System-level modeling of acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters 2016-05, Vol.363 (9), p.fnw074
• Main Authors: Liao, Chen, Seo, Seung-Oh, Lu, Ting
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetone; Acetone - metabolism; Biotechnology; Butanol; Butanols - metabolism; Cellular communication; Clostridium acetobutylicum - metabolism; Environment models; Ethanol; Ethanol - metabolism; Fermentation; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene regulation; Mathematical models; Metabolism; Microbiology; Models, Theoretical; Optimization; Solvents
• ISSN: 1574-6968; 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1093/femsle/fnw074

Acetone–butanol–ethanol (ABE) fermentation is a metabolic process of clostridia that produces bio-based solvents including butanol. It is enabled by an underlying metabolic reaction network and modulated by cellular gene regulation and environmental cues. Mathematical modeling has served as a valuable strategy to facilitate the understanding, characterization and optimization of this process. In this review, we highlight recent advances in system-level, quantitative modeling of ABE fermentation. We begin with an overview of integrative processes underlying the fermentation. Next we survey modeling efforts including early simple models, models with a systematic metabolic description, and those incorporating metabolism through simple gene regulation. Particular focus is given to a recent system-level model that integrates the metabolic reactions, gene regulation and environmental cues. We conclude by discussing the remaining challenges and future directions towards predictive understanding of ABE fermentation. This minireview highlights recent advances in system-level, quantitative modeling of acetone–butanol–ethanol fermentation.