APPLICATIONS OF TECHNOLOGY:
- Biofuel, fragrance, or food additive production
- Ester production via esters of isoprenoid derived alcohols
BENEFITS:
- High titer laboratory-scale production of isoprenyl acetate
- More environmentally friendly compared to previous methods
- Platform may be expanded to include different alcohols or modified for growth on other carbon substrates
BACKGROUND:
- Isoprene has been used as the precursor for 1,4-dimethylcyclooctane (DMCO) by a two step chemical process. However, it has several issues as a biosynthetic precursor for DMCO, such as a risk of explosion.
TECHNOLOGY OVERVIEW:
Researchers at Berkeley Lab have engineered E. coli strains that can produce esters of isoprenoid derived alcohols. These esters of isoprenol, such as isoprenyl acetate, offer significant production advantages over isoprenol, including enhanced partitioning, reduced product toxicity (isoprenol’s solubility in water can be toxic to the production host), and higher volatility.
In addition, this method of bioproduction is more environmentally friendly than other isoprenol production pathways; the biologically derived production strategy here is devoid of direct petrochemical contributions and instead is derived from glucose.
This is a high value chemical with significant market potential.
DEVELOPMENT STAGE: Proven principle
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS:
STATUS: Patent pending.
OPPORTUNITIES: Available for licensing or collaborative research.
SEE THESE OTHER BERKELEY LAB TECHNOLOGIES IN THIS FIELD:
Biosynthesis Pathways for Five-Carbon Alcohol from Mevalonate 2014-135
EIB-2392, EIB-3112 5-Carbon Alcohols for Drop-in Gasoline Replacement