Engineered Microorganisms for Adipic Acid Production

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing adipic acid are inefficient and generate toxic byproducts, lacking a 'clean' and cost-effective biological pathway for industrial-scale production.

Innovation Solution

Engineered microorganisms with specific genetic modifications that enhance fatty acid production and omega and beta oxidation activities to direct carbon flux towards adipic acid production, minimizing the use of caustic chemicals and reducing toxic byproduct generation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional chemical methods are used to produce adipic acid, then production efficiency can be maintained, but toxic byproducts are generated and caustic chemicals must be used

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoxic byproductsVSAvoidproduction efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional chemical production methods with a biological system using engineered microorganisms. The microorganisms metabolize glucose through modified enzymatic pathways to produce adipic acid, substituting chemical reactions with biological metabolism. This eliminates toxic byproducts and caustic chemicals while maintaining production efficiency through optimized genetic pathways including enhanced fatty acid synthesis and beta-oxidation enzymes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If biological pathways are used to produce adipic acid, then environmental impact is reduced, but production yield is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental impactVSAvoidproduction yield

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes multiple parameters simultaneously to enhance biological production yield. This includes overexpressing key enzymes (fatty acid synthase, beta-oxidation enzymes), adjusting carbon flux distribution through genetic modifications, optimizing growth conditions, and engineering metabolic pathways to maximize adipic acid accumulation. These parameter changes transform the biological system from low-yield to industrially viable production levels while maintaining environmental benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite metabolic pathway system by combining multiple engineered components: glucose uptake systems, fatty acid synthesis pathways, omega-oxidation pathways, and beta-oxidation pathways. These composite biological systems work synergistically to convert glucose to adipic acid with high efficiency, integrating multiple functional elements into a unified production system that achieves both environmental sustainability and high productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

3Productivity

If genetic modifications are implemented to enhance fatty acid production, then carbon flux towards adipic acid increases, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecarbon flux efficiencyVSAvoidgenetic modification complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex metabolic pathway into discrete, manageable segments: glucose transport and glycolysis, fatty acid de novo synthesis, omega-oxidation to dicarboxylic acids, and beta-oxidation to adipic acid. Each segment is engineered independently with specific enzyme overexpressions or modifications. This segmentation allows systematic optimization of carbon flux through each pathway stage while simplifying the overall genetic engineering process through modular construction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 engineered microorganisms significantly increase adipic acid production yields while reducing environmental impact and operational costs, achieving a more sustainable and efficient biological production process.

Implementation Method 1

Microorganisms employ various enzyme-driven biological pathways to support their own metabolism and growth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

The pathways also can be altered to increase production or to produce different products that may be commercially valuable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 3

DNA first is transcribed into a complementary ribonucleic acid (RNA) that comprises a ribonucleotide sequence encoding the protein

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranscription:

Implementation Method 4

RNA then directs translation of the encoded protein by interaction with various cellular components, such as ribosomes

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTranslation:

Data Source

PatentUS8343752B2Biological methods for preparing adipic acid

Publication Date: 2013.01.01 RADICI CHIM

AI summary

The technology relates in part to biological methods for producing adipic acid and engineered microorganisms capable of such production.