Biologically based production of commodity chemicals, such as next-generation biofuels, requires the development of synthetic pathways that are capable of channeling carbon to product at nearly quantitative yields. Understanding how individual enzymes can be taken from their native context and reconstituted to form high-flux pathways must be achieved in order to create robust systems. Towards this goal, we have assembled a synthetic pathway for the production of n-butanol from the intermediates of central metabolism. The pathway uses enzyme components from three organisms to produce n-butanol at titres above 4 g/L with yields from glucose that are comparable to the native host for n-butanol fermentation. Analysis of the pathway shows that yields can be achieved using a reaction mechanism as a kinetic control rather than relying on an irreversible physical mechanism to pull the pathway to completion.

Designing pathways for the synthesis of fuels in <i>Escherichia coli</i>

241st National Meeting (2011)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.

Designing pathways for the synthesis of fuels in Escherichia coli