Metabolic Interactions of a Chain Elongation Microbiome

Abstract

Carbon chain elongation means the conversion of short-chain volatile fatty acids to medium-chain carboxylates, such as n -caproate and n -caprylate with electron donors under anaerobic condition. This bio-reaction can both expand the resource of valuable biochemicals and broaden the utilization of low-grade organic residues in a sustainable biorefinery context. Clostridium kluyveri is conventionally considered model microbe for carbon chain elongation which uses the reverse β-oxidation pathway. However, little is known about the detailed microbial structure and function of other abundant microorganism in a mixed culture (or open culture) of chain elongation. We conducted the comparative metagenomic and metatranscriptomic analysis of a chain elongation microbiome to throw light on the underlying functional microbes and alternative pathways.