The world’s need for renewable sources of chemicals is increasing as a means to minimize the harmful effects of carbon dioxide on our atmosphere and to replace our limited petroleum reserves. Photosynthetic organisms are capable of utilizing light to recycle carbon dioxide and produce industrial chemicals through metabolic engineering. Previously, we have genetically engineered Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, a photosynthetic microbe, to produce 2,3-butanediol (BDO) from pyruvate by installing three enzymes. We are now exploring ways of controlling the expression of the BDO pathway to achieve efficient and robust production. The BDO pathway has been controlled by addition of a costly signaling compound that must be chemically synthesized. Alternatively, we are exploring quorum sensing as a cost efficient process to maintain control through the use of cell density dependent gene activation. To achieve this, we are adapting the quorum sensing system from Vibrio fischeri to S. elongatus to facilitate expression of the BDO pathway. We have identified an optimum strength of the quorum sensing promoter for auto-induction of BDO production in S. elongatus. We will further modify the auto-inducible system for efficient BDO production.

Metabolic engineering in cyanobacteria: Utilizing quorum sensing to control production of 2,3-butanediol

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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