Team:British Columbia

Using one of nature's strongest molecules for biosynthesis

Lignocellulosic biomass is nature's greatest raw reserve of carbon for biosynthesis.

Serving as the structural support for plant cell walls, lignocellulose is an extremely strong molecule, evolved to resist degradation.

Sugars locked in the lignocellulose molecule could be used in new and existing biosynthesis pathways to create useful chemicals and biofuels.

A flexible closed system bacterial community for the direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into valued biosynthetic chemicals.

The Bacterial Community

Caulobacter crescentus: The subject of novel research at the University of British Columbia. C. crescentus can be engineered to express functional enzymes fused upon its S-Layer.

Escheria coli: Easily manipulated and cultivated in the lab, E. coli serves as a perfect host for many biosynthetic pathways that transform glucose.

The Transformation Process

C. crecentus cleaves parts of the lignocellulose molecule, releasing glucose in to the system.

E. coli takes in the glucose and, through biosynthetic pathways, converts it into valued chemicals.