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Re-Engineering
Bacteria for Fuels and Chemicals
L. O.
Ingram, S. Zhou, K.T. Shanmugam, B.E. Wood, & T.B. Causey
University of
Florida
Objective:
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Development of new
industries that produce renewable fuels and chemicals from plant
biomass using genetically engineered bacteria
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Approach:
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Bacteria are capable
of efficiently transforming all of the sugar constituents of plants
into a myriad of solvents, fuels, and other chemicals as renewable
alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals. |
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Fundamental research
has provided new genetic tools and an extensive background of
information concerning the biochemistry, physiology and genetic code of
microorganisms. |
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Combining this wealth
of background information with new genetic tools now allow the rational
redesign of cellular metabolism to produce specific products of
commercial interest.
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Accomplishments:
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Our early studies
demonstrated the feasibility of this metabolic engineering approach by
replacing the mixed acid fermentation pathway in one organism with a
homo-ethanol pathway (like that in yeasts) from another bacterium. |
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Resulting strains
were unlike any previously known from nature and efficiently convert
hexose and pentose sugars into ethanol. |
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Based in part on this
demonstration, subsequent researchers have now engineered many new
bacterial biocatalysts for the commercial production of propanediols
(Cargil, Dupont), pyruvate (assorted small foreign companies), lactate
(Tate and Lyle), succinic acid (Carbochemicals), ethanol (BCI,
Marubaeni-TSK. others), and 3-hydroxypropionate (Cargill). |
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Additional research
has demonstrated the feasibility engineering strains for acetic acid,
propanol, acetone and other solvents with many opportunities yet to be
explored.
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Impact:
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The combination of
investment in fundamental research to expand the range of possibility
coupled with the desire by many to improve the environment and
long-term profitability by replacing petroleum-based chemicals
with cleaner, greener, renewable products offers the near term
opportunity for many new industries and many new jobs. |
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