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Chemolithoheterotrophy: Means to Higher Growth Yields from This Widespread Metabolic Trait

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Aerobic Utilization of Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids

Part of the book series: Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology ((HHLM))

Abstract

Chemolithoheterotrophy is a mixed metabolic mode in which heterotrophic growth is augmented by energy conserved from the oxidation of an inorganic electron donor such as thiosulfate or sulfide (or from sulfide moieties in methylated sulfur species). This results in an increased specific molar growth yield and a more efficient uptake of carbon from the carbon source, which can lead to more efficient biomass or product formation or more efficient degradation of pollutants etc. In this chapter we discuss the potential for harnessing this metabolic trait in biotechnology with critical evaluation of studies thus far.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Professor Donovan P. Kelly, Professor Emeritus at the University of Warwick, UK, for many stimulating discussions on the subject of chemolithoheterotrophy over the years and his continual encouragement in this area.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Biological and Marine Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Rich Boden & Lee P. Hutt

  2. Sustainable Earth Institute, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK

    Rich Boden

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  1. Rich Boden
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  2. Lee P. Hutt
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Correspondence to Rich Boden .

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  1. CSIC Campus de Cantoblanco, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología CSIC Campus de Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain

    Fernando Rojo

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Boden, R., Hutt, L.P. (2018). Chemolithoheterotrophy: Means to Higher Growth Yields from This Widespread Metabolic Trait. In: Rojo, F. (eds) Aerobic Utilization of Hydrocarbons, Oils and Lipids. Handbook of Hydrocarbon and Lipid Microbiology . Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39782-5_51-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-39782-5_51-1

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  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-39782-5

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