Figure 1.

Diagram summarizing genetic modifications used to redirect glucose metabolism to acetate. Bold arrows mark principal metabolic routes in TC36. Reactions that have been blocked by gene deletions are marked with filled circles. Gene names are shown in italics. (A) Central carbon metabolism. Acetate is the principal product from sugar metabolism with the net production of four ATP equivalents (∼P) per glucose molecule. (B) Oxidative phosphorylation. The (F₁F₀)H⁺-ATP synthase is inactive in TC36, although the electron transport system remains functional as the primary route for NADH oxidation. (C) F₁-ATPase. TC36 lacks essential subunits for ATP synthesis but retains a functional cytoplasmic F₁-ATPase.