RIG: Engineering Streptomyces Bacteria as Lignocellulosic Biorefineries

RIG：将链霉菌工程化为木质纤维素生物精炼厂

• 批准号: 0920713
• 负责人: Jason Sello
• 金额: $ 17.01万
• 依托单位: Brown University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-08-15 至 2011-07-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0920713&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: RIG; Engineering; Streptomyces; Bacteria; Lignocellulosic

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.

智力优势开发可再生能源以取代化石燃料至关重要。植物生物质，主要是木质纤维素，作为可再生能源具有广阔的前景。木质纤维素的利用可能涉及使用微生物，将其转化为燃料，如乙醇、丁醇或从三酰甘油和蜡酯衍生的生物柴油。链霉菌是土壤中的放线菌的一个大属，作为木质纤维素生物精炼厂具有巨大的潜力，因为它们已知可以代谢木质纤维素的成分并可以生产生物燃料。虽然人们对链霉菌如何降解纤维素和半纤维素了解甚多，但对其木质纤维素的木质素成分分解代谢背后的遗传学和生物化学知之甚少。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降解，并为植物生物质微生物转化为生物燃料奠定基础。真菌中的木质素降解已被充分了解，但细菌中的木质素降解却知之甚少。因此，该项目将对不同生命领域的这一基本生化过程进行令人信服的比较。更广泛的影响。首席研究员是代表性不足群体的成员，并招募了女性和代表性不足的群体加入他的研究。为了进一步让来自代表性不足群体的个人参与进来，他与母校莫尔豪斯学院（一所历史悠久的黑人学院）建立了合作伙伴关系。在该项目期间，他将接待一名来自莫尔豪斯的学生在他的实验室进行指导研究。首席研究员还通过与东普罗维登斯高中教师和学生的不寻常合作，将研究和教育结合起来。他正在共同致力于发现新的木质纤维素链霉菌。该合作项目将使学生了解研究方法并提高科学素养。