A transcriptional study of acidogenic chemostat cells of Clostridium acetobutylicum - Cellular behavior in adaptation to n-butanol

► The transcriptional response to different levels of butanol was investigated in acidogenic cultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum. ► Genes involved in the main catabolic pathways including typical solvent genes were not affected by butanol. ► Typical class I heat-shock genes are instantly upregulated at all butanol concentrations. ► The transcriptional response shows a two-phase pattern, which is most profound at 0.5% butanol or higher. ► Most differentially transcribed genes concern ABC-transporter genes or genes that affect the composition of the cell envelope.