Microbial Carbon Flux Redirection for Overflow Metabolite Utilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for increasing carbon-based chemical product yield in organisms are limited by overflow metabolism, where excess carbon is lost as overflow metabolites rather than being converted into desired compounds, and traditional chemical production processes rely on fossil fuels and toxic chemicals, necessitating the development of sustainable alternatives.
Innovation Solution
Modifying organisms like Cupriavidus or Ralstonia to increase carbon uptake and alter pathways related to overflow metabolites by modifying carbon transporter proteins and genes associated with metabolites such as lactate, hydroxybutyrate, acetate, and 2,3 butanediol, using techniques like genetic engineering and genome-scale system biology to optimize carbon flux.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If nutrient limitation is applied to induce overflow metabolism, then carbon-based chemical product yield increases, but carbon is lost as overflow metabolites
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful overflow metabolites (lactate, acetate, hydroxybutyrate, 2,3-butanediol) into beneficial intermediates by engineering metabolic pathways that channel these overflow metabolites into the desired carbon-based chemical product synthesis route, thereby transforming carbon loss into carbon utilization
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies metabolic pathway parameters by overexpressing or knocking out specific genes to alter flux distribution, changing the metabolic state from overflow metabolism to productive biosynthesis while maintaining nutrient limitation conditions
2Productivity
If traditional chemical production processes are used, then production efficiency is high, but environmental harm increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional chemical production processes (which rely on fossil fuels and toxic chemicals) with biological production systems using engineered microorganisms, substituting mechanical/chemical synthesis with biochemical pathways that are environmentally friendly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental production parameters by using renewable biological feedstocks and enzymatic catalysts instead of fossil fuels and chemical catalysts, transforming the production system from polluting to sustainable while maintaining high productivity
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
Enhances carbon-based chemical product yield by redirecting carbon flux into desired compounds, reducing waste and environmental impact, and enabling the use of sustainable, environmentally friendly production methods.
Implementation Method 1
Tripartite tricarboxylate transporters (TTT) are carbon transporter proteins that use ion-electrochemical gradients to move substrates in a symporter mechanism
Data Source
AI summary
Methods for increasing carbon-based chemical product yield in an organism by increasing carbon uptake and/or altering a pathway to or from an overflow metabolite in the organism, nonnaturally occurring organisms having increased carbon-based chemical product yield with increased carbon uptake and/or an altered pathway to or from an overflow metabolite, and methods for producing a carbon-based chemical product with these organisms are provided.