Exploiting energy from intestinal bacteria

For the first time in the history of science, American biochemists have learned how to utilize intestinal bacteria to produce energy.

By changing the basic gene structure of Escherichia coli (E. Coli), biochemists at the University of California (USA) can stimulate it to produce alcohol with long molecular chains. These alcohol are much more dense than alcohol made from cereals.

Ethanol, one of the world's leading sources of biofuel, contains only two carbon atoms (C). Alcohol with the longest molecular structure produced by natural methods also has a maximum of 5 C atoms. But the alcohol modified by E. Coli produces up to 8 C atoms in the molecular chain, It means it can provide more energy.

In addition, this alcohol is easily separated from water. This is an ideal property for biofuels. "Its long chain of molecules has a lot of advantages. It can generate more energy per unit of volume than natural alcohol, does not corrode the engine and is compatible with jet fuel as well. diesel, " said James Liao, head of the research team.

Intestinal bacteria Escherichia coli.Photos: .thebacteriabusters.com.

This is the first time scientists have created alcohol containing more than 5 C atoms in the molecular structure.

James's team implanted a number of chromosomes into the E. Coli DNA so that it produced a compound with a large mass of COOH. Without any effect, this compound becomes an amino acid. Additional chromosomes contain two genes that encode certain enzymes to convert the other compound into alcohol with 6-8 C atoms.

"The next step is to produce new high-volume alcohol and deliver it to companies. We need to continue research to reduce production stages, and find a way to increase efficiency. Although the results of this study cannot be applied in the energy sector, at least it shows that we can make alcohol with more than 5 C atoms in the molecular chain , " James said.

Escherichia coli (often abbreviated as E. coli) is one of the main bacteria that parasites in the intestinal tract of warm-blooded animals (including birds and mammals). It is an essential element in food digestion and is a component of intestinal colonies.