Transformed microorganism and method of producing polyhydroxyalkanoate using the microorganism
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Solution Overview
Problem
The separation and collection of microbial cells producing polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are inefficient due to their small size, leading to high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A transformed microorganism with reduced expression of A1386 and/or A2405 genes and enhanced expression of minC and minD genes, particularly in Cupriavidus necator, which increases cell size and facilitates easier separation and collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If microbial cells are used for PHA production, then PHA accumulation is achieved, but cell size remains small making separation and collection inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the physical parameter of cell size by genetic modification (overexpressing minCD or disrupting peptidoglycan synthase genes) to improve separation efficiency while maintaining PHA accumulation capability
2Ease of operation
If cell size is increased to improve separation efficiency, then separation and collection become easier, but production cost increases due to complex genetic modification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The invention modifies genetic parameters (overexpressing minCD or disrupting peptidoglycan synthase genes) to change cell size, which improves separation efficiency. The cost-benefit balance is achieved by selecting from multiple genetic modification strategies with varying complexity
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a transformed microorganism that has a polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase gene and in which expression of an A1386 gene and/or an A2405 gene is reduced. In the transformed microorganism, expression of a minC gene and a minD gene may be enhanced. Also provided is a method of producing a PHA, the method including the step of culturing the transformed microorganism in the presence of a carbon source.