Microbe Engineered to Produce New Product at Lower Temperatures
by Erin Voegele (Biorefining Magazine) A team of researchers at the University of Georgia’s Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology recently published the results of a study relating to hyperthermophiles—or heat-loving microorganisms—that may prove beneficial to biofuel production. The paper, titled “Engineering a Hyperthermophilic Archaeon for Temperature-Dependent Production Formation,” was published in the scientific journal mBio, the online open-access journal of the American Society for Microbiology, on April 17.
According to information released by ASM, the researchers have found a way to control a hyperthermophile with a temperature switch. As a result, the microorganism can manufacture product at low rather than high temperatures. The ASM notes that the development could lead to easier manufacturing of biofuels. In the study, the authors note that this work represents the first time a targeted modification of a hyperthermophile has been accomplished. READ MORE Abstract/Full Paper
