The objectives of this project are to produce new knowledge on the molecular genetics and enzymology of anaerobic butryic clostridia that will allow beneficial genetic alterations of the cell metabolism for a variety of applications. Butryic acid clostridia have an excellent potential for industrial applications to produce commodity and specialty chemicals. The cur- rent knowledge base on the genetic- s, regulation and metabolism of these cells has been limited, but considerable progress has been made by work on previous grants. This project will continue the study of gene regulation, develop further the expression systems in clostrid- ia, and evaluate other factors in- volved in the regulation of metabo- lic pathways in clostridia.
