Mechanisms and Applications of Microbial Solvent Tolerance

Abstract

Biofuels currently feature heavily on scientific, social, and political agenda, and particular focus is reserved for liquid fuels that may act as a substitute or blending agent for petroleum. Many pertinent questions arise when a thorough analysis of the feasibility of liquid alcohol fuels is performed. The focus of this chapter is to analyze our current understanding of the mechanisms that contribute to one of these issues, namely, how can an organism adapt to tolerate usually cytotoxic levels of solvent or alcohol. A considerable volume of research has contributed to our current understanding of the general cellular mechanisms and physiological responses that occur in response to solvent shock. This foundation of knowledge has subsequently allowed a deeper understanding as to adaptive changes responsi- ble for solvent-tolerant phenotypes in mutant progeny. Here we review a number of more common cell responses to solvents, with particular focus on alcohol tolerance, with the aim to place this topic in its correct context as a central theme in understanding the microbial physiology of biofuel production.