Although ethanol is the target molecule in many biorefinery
concepts, Fatty Acid Esters (FAEs) such as those
used in biodiesel, are also attractive targets. This is
because FAEs display high energy density and are welltolerated
by production strains [13]. Currently, FAEs
are mainly produced by transesterification of plant oils
using an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and base, acid
or enzyme catalysts [14]. However, the high cost of this
process and various issues surrounding the production
of plant oils for non-food purposes make the search for
alternative routes both attractive and strategically pertinent.
In this respect, microbial production of biofuels
(so-called microdiesel and microkerosene) represents a
sustainable and quite economical way to produce FAEs.
For this purpose, both Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiae
have been engineered to produce structurally tailored
fatty esters [15–17]. However, neither of these microorganisms
is naturally able to accumulate high amounts of lipids, nor able to degrade cellulose. Moreover, in these
microorganisms the biosynthesis of fatty acid is highly
regulated [18], thus limiting the possibility to improve
lipid production [16, 17, 19].
Although ethanol is the target molecule in many biorefineryconcepts, Fatty Acid Esters (FAEs) such as thoseused in biodiesel, are also attractive targets. This isbecause FAEs display high energy density and are welltoleratedby production strains [13]. Currently, FAEsare mainly produced by transesterification of plant oilsusing an alcohol (methanol or ethanol) and base, acidor enzyme catalysts [14]. However, the high cost of thisprocess and various issues surrounding the productionof plant oils for non-food purposes make the search foralternative routes both attractive and strategically pertinent.In this respect, microbial production of biofuels(so-called microdiesel and microkerosene) represents asustainable and quite economical way to produce FAEs.For this purpose, both Escherichia coli and S. cerevisiaehave been engineered to produce structurally tailoredfatty esters [15–17]. However, neither of these microorganismsis naturally able to accumulate high amounts of lipids, nor able to degrade cellulose. Moreover, in thesemicroorganisms the biosynthesis of fatty acid is highlyregulated [18], thus limiting the possibility to improvelipid production [16, 17, 19].
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