Rewiring metabolism of Clostridium thermocellum for consolidated bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass poplar to produce short-chain esters

•Engineered C. thermocellum compatible with CBP for ester production from poplar.•Discovered minor thioesterase activities of esterases limiting ester production.•Improved ester production by manipulating carbon and electron metabolisms.•Severity of poplar CELF pretreatment was positively correlated with ester biosynthesis.