Quantitative fermentation of unpretreated transgenic poplar by Caldicellulosiruptor bescii

Christopher T. Straub (), Piyum A. Khatibi, Jack P. Wang, Jonathan M. Conway, Amanda M. Williams-Rhaesa, Ilona M. Peszlen, Vincent L. Chiang, Michael W. W. Adams and Robert M. Kelly ()
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Christopher T. Straub: North Carolina State University
Piyum A. Khatibi: North Carolina State University
Jack P. Wang: North Carolina State University
Jonathan M. Conway: North Carolina State University
Amanda M. Williams-Rhaesa: University of Georgia
Ilona M. Peszlen: North Carolina State University
Vincent L. Chiang: North Carolina State University
Michael W. W. Adams: University of Georgia
Robert M. Kelly: North Carolina State University

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract Microbial fermentation of lignocellulosic biomass to produce industrial chemicals is exacerbated by the recalcitrant network of lignin, cellulose and hemicelluloses comprising the plant secondary cell wall. In this study, we show that transgenic poplar (Populus trichocarpa) lines can be solubilized without any pretreatment by the extreme thermophile Caldicellulosiruptor bescii that has been metabolically engineered to shift its fermentation products away from inhibitory organic acids to ethanol. Carbohydrate solubilization and conversion of unpretreated milled biomass is nearly 90% for two transgenic lines, compared to only 25% for wild-type poplar. Unexpectedly, unpretreated intact poplar stems achieved nearly 70% of the fermentation production observed with milled poplar as the substrate. The nearly quantitative microbial conversion of the carbohydrate content of unpretreated transgenic lignocellulosic biomass bodes well for full utilization of renewable biomass feedstocks.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11376-6

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