The application of modern Synthetic Biology techniques to address the production of nutritional and industrial speciality chemicals

类异戊二烯，也被称为萜类，是已知的最大和最古老的天然产物。在作物植物中，已大力增加营养类异戊二烯，如类胡萝卜素（b-胡萝卜素维生素原A）和生育酚（维生素E），作为增强营养的一种手段。在商业上，类异戊二烯被用于化妆品和香水中，并在食品和饲料中用作着色剂和营养补充剂。目前的生产平台是植物和/或微生物。生物合成的所有类异戊二烯都是通过一个共同的五碳构建块（焦磷酸异戊烯基；IPP）联系在一起的。不同的类异戊二烯可以利用相同的类异戊二烯前体，这些前体在不同的发育阶段被优先使用或引导。通过创造酶融合，可以实现改变/优化代谢物挑战的手段。这些利用柔性肽连接物的融合有可能优化一类类异戊二烯前体到所需产物的流动。实际上创造了一种人工代谢。概念验证工作已经证明了该系统在酶功能和高通量筛选方面的潜力。在拟议的项目中，代谢香叶基香叶基（C20）或法尼基（C15）二磷酸的类异戊二烯酶的融合将被创造出来，并在植物和酵母中进行测试。

Isoprenoids, also known as terpenoids represent the largest and oldest class of natural products documented. In crop plants intense efforts have been made to increase nutritional isoprenoids such as carotenoids (b-carotene provitamin A) and tocopherols (vitamin E) as a means of nutritional enhancement. Commercially isoprenoids are used in cosmetics and fragrances, and as colorants and nutritional supplements in foods and feeds. The present production platforms are either plants and/or microorganisms. Biosynthetically all isoprenoids are related via a common five carbon building block (isopentenyl pyrophosphate; IPP). Different isoprenoid classes can utilise the same isoprenoid precursors, which are preferentially used or channeled at different developmental stages. Through the creation of enzyme fusions a means of altering/optimising metabolite challenging can been achieved. These fusions which utilise flexible peptide linkers have the potential to optimise the flow of precursors from one class of isoprenoid into the desired products. In effect create an artificial metabolon. Proof of concept work has proven the potential of the system both in terms of enzymatic function and high throughput screening. In the proposed project fusions between isoprenoid enzymes metabolising geranylgeranyl (C20) or farnesyl (C15) diphosphate will be created and tested in plants and yeasts.