Ecology of Lignocellulose Degrading Microbes
Faculty Mentor Information
Jessica Lee
Abstract
As scientists all over the world work hard to find more efficient and eco-friendly energy sources, microbial communities are being increasingly investigated as effective agents in consolidated bioprocessing which turns plant biomass into valuable biofuels. Methylobacterium extorquens, Psuedomonas putida, and Cellulomonas fimi together all play a role in breaking down lignocellulose. M. ext consumes the toxin formaldehyde produced by P. putida as a byproduct of lignin degradation, and C. fimi breaks down cellulose. We performed multiple growth experiments including testing the effects of different carbon substrates on growth, toxic effects of formaldehyde, and competition for nutrients. Chemical analysis via GCMS and HPLC was also performed to test the production of metabolites and substrate consumption. We found that M. ext grew best in lactate, had the highest formaldehyde tolerance, and C. fimi had the lowest tolerance and was also sensitive to high iron concentrations while growing best in glucose. P. putida favored malate substrate. While we are far from completely understanding how to make the three species interact in a way that efficiently produces biofuels from plant waste, the data obtained over the summer from the experiments is important for advancing the research of the ecological interactions between the three species.
Ecology of Lignocellulose Degrading Microbes
As scientists all over the world work hard to find more efficient and eco-friendly energy sources, microbial communities are being increasingly investigated as effective agents in consolidated bioprocessing which turns plant biomass into valuable biofuels. Methylobacterium extorquens, Psuedomonas putida, and Cellulomonas fimi together all play a role in breaking down lignocellulose. M. ext consumes the toxin formaldehyde produced by P. putida as a byproduct of lignin degradation, and C. fimi breaks down cellulose. We performed multiple growth experiments including testing the effects of different carbon substrates on growth, toxic effects of formaldehyde, and competition for nutrients. Chemical analysis via GCMS and HPLC was also performed to test the production of metabolites and substrate consumption. We found that M. ext grew best in lactate, had the highest formaldehyde tolerance, and C. fimi had the lowest tolerance and was also sensitive to high iron concentrations while growing best in glucose. P. putida favored malate substrate. While we are far from completely understanding how to make the three species interact in a way that efficiently produces biofuels from plant waste, the data obtained over the summer from the experiments is important for advancing the research of the ecological interactions between the three species.