Molecular Mechanisms Behind the Plant/Microbe Induced Biofuel Production: Systems Biology Approach

Biofuel production by plants and microbial consortia often involves production or release of enzymes, which catalyze the transformation of simple compounds into more complex molecules. Such enzymes, which are mainly secreted by microorganisms, can be released into the environment and act on the substrates that are available in the root exudates, or on the cell wall of the plants. These enzymes are the main contributor for the conversion of molecules into biofuels by plants or microbes. The first step of application of microbes for biofuel production is identifying bacteria capable of producing the desired fuel. Microbial fuel cells can allow the identification of such bacteria. The cost and efficiency of biofuel production is determined by the capabilities of the microbe being used. Currently, some of the most promising bacteria being used in biofuel production are Clostridia, Bacillus and E. coli. Once the appropriate microbe has been identified, it is commonly genetically engineered to increase fuel production, i.e., incorporating genes that increase protein production or adding in genes related to metabolism pathways. Once the microbe has been engineered, the microbe is typically then harvested and converted into biofuels. This can be done through a fermentation process. The fermentation process typically involves nutrients and a carbon source. The microbe is then manipulated to convert the energy source into a desired product, in this case a biofuel. The Microbe-induced biofuel production is a method of producing biofuels utilizing microorganisms mostly algae and bacteria. This involves the cultivation of microorganisms in an environment where they can convert energy sources such as sunlight and carbon dioxide into oils that can be converted into biofuels. These microorganisms are usually grown in photo-bioreactors, which allow them to optimize their energy production. Utilizing microbes to produce biofuels has a number of advantages, such as being more efficient than traditional biofuel production methods and requiring little external input. One limitation about microbe-induced biofuel production is the fact that it created biofuels that are still relatively expensive to produce. Present Chapter describe cellular and molecular mechanisms in microbial cell for biofuel production and predominant genetic material associated with the same. This will help finding more biofuel production efficient organisms beneficial for sustainable development.