Description:

Microbial metabolism can be harnessed to convert sugars and other carbonaceous feedstocks into a variety of chemicals (commodity and specialty), fuels, and pharmaceuticals. We have engineered the industrial platform microorganisms Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and are developing others like Streptomyces venezuelae, to produce a variety of molecules, including active pharmaceutical ingredients, advanced biofuels, and chemicals that might otherwise be produced from petroleum. Unlike ethanol, the advanced biofuels have the full fuel value of petroleum-based biofuels, will be transportable using existing infrastructure, and can be used in existing automobiles and airplanes. Similarly, the microbially sourced chemicals can be dropped into existing processes used to produce existing materials. These chemicals will be produced from natural biosynthetic pathways that exist in plants and a variety of microorganisms as well as from pathways that have no representation in the natural world. In addition to creating the pathways for their synthesis, we have developed means to regulate the pathways inside the host organism, including biosensors to sense intermediates or final products. Large-scale production of these chemicals and fuels will reduce our dependence on petroleum and reduce the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere, while allowing us to take advantage of our current transportation infrastructure and products supply chains.