Objective
The aim is to integrate photosynthetic solar energy conversion and synthesis of volatile engine-ready transport fuel in a single photobiological process. The focus is placed on the construction of phototrophic model systems for synthesis of the short-chain alkane propane (C3H8). Propane can be used in existing engines without further chemical conversion and can be easily recovered from the production process without destructive harvesting and extraction. However, no commercial biological production process exists and there is no known metabolic pathway for short-chain alkane biosynthesis. The intention is to construct a synthetic pathway for propane biosynthesis. In order to facilitate the construction, alkane biosynthetic pathways are studied in detail and genes encoding key-enzymes are isolated from diverse organisms.
In order to directly capture solar energy to drive fuel biosynthesis, the synthetic pathways are assembled in the photosynthetic model organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Native host metabolism is thereafter optimized to maximize the delivery of metabolic precursors and reducing energy to the synthetic pathways. In order to facilitate strain construction, cyanobacterial host strains are optimized for metabolic engineering and hydrocarbon fuel biosynthesis.
The project has the ultimate aim to generate cyanobacteria strains that synthesize short-chain alkane using only light, CO2 and H2O as substrate. The project has a clear applied target with high potential for socio-economical impact and a high risk / high gain character.
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: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels renewable energy solar energy
- engineering and technology industrial biotechnology metabolic engineering
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry hydrocarbons
- natural sciences chemical sciences organic chemistry aliphatic compounds
- engineering and technology environmental engineering energy and fuels energy conversion
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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.
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.
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.
ERC-2010-StG_20091118
See other projects for this call
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.
Host institution
SW7 2AZ London
United Kingdom
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.