Genetic and metabolic drivers of membrane remodeling in <i>Clostridium thermocellum</i> under alcohol stress

This study identifies key mechanisms of <i>Clostridium thermocellum</i> membrane remodeling under alcohol stress, showing that AdhE mediates incorporation of exogenous alcohols into fatty acids, while Pfor4 drives branched-chain fatty acid synthesis in the absence of the canonical Bkd complex. These findings highlight actionable targets for metabolic engineering to enhance solvent tolerance and improve the robustness and productivity of <i>C. thermocellum</i> as a biofuel-producing platform.