Generation of biofuels from abundant non-digestible oilseed components

[33552]从可再生资源中生产生物燃料目前是一个国家感兴趣的领域。特别是丁醇异构体由于其优于乙醇的燃料特性，作为一种替代燃料而引起了人们的兴趣。拟议的研究将使用代谢工程方法，使从许多常见油籽（如大豆、棉籽和葵花籽）中分离出来的不可消化的可溶性碳水化合物部分发酵成丁醇。这些材料中有许多是生物柴油或生物乙醇生产的副产品。例如，大量富含半乳糖的可溶性碳水化合物，约占油籽重量的10%，是一种可持续但未充分利用的生物燃料原料。为此，将研究和优化工程大肠杆菌水解富含半乳糖的低聚糖并随后发酵成2-丁醇的工艺。此外，天然和工程菌株梭状芽孢杆菌也可以有效地利用这种原料。将开发梭菌工程菌株的遗传模块，使其能够有效地吸收和代谢富含半乳糖的低聚糖，并将其发酵成1-丁醇。更广泛的影响该教育计划将为生物化学工程、分子生物学和生物化学的本科生和研究生提供跨学科的培训机会。来自代表性不足群体的本科生将通过莱斯大学现有的项目被招募参加这些活动。作为拓展计划的一部分，当地高中生的课外和暑期研究经历将通过和谐科学学院（Harmony Science Academy）进行协调，这是一所以少数族裔为主的特许学校。其中一些学生将在休斯敦科学与工程博览会和国际可持续发展世界项目奥林匹克竞赛（能源、工程和环境I-SWEEP）上展示他们的作品。

1033552BennettIntellectual MeritThe production of biofuels from renewable resources is currently an area national interest. In particular, butanol isomers have gained interest as an alternative fuel due to their superior fuel properties to relative to ethanol. The proposed research will use metabolic engineering approaches to enable the fermentation of the non-digestible, soluble carbohydrate fraction isolated from many common oilseeds such as soybean, cottonseed, and sunflower seed, to butanol. Many of these materials are byproducts of biodiesel or bioethanol production. For example, large amounts of galactose-rich soluble carbohydrates, constituting approximately 10% of oil seed weight, represent a sustainable yet underutilized feedstock for biofuel. Towards this end, the hydrolysis of the galactose-rich oligosaccharides and subsequent fermentation to 2-butanol by engineered E. coli will be studied and optimized. Furthermore, natural and engineered strains of Clostridia may also be able make effective use of this feedstock. Genetic modules for engineered strains of Clostridia will be developed that enable the efficient uptake and metabolism of galactose-rich oligosaccharides and their fermentation to 1-butanol.Broader ImpactsThe education plan will provide interdisciplinary training opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students in biochemical engineering, molecular biology, and biochemistry. Undergraduate students from under-represented groups will be recruited for these activities through existing programs at Rice University. As part of the outreach plan, after school and summer research experiences for local high school students will be coordinated through the Harmony Science Academy, a largely minority charter school. Some of these students will present their work at the Science & Engineering Fair of Houston and at the International Sustainable World Project Olympiad (Energy, Engineering, & Environment I-SWEEP).