Genomatica has utilized its computational and experimental competencies in an integrated metabolic engineering platform to design, create, and optimize novel organisms and bioprocesses.  Our goal was to develop E. coli strains to produce the industrial chemical 1,4-butanediol (BDO) from carbohydrates. BDO is a four-carbon diol that currently is manufactured exclusively through various petrochemical routes. Here we describe our technology platform used to design and construct a high-performing microorganism capable of producing BDO from glucose and sucrose. The Biopathway Predictor algorithm, OptKnock methodology and metabolic models were used to design the pathway and strain. Systems biology approaches including microarrays, 13C-flux analysis, and metabolomics were applied to characterize the strain, identify targets for further improvement, and optimize the fermentation process. The presentation will show our progress in BDO titer, production rate, and yield through various strain and process improvements, resulting in a process that is being validated at the demo scale.

Design, engineering, and optimization of a microbial process for  manufacturing of 1,4-butanediol

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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