An improved synthetic biology toolbox for developing Clostridium sp as hosts for biobutanol and commodity chemical production

我们已经确定了用于操纵梭状芽胞杆菌的合成生物学工具的局限性。在与GBL科学家讨论这个问题并考虑到与梭状芽胞杆菌合成生物学工作的最佳载体系统的特征后，我们设计了这个博士项目。它将提供对该属基因结构的基本见解，提高对半纤维素利用相关调控元件的理解，以及英国生物技术公司直接利用的载体系统。该项目将逐步建立矢量系统不同组件的知识，然后将它们结合起来，从FLEX项目的产品中产生额外的影响。这将包括设计在大肠杆菌和梭状芽胞杆菌中都有效的调控启动子。学生将使用FLEX项目中创建的合成基因库中新开发的工具。在GBL实习期间，他们将研究新系统提高木质纤维素中丁醇和其他商品化学品产量的能力。

We have identified limitations to the synthetic biology tools that are available for manipulation of Clostridium sp. Following discussion of this with GBL scientists and consideration of the features of an optimal vector system for synthetic biology work with Clostridium we have designed this PhD project. It will provide fundamental insight into gene structure in this genus, an improved understanding of regulatory elements relevant for hemicellulose utilisation, as well as vector systems for direct utilisation by a UK biotechnology company. The project will progressively build up knowledge of the different components of the vector system and then combine these to generate additional impact from the products of the FLEX project. This will include the design of regulated promoters that work well in both E. coli and Clostridium sp. The student will use the newly developed tools with the library of synthetic genes created in the FLEX project. During their placement at GBL they will study the ability of the new system to improve yields of butanol and other commodity chemicals from lignocellulose.