RIG: Engineering Streptomyces Bacteria as Lignocellulosic Biorefineries

发展可再生能源以取代化石燃料是极其重要的。植物生物量，主要是木质纤维素，作为一种可再生能源具有很大的前景。木质纤维素的开发可能涉及使用微生物将其转化为燃料，如乙醇、丁醇或从三酰基甘油和蜡酯中提取的生物柴油。链霉菌是生活在土壤中的放线菌的一个大属，具有作为木质纤维素生物炼制物的巨大潜力，因为已知它们能代谢木质纤维素的成分，并能生产生物燃料。虽然我们对链菌如何降解纤维素和半纤维素了解甚多，但相对而言，我们对链菌分解纤维素中木质素成分的遗传和生物化学机制知之甚少。了解木质素解聚和分解代谢对于利用链霉菌生产木质纤维素生物燃料至关重要。该项目将采用分子生物学和微生物学方法来阐明木质素的降解，并为微生物将植物生物质转化为生物燃料奠定基础。木质素降解在真菌中被很好地理解，但在细菌中却很少被表征。因此，该项目将使这一基本的生化过程在不同的生命王国进行令人信服的比较。更广泛的影响。首席研究员是一个代表性不足的群体的成员，他招募了妇女和代表性不足的群体加入他的研究。为了进一步让弱势群体的个人参与进来，他与母校莫尔豪斯学院（Morehouse College）建立了合作关系。莫尔豪斯学院是一所历史悠久的黑人学院。在项目期间，他将在他的实验室接待一名来自莫尔豪斯的学生进行指导研究。这位首席研究员还通过与东普罗维登斯高中的教师和学生建立不同寻常的伙伴关系，将研究和教育结合起来。他正在共同努力发现新的木质纤维素降解链菌。这个合作项目将使学生接触研究方法，提高科学素养。

Intellectual MeritThe development of renewable energy sources to supplant fossil fuels is of utmost importance. Plant biomass, chiefly lignocellulose, has great promise as a renewable source of energy. Exploitation of lignocellulose is likely to involve the use of microorganisms that can convert it into fuels like ethanol, butanol, or biodiesel derived from triacylglycerols and wax esters. Streptomyces bacteria, a large genus of soil-dwelling actinobacteria, have great potential as lignocellulose biorefineries because they are known to metabolize components of lignocellulose and can produce biofuels. While much is known how streptomycetes degrade cellulose and hemicellulose, comparatively little is known about the genetics and biochemistry underlying their catabolism of the lignin component of lignocellulose. An understanding of lignin depolymerization and catabolism is essential for exploitation of Streptomyces bacteria for the production of lignocellulosic biofuels. The project will employ molecular biology and microbiology methods to shed light on lignin degradation and lay the groundwork for microbial conversion of plant biomass into biofuels. Lignin degradation is well understood in fungi, but it is poorly characterized in bacteria. Thus, the project will enable compelling comparisons of this fundamental biochemical process in different kingdoms of life. Broader Impacts. The principal investigator is a member of an under-represented group and has recruited women and under-represented groups to join him in his research. To further involve individuals from under-represented groups, he has formed a partnership with his alma mater, Morehouse College, a historically black college. During the project, he will host a student from Morehouse in his laboratory for mentored research. The principal investigator is also integrating research and education through an unusual partnership with teachers and their students at East Providence High School. He is jointly working to discover new lignocellulolytic streptomycetes. The collaborative project will expose students to research methods and raise scientific literacy.