Developing a Control System to Better Understand the Effects of Pyruvate Decarboxylase Activity on Clostridium thermocellum Metabolism

Authors

Nicholas CervenkaFollow

Degree Program

A.B.

Year of Graduation

2019

Faculty Advisor

Daniel Olson

Document Type

Thesis (Senior Honors)

Publication Date

Spring 6-6-2019

Abstract

In order for cellulosic biofuels from Clostridium thermocellum to be commercially viable, the ethanol yield and titer of the microbe must be increased. To accomplish this, it has been suggested to introduce the Pyruvate Decarboxylase (PDC) enzyme into C. thermocellum. In order to demonstrate effects on ethanol production by PDC prior to genetic modification, a cell free system (CFS) has been developed. A purified enzyme system was developed with the CFS to function as a control. Using the purified enzyme system, PDC from Saccharomyces cerevisiae was demonstrated to be a good candidate for further testing in the CFS.

Dartmouth Digital Commons Citation

Cervenka, Nicholas, "Developing a Control System to Better Understand the Effects of Pyruvate Decarboxylase Activity on Clostridium thermocellum Metabolism" (2019). ENGS 88 Honors Thesis (AB Students). 6.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/engs88/6