Project description DEENESFRITPL Novel biosensors for the microbial production factories Microbial cell factories represent an economical and sustainable alternative for the production of pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals. The lack of high-throughput methods for monitoring product accumulation is one of the obstacles in this process. The EU-funded GPCR-Sensor project aims to use G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), the eukaryotes' environmental sensors, to create a versatile in vivo biosensor. The research will apply synthetic biology and an interdisciplinary approach to develop a yeast-based GPCR biosensor for the engineering of enzymes and production hosts. The modular biosensor structure will allow any GPCR to be plugged in, enabling a variety of applications, both biomedical and environmental. Show the project objective Hide the project objective Objective Microbial cell factories are an economical and sustainable alternative for the production of pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and other valuable chemicals. However, establishing efficient cell factories requires optimized production strains and efficient biosynthetic enzymes, and involves extensive protein and metabolic engineering to achieve industrially relevant yields. One of the main hurdles frequently encountered in this process is the lack of high-throughput methods for monitoring product accumulation. To overcome this limitation, I will harness G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), the unique molecular entities that eukaryotes use to sense their environment, to create a versatile in vivo biosensor. I will apply synthetic biology principles and an interdisciplinary approach to develop a yeast-based GPCR biosensor for the engineering of enzymes and production hosts. However, enzyme engineering is only one of the potential applications of GPCR-sensor. Its modular structure permits plugging in any GPCR, enabling a great variety of other powerful applications including bio-medical applications, such as recognition of pathogen epitopes, molecular diagnostics and drug discovery, or environmental applications, such as determining the presence of pollutants from environmental samples. In the GPCR-sensor project, I will combine my knowledge in natural product biosynthesis and enzymology with training in biochemical engineering and biotechnology to acquire a unique expertise that will help me establish my own unique line of research. Furthermore, the comprehensive professional development program, that is an integral part of GPCR-sensor, includes close mentoring in addition to training in fund-rising, research management, communication, teaching and academic leadership. These skills that are Instrumental for launching my future independent internationally competitive research career Fields of science engineering and technologyindustrial biotechnologymetabolic engineeringengineering and technologychemical engineeringbiochemical engineeringengineering and technologyenvironmental biotechnologybiosensingnatural sciencesbiological sciencessynthetic biologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsenzymes Keywords Metabolic engineering Synthetic biology Cell factories High-value compounds Plant specialized metabolites isoprenoids Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Topic(s) MSCA-IF-2018 - Individual Fellowships Call for proposal H2020-MSCA-IF-2018 See other projects for this call Funding Scheme MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF) Coordinator KOBENHAVNS UNIVERSITET Net EU contribution € 207 312,00 Address NORREGADE 10 1165 Kobenhavn Denmark See on map Region Danmark Hovedstaden Byen København Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 207 312,00
