Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Experts in Fatty Acid/Polyketide Metabolism and Microbial Engineering

Unique Expertise in Fatty Acid/Polyketide Metabolism and Microbial Engineering:
CBiRC has assembled a world-class team of scientists that are well known for their work on fatty acid/ polyketide metabolism and microbial metabolic engineering. The team is focused on the enzymes involved in Claisen condensation-based carbon-chain extension and chain termination with the aim of directing the process of fatty acid assembly in microbes.

The enzymes and proteins of interest include:
  • 3-ketoacyl-ACP Synthase,
  • Acetoacetyl-CoA
  • Acetyl-CoA/Propionyl-CoA Synthetase
  • Acyl-CoA Carboxylases
  • Methylketone Synthase
  • Thioesterases
  • Biocatalysts of the Acetyl-CoA Condensation
  • Fatty Acid Elongase
  • Biotin.

Overall Aim of the Center:
The overall aim is to engineer microbes in order to direct glucose utilization to the fatty acid or polyketide biosynthetic pathways with a goal of enhancing microbial production through targeted engineering. Combining biocatalysis with chemical catalysis opens the door to the fatty acid or polyketide-based platform chemicals (examples include carboxylic acids, ring structures and bifunctional molecules) at the heart of CBiRC’s vision.



Faculty involved in Enzyme Engineering:
Project Name: 3-ketoacyl-ACP Synthase, Acetoacetyl-CoA: Acetyl-CoA/Propionyl-CoA Synthetase; Acyl-CoA Carboxylases; Methylketone Synthase/Thioesterase; Thioesterases; Biocatalysts of the Acetyl-CoA Condensation; Fatty Acid Elongase; Biotin.
  1. Basil J. Nikolau Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology Iowa State University
  2. Joseph P. Noel Jack H. Skirball Center for Chemical Biology & Proteomics Salk Institute for Biological Studies
  3. Peter J. Reilly Chemical & Biological Engineering Iowa State University
  4. Thomas A. Bobik Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology Iowa State University
  5. David J. Oliver Genetics, Development & Cell Biology Iowa State University
  6. Eran Pichersky Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology University of Michigan


Faculty involved in Microbial Metabolic Engineering:
Project Name: Bioinformatics; Flux Analysis; Omics Experiments; Strain Characterization and Optimization
  1. Nancy A. Da Silva Chemical Engineering & Materials Science University of CaliforniaIrvine
  2. Julie A. Dickerson Electrical & Computer Engineering Iowa State University
  3. Ramon Gonzalez Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering W. M. Rice University
  4. Laura R. Jarboe Chemical & Biological Engineering Iowa State University
  5. Ka-Yiu San Bioengineering W. M. Rice University
  6. Jacqueline V. Shanks Chemical & Biological Engineering Iowa State University
  7. Eve S. Wurtele  Genetics, Development & Cell Biology Iowa State University
  8. Suzanne B. Sandmeyer Biological Chemistry University of CaliforniaIrvine