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

该创新团队项目将探索开发基于使用3-酮脂酰ACP合成酶III（KASIII）酶的可销售创新的潜力。KASIII催化脂肪酸生物合成中的第一个碳-碳形成反应，因此决定了所产生的脂肪酸的ω的化学性质。拟议的创新是基于生物催化剂KASIII的工程，并将导致双功能分子的生产，这些分子可以作为制造生物基塑料的单体聚合物。这项创新将为新兴的生物可再生化学工业提供新型双功能生物基原料，用于生产新型“绿色”塑料和特种化学品。拟议中的I-Corps团队设想了一种技术，该技术最初将针对羟基脂肪酸的合成，但可以很容易地发展到生产其他双官能单体（例如，氨基脂肪酸，其可用于生产聚酰胺）。如果成功，这项技术将导致化学产品，可以作为石油化工产品的替代品，并成为新的生物基产品的前体。

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.