Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation

Carbon chain elongation has been an innovative process for the synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Among them, caproate is a vital multi-functional one. To enhance the synthesis efficiency of caproate, the growth conditions of carbon chain elongation microorganisms need to optimize to dev...

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Main Authors: Jing Li, Xing Luo, He Liu, Xuedong Zhang, Hao Tan, Xiaolong Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1597990/full
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author Jing Li
Xing Luo
He Liu
He Liu
Xuedong Zhang
Hao Tan
Xiaolong Xiong
author_facet Jing Li
Xing Luo
He Liu
He Liu
Xuedong Zhang
Hao Tan
Xiaolong Xiong
author_sort Jing Li
collection DOAJ
description Carbon chain elongation has been an innovative process for the synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Among them, caproate is a vital multi-functional one. To enhance the synthesis efficiency of caproate, the growth conditions of carbon chain elongation microorganisms need to optimize to develop an ideal niche, ultimately enhancing the production of caproate. In this study, the microbial enrichment of carbon chain elongation was obtained and the optimal system of carbon chain elongation was constructed. The optimal condition for carbon chain elongation was achieved at a pH of 7.00, an ethanol/acetic acid carbon molar ratio of 4:1, and a voltage of 0.7 V. The result showed that the concentration of caproate in the optimal group increased by 83.09% in comparison to the control group. Subsequently, compared with the initial microbial community structure, the relative abundance of microorganisms changed greatly in the optimal system, including Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Anaerofilum, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_7, and Intestinimonas. Additionally, functional prediction analysis revealed that the optimal system enhanced amino acid metabolism (alanine, aspartate, and glutamate), carbon metabolism (CoA biosynthesis), and energy metabolism by 33.66, 30.42, and 17.05%, respectively. Besides, both the fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) and reverse β oxidation (RBO) pathways were enhanced in optimal system. This study elucidates a novel mechanistic insight into the efficient microbial synthesis of caproate through carbon chain elongation pathways, demonstrating how applied voltage regulation can significantly enhance the bioproduction of MCFAs from simple substrates such as ethanol and acetate. Furthermore, this work presents a sustainable and energy-efficient strategy for caproate production, reducing reliance on fossil-derived precursors.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1664-302X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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series Frontiers in Microbiology
spelling doaj-art-c02c0589df674cb09cbf230a020b63c02025-08-20T03:31:05ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2025-06-011610.3389/fmicb.2025.15979901597990Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulationJing Li0Xing Luo1He Liu2He Liu3Xuedong Zhang4Hao Tan5Xiaolong Xiong6Sichuan Institute of Edible Fungi, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, ChinaInstitute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, ChinaJiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, ChinaSchool of Environment and Ecology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, ChinaSichuan Institute of Edible Fungi, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, ChinaSichuan Institute of Edible Fungi, Sichuan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, ChinaCarbon chain elongation has been an innovative process for the synthesis of medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). Among them, caproate is a vital multi-functional one. To enhance the synthesis efficiency of caproate, the growth conditions of carbon chain elongation microorganisms need to optimize to develop an ideal niche, ultimately enhancing the production of caproate. In this study, the microbial enrichment of carbon chain elongation was obtained and the optimal system of carbon chain elongation was constructed. The optimal condition for carbon chain elongation was achieved at a pH of 7.00, an ethanol/acetic acid carbon molar ratio of 4:1, and a voltage of 0.7 V. The result showed that the concentration of caproate in the optimal group increased by 83.09% in comparison to the control group. Subsequently, compared with the initial microbial community structure, the relative abundance of microorganisms changed greatly in the optimal system, including Clostridium_sensu_stricto_12, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, Anaerofilum, Clostridium_sensu_stricto_7, and Intestinimonas. Additionally, functional prediction analysis revealed that the optimal system enhanced amino acid metabolism (alanine, aspartate, and glutamate), carbon metabolism (CoA biosynthesis), and energy metabolism by 33.66, 30.42, and 17.05%, respectively. Besides, both the fatty acid biosynthesis (FAB) and reverse β oxidation (RBO) pathways were enhanced in optimal system. This study elucidates a novel mechanistic insight into the efficient microbial synthesis of caproate through carbon chain elongation pathways, demonstrating how applied voltage regulation can significantly enhance the bioproduction of MCFAs from simple substrates such as ethanol and acetate. Furthermore, this work presents a sustainable and energy-efficient strategy for caproate production, reducing reliance on fossil-derived precursors.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1597990/fullcarbon chain elongationoptimal systemcaproatemetabolism pathwaysmicrobial community
spellingShingle Jing Li
Xing Luo
He Liu
He Liu
Xuedong Zhang
Hao Tan
Xiaolong Xiong
Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
Frontiers in Microbiology
carbon chain elongation
optimal system
caproate
metabolism pathways
microbial community
title Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
title_full Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
title_fullStr Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
title_full_unstemmed Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
title_short Carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
title_sort carbon chain elongation microorganism stimulates caproate production from ethanol and acetate under applied voltage regulation
topic carbon chain elongation
optimal system
caproate
metabolism pathways
microbial community
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.1597990/full
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AT xingluo carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation
AT heliu carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation
AT heliu carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation
AT xuedongzhang carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation
AT haotan carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation
AT xiaolongxiong carbonchainelongationmicroorganismstimulatescaproateproductionfromethanolandacetateunderappliedvoltageregulation