I-Corps: Novel Bio-Based Chemical Feedstocks for the Polymer Industry

这个创新团队项目将探索开发基于3-酮酰基ACP合成酶III(KASIII)酶的市场化创新的潜力。KASIII催化脂肪酸生物合成中的第一个碳-碳形成反应，从而决定所产生的脂肪酸欧米伽的化学性质。这项拟议的创新是基于生物催化剂KASIII的工程化，并将导致生产双功能分子，这些分子可以作为制造生物基塑料的单体敲击器。这一创新将为新兴的生物可再生化学工业提供新型的双功能、生物基原料，用于生产新型的“绿色”塑料和特种化学品。拟议的i-Corps团队设想了一种技术，该技术最初的目标是合成羟基脂肪酸，但可以很容易地发展到生产其他双功能单体(例如，可用于生产聚酰胺的氨基酸-脂肪酸)。如果成功，这项技术将导致化学产品可以作为石油基化学产品的替代品，并成为新型生物基产品的前体。

This Innovation Corps project will explore the potential of developing a marketable innovation based on the use of 3-ketoacyl ACP synthase III (KASIII) enzymes. KASIII catalyzes the first carbon-carbon forming reaction in fatty acid biosynthesis, and thus determines the chemical nature of the omega of the fatty acids produced. The proposed innovation is based on engineering of of the biocatalyst, KASIII, and would result in the production of bi-functional molecules that can act as the monomer percusors for making bio-based plastics. This innovation will provide novel bi-functional, bio-based feed stocks to the emerging bio-renewable chemical industry for the production of novel "green" plastics and specialty chemicals. The proposed I-Corps team envisions a technology that will be initially targeted to the synthesis of hydroxy-fatty acids, but can be readily advanced upon to produce other bi-functional monomers (e.g., amino-fatty acids, which can be used to produce polyamides). If successful, this technology will lead to chemical products that can act as substitutes for petroleum-based chemical products, and be precursors for novel bio-based products.