen acetone biosynthesis pathway identified in eukaryotic organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]