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Using Synthetic Biology to Engineer Living Cells That Interface with Programmable Materials

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Styrene biosynthesis from glucose by engineered E. coli.

Rebekah McKenna¹, David R Nielsen

¹Chemical Engineering, Arizona State University, 501 E. Tyler Mall, Tempe, AZ 85287-6106, USA.

Metabolic Engineering

|July 5, 2011

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Researchers engineered a novel metabolic pathway for microbial styrene production from glucose. This sustainable approach utilizes engineered Escherichia coli to convert renewable feedstocks into styrene, approaching toxicity thresholds.

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Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Metabolic Engineering
Synthetic Biology

Background:

Styrene is a high-volume petrochemical crucial for polymer synthesis.
Current styrene production relies on fossil fuels, posing environmental concerns.
Developing sustainable alternatives for styrene production is an ongoing challenge.

Purpose of the Study:

To engineer a de novo metabolic pathway for microbial synthesis of styrene from renewable resources.
To identify and co-express key enzymes for efficient styrene production in a microbial host.
To achieve industrially relevant titers of styrene from a sustainable feedstock.

Main Methods:

Designed and implemented a novel metabolic pathway in Escherichia coli.
Co-expressed phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and trans-cinnamate decarboxylase (FDC) enzymes.
Screened isoenzymes from bacterial, yeast, and plant sources for optimal activity.
Over-expressed selected enzymes (PAL2 from Arabidopsis thaliana, FDC1 from Saccharomyces cerevisiae) in an engineered E. coli strain.

Main Results:

Successfully produced styrene from glucose via a metabolically engineered E. coli host.
Achieved styrene titers of up to 260 mg/L in shake flask cultures.
The engineered pathway demonstrated efficient conversion of l-phenylalanine to styrene.
The achieved titers approach the known styrene toxicity threshold of approximately 300 mg/L.

Conclusions:

This study presents the first report of microbial styrene production from sustainable feedstocks.
The developed metabolic pathway offers a promising bio-based alternative to petrochemical styrene synthesis.
Further optimization could lead to economically viable and environmentally friendly styrene production.