Multi-Modal Imager of Metabolome and Enzyme Dynamics for Co- Optimizing Yields and Titers in Biofuel Producing Microorganisms
EMSL Project ID
51397
Abstract
As part of the Vasdekis DOE Bioimaging project, this work is focused on optimizing bioproduction, using a test case of lipid production in oleaginous yeast, Yarrowia lipolytica. The end goal is proper optimization of microorganisms by metabolic engineering so that they can economically convert cellulosic biomass to TAG, and thus biodiesel or other useful bioproducts. The approach of this bioimaging project is to address metabolic trade-offs between growth and production by researching several aspects of biological imaging:• Understand the interplay of compartmentalization with bioproduction of fuels, by how metabolic compartmentalization impacts metabolic trade-offs, namely the role of compartmentalization on enzyme activity and metabolite transport
• Instrument development (done at U of I) for simultaneous imaging of metabolites and key metabolic enzymes. Imaging capabilities will measure: (i) tradeoffs between growth and production; (ii) relative spatiotemporal placement of bioproduction enzymes; (iii) uptake and consumption of nutrients. The instrument will show subcellular resolution and minimal toxicity using holography and lattice light sheet imaging. Results of this imaging can be computationally analyzed to detect specific subcellular compartments in a high throughput manner.
• Lastly, nutrient fate will also be tracked by chemical imaging using Raman Scattering (UI).
Strain construction/screening to investigate metabolic tradeoffs and enzyme localization is expected to take place at EMSL. These strains will be used for further imaging experiments at U of I.
Project Details
Start Date
2020-04-02
End Date
2022-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator