Microbial Fermentation of Gaseous Substrates to Beta-Ketoadipate
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for producing sustainable fuels and chemicals from greenhouse gases like CO, CO2, and H2 are limited in efficiency and scalability, and the production of petrochemical-derived polymers like nylon 6,6 has high energy consumption and environmental impact.
Innovation Solution
A microorganism engineered with heterologous enzymes to convert succinyl-CoA to β-ketoadipate from gaseous substrates like CO, CO2, and H2, which can then be used to produce β-ketoadipate-nylon polymers, offering a more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly alternative to traditional petrochemical processes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If gas fermentation technology is used to produce sustainable fuels and chemicals from greenhouse gases, then environmental impact is reduced and sustainability is improved, but technical challenges and process complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts harmful greenhouse gases (CO, CO2, H2) into valuable chemical products (β-ketoadipate and polymers) through engineered microbial fermentation. The microorganism is designed to utilize these waste gases as carbon and energy sources, transforming environmental pollutants into useful materials for polymer production, thereby resolving the contradiction between environmental benefit and process complexity.
2Productivity
If traditional petrochemical processes are used to produce polymers like nylon 6,6, then production efficiency is high, but energy consumption and environmental impact increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameters of polymer production by switching from petrochemical feedstocks to gaseous substrates (CO, CO2, H2). This parameter change enables the use of microbial fermentation pathways that operate under milder conditions with lower energy input compared to traditional high-temperature petrochemical processes, while maintaining productivity through engineered metabolic pathways.
3Adaptability or versatility
If new metabolic pathways are engineered in microorganisms to produce β-ketoadipate from gaseous substrates, then product versatility is improved, but genetic modification complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the metabolic pathway into distinct enzymatic steps, each catalyzed by a specific heterologous enzyme. The pathway is divided into: (1) CO/CO2/H2 conversion to acetyl-CoA via Wood-Ljungdahl pathway, (2) acetyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA conversion, and (3) succinyl-CoA to β-ketoadipate conversion via introduced enzymes. This segmentation allows for targeted genetic modification and easier optimization of each step independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses succinyl-CoA as a key intermediary metabolite that connects the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (converting CO/CO2/H2 to acetyl-CoA) with the β-ketoadipate production pathway. This intermediary enables the integration of different metabolic routes and facilitates the conversion of gaseous substrates into the target polymer monomer through a coordinated series of enzymatic reactions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The microorganism enables the efficient conversion of gas feedstocks into high-value polymers with improved performance characteristics, such as higher glass transition and melting temperatures, and lower water permeability, while diverting waste materials into recyclable products, potentially enabling a circular economy.
Implementation Method 1
The microorganism comprises a Wood-Ljungdahl pathway that converts CO, CO2, and/or H2 to acetyl-CoA
Implementation Method 2
the enzyme that converts succinyl-CoA to 3-oxoadipyl-CoA is 3-oxoadipyl-CoA thiolase (EC 2.3.1.-)
Implementation Method 3
the enzyme that converts 3-oxoadipyl-CoA to β-ketoadipate is thioesterase (EC 3.1.2.20)
Data Source
AI summary
Provided herein are microorganisms and methods for fermentative production of β-ketoadipate from gaseous substrates such as carbon dioxide (CO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and/or hydrogen (H2). Additionally, the processes provided herein are methods for producing polymers containing β-ketoadipate, that can potentially enable a circular economy by diverting waste, e.g., plastic waste.