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Enabling Agile Biomanufacturing with Leading Edge Analytical Biology


EMSL Project ID
49094

Abstract

This proposed EMSL User project supports a larger multi-lab "Agile Biomanufacturing" project (LBNL, PNNL, SNL). Through the EMSL’s leading edge analytical biology, GC and LC mass spectrometry, next-generation sequencing and 13C metabolic flux analysis, analytical results required for monitoring RNA, protein and metabolites and for assessing the impact of introducing new pathways into host organisms through identification of host genomic modifications necessary to relieve bottlenecks in the production of adipic acid will be provided to guide the larger multi-lab project. The DOE's Biological Systems Science Division supports fundamental research and technology development to advance DOE missions in energy and the environment. Genome science contributes to the foundational knowledge needed for effectively redesigning microbes. Successful application of the EMSL-based results from this project will demonstrate the important role that these EMSL analytical capabilities can play in enabling the rapid engineering cycles necessary for competitive development of new production hosts and pathways. This EMSL project will showcase the EMSL analytical biology capabilities and demonstrate their usefulness to the broader research community. The results of this project and the larger multi-lab project will have application for entities interested in development of production hosts such as enzyme companies, biofuel companies, biochemical companies, academics, and national laboratory scientists. This EMSL project as part of the multi-lab project provides the opportunity to demonstrate that EMSL capabilities in analytical biology can serve dual purposes, that of increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding for effective redesign of organisms and enabling the rapid engineering cycles that are key to success of more applied technical endeavors such as production and production improvements for a targeted end product. Adipic acid has been identified by the DOE and industry as a key enabling co-product for the production of advanced biofuels, both from an economic and GHG perspective. It provides the benefits of enabling advanced biofuels production by diversifying the products generated from a biorefinery and enhancing the cost-competitiveness of these business models. Successful development of a robust biomanufacturing strategy and technology platform, based on the latest advances in synthetic biology and chemical catalysis would decrease both the cost and time to market by half based on previous industry experience. The ability to rapidly prototype biosynthetic pathways for existing and never-produced molecules will greatly expand this industry. The EMSL 13C metabolic flux analysis capability is key to the success of the multi-lab Agile Biomanufacturing project. The EMSL analytical capabilities in proteomics and metabolomics measurements can provide much better detail and resolution than the equipment available to collaborators at JBEI. The superior quality of analysis afforded by these EMSL capabilities is expected to add value to the knowledge and understanding gleaned from the larger Agile Biomanufacturing project while showcasing the EMSL capabilities.

Project Details

Start Date
2015-11-11
End Date
2016-09-30
Status
Closed

Team

Principal Investigator

Mark Butcher
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Co-Investigator(s)

Jon Magnuson
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Team Members

Weijun Qian
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Thomas Metz
Institution
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Scott Baker
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory

Galya Orr
Institution
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory