Recombinant Microorganisms for Insect Pheromone Biosynthesis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The high cost of synthesizing insect pheromones using current techniques limits their widespread use in pest control, as they are not economically viable for widespread application beyond high-value crops, and conventional insecticides have led to resistant pests and environmental damage.
Innovation Solution
Development of recombinant microorganisms capable of producing a wide range of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates, including synthetic insect pheromones, using low-cost feedstocks through biosynthesis pathways that include fatty-acyl desaturases, reductases, and conjugases, allowing for cost-efficient production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional insecticides are used for pest control, then rapid and reliable pest control is achieved, but environmental damage and pest resistance occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful effect of chemical insecticides into a beneficial biological control method by using recombinant microorganisms that naturally produce pheromones. The microorganisms are engineered to express desaturase enzymes that convert saturated fatty acids into unsaturated pheromone precursors, transforming a harmful chemical approach into a beneficial biological one that eliminates environmental damage while maintaining pest control effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical system of synthetic insecticide application with a biological system using recombinant microorganisms. Instead of applying synthetic chemicals, the system uses genetically engineered microorganisms that autonomously produce and release pheromones, substituting a complex chemical synthesis and application mechanism with a self-sustaining biological process
2Reliability
If synthetic pheromones are produced using current techniques, then insect population control is achieved, but production cost is very high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by engineering microorganisms to autonomously produce pheromones through their own metabolic pathways. The recombinant microorganisms express desaturase enzymes that convert endogenous saturated fatty acids into unsaturated pheromone precursors without requiring external chemical inputs, making the production process self-sustaining and eliminating costly external reagents and complex synthesis steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental production parameter from chemical synthesis to biological biosynthesis. By introducing desaturase gene expressions into microorganisms, the system transforms the production pathway from expensive multi-step chemical reactions to a single-step enzymatic conversion using the microorganism's native fatty acid metabolism, dramatically reducing production costs while maintaining pheromone quality
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
Enables the cost-effective production of insect pheromones and related compounds, providing a sustainable alternative to conventional insecticides by utilizing recombinant microorganisms to biosynthesize unsaturated fatty compounds, thus addressing the economic and environmental limitations of current methods.
Implementation Method 1
at least one exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty-acyl desaturase that catalyzes the conversion of a saturated C6-C24 fatty acyl-CoA to a corresponding mono- or poly-unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acyl-CoA
Implementation Method 2
at least one exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding a fatty aldehyde forming fatty-acyl reductase that catalyzes the conversion of the mono- or poly-unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acyl-CoA from into the corresponding mono- or poly-unsaturated C6-C24 fatty aldehyde
Implementation Method 3
at least one endogenous or exogenous nucleic acid molecule encoding an acetyl transferase capable of catalyzing the conversion of the mono- or poly-unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohol from (b) into a corresponding mono- or poly-unsaturated C6-C24 fatty acetate
Data Source
AI summary
The present application relates to recombinant microorganisms useful in the biosynthesis of unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. The recombinant microorganisms may express enzymes or enzyme variants useful for production of and/or may be modified to downregulate pathways to shunt production toward unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates. The C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates described herein may be used as substrates for metathesis reactions to expand the repertoire of target compounds and pheromones. The application further relates to recombinant microorganisms co-expressing a pheromone pathway and a pathway for the production of a toxic protein, peptide, oligonucleotide, or small molecule suitable for use in an attract-and-kill pest control approach. The application further relates to microorganisms modified to express or downregulate enzymes useful for production of unsaturated short chain fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates which may be useful as insect pheromones, fragrances, flavors, and polymer intermediates. Also provided are methods of producing unsaturated C6-C24 fatty alcohols, aldehydes, and acetates using the recombinant microorganisms, as well as compositions comprising the recombinant microorganisms and/or optionally one or more of the product alcohols, aldehydes, or acetates.