APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Biocatalyst for existing methane conversion technologies
- Polyester textiles and apparels, automobile coatings, polymers, flavors, fragrances, and vitamin synthesis
ADVANTAGES:
- Reduces reliance on petrochemical-based malonate production
- Methane sequestration
- Methane is a lower cost alternative to sugar feedstocks for malonate production
BACKGROUND:
Malonate has numerous commercial uses, but is largely produced via petrochemical sources. Currently, the only commercially available biological route for malonate production is via synthetically engineered yeast. To date, no prokaryote routes for malonate production have been characterized.
In order to reduce the reliance on petrochemical sources and shift towards a circular economy, expansion of malonate production pathways into additional microbes is needed.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have used the Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum strain DASS, which grows on methane, as a novel platform host for bioproduction of malonate. The DASS strain is a derivative of its parent strain DSM19304, and its higher production rates of malonyl-CoA make it an attractive bioengineering target.
To express the malonate biosynthetic pathway in the DASS strain, the researchers first used CRISPRI to identify genetic targets for increased malonyl-CoA. Next, short-chain acyl-CoA hydrolases are to be screened to determine which provides the highest malonyl-CoA to malonate bioconversion. Finally, site-directed mutagenesis on the candidate enzyme can be directed to provide desired hydrolase activity. Theoretical models show that 2 mol of methane is used for every 1 mol of malonate produced.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE:
Proof of concept
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
- Deepika Awasthi
- Shubhasish Goswami
- Steven W. Singer
STATUS:
Patent Pending
OPPORTUNITIES: Available for licensing or collaborative research.
SEE THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
Toaster Software: Optimizing CRISPR Technologies for Genome Editing 2016-056
Phase Change Adsorbents for Chemical Storage and Separation 2022-112