Fermentation of lactose by Zymomonas mobilis carrying a Lac+ recombinant plasmid

Ethanol production from cellulosic materials by genetically engineered Zymomonas mobilis

To confer the ability to ferment cello-oligosaccharides on the ethanol-producing bacterium, Zymomonas mobilis, the beta-glucosidase gene from Ruminococcus albus, tagged at its N-terminal with the 53-amino acid Tat signal peptide from the periplasmic enzyme glucose-fructose oxidoreductase from Z. mobilis, was introduced into the strain. The tag enabled 61% of the beta-glucosidase activity to be transported through the cytoplasmic membrane of the recombinant strain which then produced 0.49 g ethanol/g cellobiose.

Zymomonas mobilis--science and industrial application

Zymomonas mobilis is undoubtedly one of the most unique bacterium within the microbial world. Known since 1912 under the names Termobacterium mobilis, Pseudomonas linderi, and Zymomonas mobilis, reviews on its uniqueness have been published in 1977 and 1988. The bacterium Zymomonas mobilis not only exhibits an extraordinarily uniqueness in its biochemistry, but also in its growth behavior, energy production, and response to culture conditions, as well as cultivation techniques used. This uniqueness caused great interest in the scientific, biotechnological, and industrial worlds. Its ability to couple and uncouple energy production in favor of product formation, to respond to physical and chemical environment manipulation, as well as its restricted product formation, makes it an ideal microorganism for microbial process development. This review explores the advances made since 1987, together with new developments in the pure scientific and applied commercial areas.