Project description
Optimisation of microbial biofuel production
Microorganisms can be engineered to produce valuable compounds such as biofuels. However, cells prioritise growth over production, thereby limiting yields. Separating these two phases precisely remains technically difficult with existing tools. With the support of the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the CHIME-Z project introduces chemo-optogenetics, a technology that combines small molecules and light to control gene expression with high precision and reversibility. Using the bacterium Zymomonas mobilis as a model system, researchers will engineer genetic circuits that switch cells between growth and isobutanol production phases on demand. The approach will be validated and scaled up using lignocellulosic biomass as a feedstock, supporting sustainable biofuel production aligned with European Green Deal objectives.
Objective
Competition for metabolic/cellular resources between biomass formation (“growth”) and product synthesis (“production”) is a major bottleneck in microbial bioproduction, leading to reduced yields. Synthetic genetic circuits have aimed to decouple growth and production phases to improve yields, but current approaches based on chemical inducers or optogenetics remain inadequate for achieving efficient phase separation. CHIME-Z introduces chemo-optogenetics, a technology that combines small molecules and light to control gene expression, offering precise control, modularity, rapid reversibility, and orthogonality, thereby overcoming the limitations of existing tools. By applying chemo-optogenetics to engineer Zymomonas mobilis for isobutanol (a biofuel) production, CHIME-Z will deliver proof-of-concept for chemo-optogenetics-driven circuit design and metabolic engineering, which will find application in bioproduction. The project pursues three objectives. RO1: To develop chemo-optogenetic expression systems in E. coli and Z. mobilis, by screening libraries of DNA-binding domains and activation domains to identify combinations with minimal leakiness and high transcriptional activation. RO2: To model and construct a chemo-optogenetic circuit in Zymomonas mobilis to achieve separation of growth and isobutanol production phases, using Python-based computational modeling to predict system behavior, and genome engineering to implement a NIMPLY gate-based circuit that separates growth and isobutanol production phases. RO3: To optimize fermentation and scale-up parameters for isobutanol production from glucose and pretreated lignocellulosic biomass using the chemo-optogenetically engineered Zymomonas mobilis, through lab-scale process optimization, metabolomics-based validation, and subsequent bioreactor-based scale-up. Notably, CHIME-Z supports European Green Deal and the UNSDGs by converting lignocellulosic biomass into isobutanol through sustainable bioproduction.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology biomaterials biofuels
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology bioprocessing technologies fermentation
You need to log in or register to use this function
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.2 - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF - HORIZON TMA MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - European Fellowships
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) HORIZON-MSCA-2025-PF
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
901 87 UMEA
Sweden
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.