Synthetic BiologyResearch: Cyanobacterial Energy

Proposal: Polypropylene Biodegrading Bacteria

By: Tatiana Gelaf

Cyanobacterial Energy

http://english.qibebt.cas.cn/rh/rp/201210/t20121009_91770.html

The Problem Fossil fuels are limited and cause

pollution

1st generation biofuels: from crops Use food sources Environmental impact Costly High energy cost (fertilizer) Highly controversial

Solution using Synbio Cyanobacteria naturally produce a

variety of products which can be used as biofuels. Hydrogen Various Alcohols

Synthetic biologists work to make them more efficient in this production.

Hydrogen Nitrogenase : nitrogen fixation

Hydrogen produced is consumed by hydrogenase.

Synbiologist modifying bacteria to not consume this hydrogen.

Bidirectional hydrogenase: oxidizes/produces Intolerant to oxygen Synbiologists working on oxygen-tolerant bacteria.

Fuel source to be burned with only byproduct being water.

http://phidrogeno.blogspot.com/

Ethanol Produced through fermentation

Pyruvates acetaldehyde ethanol

Engineered to produce more through overexpression of relevant genes.

Used as supplement/replacement to diesel.

Butanol Two distinct pathways.

Synthetic 2-ketoacid pathway  Uses intermediates from amino acid production 2-ketovaleratebutanol

CoA-dependent pathway Acetyl-CoA Butyryl-CoAButanol Occurs in nature. Production concentrated through introduction of

certain enzymes.

Can be used in petroleum engines or mixed with diesel.

http://gophoto.us/key/1%20butanol%20sigma%20aldrich

Photanol

Phototrophs+Chemiotrophs photofermentative systems.

Phototrophs: use energy from photons produce C3

Chemiotrophs use energy from oxidized compounds in environment consume C3

produce various products through fermentation.

Photofermentative system

http://www.springerimages.com/Images/RSS/1-10.1007_s10126-010-9311-1-1

Sourceshttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1343573/http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3136707/http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101214141932.htm

http://phys.org/news/2013-03-fuel-bacteria-genetically-modified-cyanobacteria-efficient.html

http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/2010/541698/http://pubs.rsc.org/en/Content/ArticleLanding/2012/EE/c2ee23148d

http://aem.asm.org/content/65/2/523.fullhttp://www.sebioenergy.org/2011/speakers/Spall.pdfhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biofuel

Polypropylene Degrading Bacteria

The Problem Most types of plastics don’t biodegrade.

Remain in environment. Pose a threat to wildlife. Release toxins.

Current Technologies Biodegradable plastics

Crops Designed to be composted, takes a while

Recycling Structural problems Energy expensive

Selected for Bacteria Produce useless/dangerous byproducts.

Proposed Solution Polypropylene propylene

Propylene Previously produced from fossil fuels Recycled to polypropylene Acetone, phenol, isopropanol

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylene http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propene

Bacteria Two component signaling: uses

polypropylene as chemical signal

Open reading frame codes for one of the following: Modified endonuclease hydroxyethylphophonate dioxygenase

(HEPD)

Modified Endonuclease NEase

Covalent intermediate

Modified recognition site

Covalent intermediate: nucleophiletransition metal

HEPD Cleaves C-C

Uses oxygen + ferric superoxide

Sourceshttp://www.livescience.com/33085-petroleum-derived-plastic-non-biodegradable.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic#Polystyrenehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastic_recyclinghttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polypropylenehttp://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Biodegradation.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propenehttp://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-001-0850-2http://www.intechopen.com/books/polypropylene/thermal-oxidation-of-polypropylene-and-modified-polypropylene-structure-effects

http://science.howstuffworks.com/plastic5.htmhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Restriction_enzyme#Recognition_sitehttp://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:hF3zOIoNU3AJ:www.springer.com/%3FSGWID%3D4-102-45-105452-0+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

http://nopr.niscair.res.in/handle/123456789/7326http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK22528/http://www.news.illinois.edu/news/09/0610chemistry.htmlhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21121666