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Award details
13TSB_SynBio - Rapid Engineering of Cellular Factories
Reference
BB/L004402/1
Principal Investigator / Supervisor
Dr Neil Dixon
Co-Investigators /
Co-Supervisors
Institution
The University of Manchester
Department
Chemistry
Funding type
Research
Value (£)
107,353
Status
Completed
Type
Research Grant
Start date
19/09/2013
End date
18/12/2014
Duration
15 months
Abstract
This is a collaborative R&D project, with the goal of demonstrating the rapid creation of bacterial cellular factories. Over the next 10-20 years the global chemistry using industry is predicted to undergo a major transformation. Driven by the need to develop processes that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, the industry will increasingly turn to renewable feedstocks for the manufacture of a growing range of products. It is estimated that by 2020 approximately 20% of existing chemical processes will be based on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), and advanced synthetic biology and bioprocesses. Within this project we intend to combine several novel technologies, including biopumps, riboswitches, and statistical process optimization to create engineered micro-organisms which are able to selectively import small molecules, convert them via short synthetic pathways, and export the finished molecules on a whole cell basis. This methodology has the potential to revolutionize biocatalysis and IB, and additionally constrains the technical risk, as the use of biopumps allows the optimization of only short synthetic pathways, rather than utilizing an organism's native metabolic pathways from basic feedstocks. The outputs from this grant will lead to alternative sustainable chemical production process, with the potential to reduce the reliance on petrochemically derived feedstocks. This research project will also generate technology and knowledge that will help maintain the UK's competitive edge, and will produce highly trained and skilled research personnel.
Summary
This is a collaborative R&D project, with the goal of demonstrating the rapid creation of bacterial cellular factories. Over the next 10-20 years the global chemistry using industry is predicted to undergo a major transformation. Driven by the need to develop processes that are both economically and environmentally sustainable, the industry will increasingly turn to renewable feedstocks for the manufacture of a growing range of products. It is estimated that by 2020 approximately 20% of existing chemical processes will be based on Industrial Biotechnology (IB), and advanced synthetic biology and bioprocesses. Within this project we intend to combine several novel technologies, including biopumps, riboswitches, and statistical process optimization to create engineered micro-organisms which are able to selectively import small molecules, convert them via short synthetic pathways, and export the finished molecules on a whole cell basis. This methodology has the potential to revolutionize biocatalysis and IB, and additionally constrains the technical risk, as the use of biopumps allows the optimization of only short synthetic pathways, rather than utilizing an organism's native metabolic pathways from basic feedstocks. The outputs from this grant will lead to alternative sustainable chemical production process, with the potential to reduce the reliance on petrochemically derived feedstocks. This research project will also generate technology and knowledge that will help maintain the UK's competitive edge, and will produce highly trained and skilled research personnel.
Impact Summary
WHO WILL BENEFIT: Platform and fine chemical companies, biotech companies and contract manufacturing organisations charged with producing fine and platform chemicals on the multi-kilo and -ton scale, in particular the project partner Synthace. Additionally, many chemical companies that employ biocatalysts, such as DSM, Lonza, BASF and Dr. Reddy's, could also benefit from the technologies developed here. Similarly, oil companies such as Shell and BP have invested heavily in synthetic biology programmes to engineer bacteria to produce new biofuels, where new-engineered microbial factories would be equally important. Any number of these companies could benefit through licensing agreements to use new systems based on the technologies developed in this project. HOW WILL THEY BENEFIT: We will actively seek to communicate our findings to the wider community through scientific meetings and scholarly publications (We consistently publish in top journals such as: JACS, PNAS, Angew. Chem. & Nature Chem. Biol.). However, in order for the technology we develop to become widely adopted, particularly in industry, it will be important to first secure any intellectual property rights for all new inventions we discover. As the research progresses and our relationships with interested commercial partners develop, and whilst working within the conditions of the grant, we will seek to commercially exploit these new technologies and license on IP for use in industrial-scale chemical production processes. Improvements in cell line platform development and bioprocess efficiency, generated from this grant, could lead to alternative sustainable sources for chemical production, and reduce the reliance upon petrochemical feedstocks, leading to associated potential environmental benefits. This research project will also generate technology and knowledge that will help maintain the UK's competitive edge and will produce highly trained and skilled research personnel.
Committee
Research Committee A (Animal disease, health and welfare)
Research Topics
Industrial Biotechnology, Microbiology, Synthetic Biology
Research Priority
X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative
Innovate UK (TSB) [2011-2015]
Funding Scheme
X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme
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