Exploiting native endowments by re-factoring, re-programming and implementing novel control loops in Pseudomonas putida for bespoke biocatalysis

Objective

We aim to engineer the lifestyle of Pseudomonas putida to generate a tailored, re-factored chassis with highly attractive new-to-nature properties, thereby opening the door to the production of thus far non-accessible compounds. This industrially driven project capitalises on the outstanding metabolic endowment and stress tolerance capabilities of this versatile bacterium for the production of specialty and bulk chemicals. Specifically, we will build streamlined P. putida strains with improved ATP availability utilizing this power on demand, decoupled from growth. The well-characterized, streamlined and re-factored strain platform will offer easy-to-use plug-in opportunities for novel, DNA-encoded functions under the control of orthogonal regulatory systems. To this end, we will deploy a concerted approach of genome refactoring, model-driven circuit design, implementation of ATP control loops, structured modelling and metabolic engineering. By drawing on a starkly improved, growth-uncoupled ATP-biosynthetic machinery, empowered P. putida strains will be able to produce a) n-butanol and isobutanol and their challenging gaseous derivatives 1-butene (BE) and (iso-)butadiene (BDE) using a novel, new-to-nature route starting from glucose, as well as b) new active ingredients for crop protection, such as tabtoxin, a high-value, ß-lactam-based secondary metabolite with a huge potential as a new herbicide. The game-changing innovations brought in – in particular the uncoupling of ATP-synthesis and production from growth - will provide strong versatility, enhanced efficiency and efficacy to the production processes, thereby overcoming current bottlenecks, matching market needs and fostering high-level research growth and development.

Field of science

• /natural sciences/biological sciences/genetics and heredity/genome
• /social sciences/economics and business/economics/production economics/productivity
• /natural sciences/chemical sciences/organic chemistry/alcohols
• /social sciences/economics and business/economics/bioeconomy
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/microbiology/bacteriology
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/synthetic biology
• /engineering and technology/industrial biotechnology/biomaterials/bioplastics/polyhydroxyalkanoates
• /engineering and technology/industrial biotechnology/bioprocessing technologies/biocatalysis
• /engineering and technology/industrial biotechnology/metabolic engineering
• /natural sciences/biological sciences/biochemistry/biomolecules/proteins/enzymes
• /engineering and technology/environmental biotechnology

Programme(s)

• H2020-EU.2.1.4. - INDUSTRIAL LEADERSHIP - Leadership in enabling and industrial technologies – Biotechnology

Topic(s)

• BIOTEC-1-2014 - Synthetic biology – construction of organisms for new products and processes

Call for proposal

H2020-LEIT-BIO-2014-1
See other projects for this call

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

WAGENINGEN UNIVERSITY

Address

Droevendaalsesteeg 4
6708 PB Wageningen
Netherlands

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

EU contribution

€ 1 357 753,64

Participants (9)

UNIVERSITAET STUTTGART

Germany

EU contribution

€ 1 348 266,25

Address

Keplerstrasse 7
70174 Stuttgart

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

AGENCIA ESTATAL CONSEJO SUPERIOR DEINVESTIGACIONES CIENTIFICAS

Spain

EU contribution

€ 721 875

Address

Calle Serrano 117
28006 Madrid

Activity type

Research Organisations

EIDGENOESSISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE ZUERICH

Switzerland

EU contribution

€ 0

Address

Raemistrasse 101
8092 Zuerich

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

UNIVERSIDADE NOVA DE LISBOA

Portugal

EU contribution

€ 621 250

Address

Campus De Campolide
1099 085 Lisboa

Activity type

Higher or Secondary Education Establishments

INGENZA LIMITED

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 614 500

Address

Wallace Building Roslin Biocentre
EH25 9PP Roslin

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

LIFEGLIMMER GMBH

Germany

EU contribution

€ 581 750

Address

Markelstrasse 38
12163 Berlin

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

ABENGOA RESEARCH SL

Participation ended

Spain

EU contribution

€ 128 217,61

Address

Calle Energia Solar 1 - Campus Palmas Altas Sect Sunp Gu I Parcela Ze 3
41014 Sevilla

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

BASF SE

Germany

EU contribution

€ 592 212,50

Address

Carl Bosch Strasse 38
67063 Ludwigshafen Am Rhein

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)

LUCITE INTERNATIONAL UK LIMITED

United Kingdom

EU contribution

€ 55 000

Address

Cassel Works New Road
TS23 1LE Billingham

Activity type

Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)