Team:Wisconsin/Project

Abstract

The global fuel crisis impacts our economy, national security, and environment. The need for alternative fuels is of utmost importance. Team Wisconsin used Escherichia coli to produce biofuel precursors in an effort to find these alternative fuel sources. One project focused on using E. coli to efficiently produce sorbitol, a biofuel precursor. Using computer modeling, we determined a way to funnel glycolysis’ intermediates towards the production of sorbitol via sorbitol-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Wisconsin’s second aim was to isolate high-energy precursors from the plant cell wall through E. coli mediated breakdown of cell wall lignin. This was achieved by inserting the gene encoding lignin peroxidase , found in the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, into genetically modified E. coli, capable of producing and exporting the enzyme. Both projects improve current methods in the production of alternative fuels via two different, unique routes, and have the potential to move sustainable biofuel research forward.

Introduction

In the U.S. currently, corn is used for ethanol and other biofuel production. However, only the kernel is used for fermentation despite the plant being cut at the base during harvest. The ratio of energy harnessed to energy put into ethanol production using corn is approximately 1.34:1, which is not a great ratio when you think about this method as a means for harnessing solar energy. Breakdown of cellulose for fermentation seemed the obvious next step for ethanol production as a biofuel since cellulose is the most abundant organic matter on earth (33% of plant matter). This seems to have been recently accomplished by several people with industrial production in the works. Due to the increased costs of fossil fuels and improvement in technology, it has now become cost effective to harness renewed energy whether it be directly through wind power or chemically through biofuel synthesis.

Figure 1: Map of forms of sustainable chemical production.

Figure 2: The biofuel cycle.

Overall Project

Fuel consumption has come to the forefront as an important political and biological issue. It has lead to innovative pursuits of renewable fuel as well as the controversial exploitation of natural resources. Currently ethanol is the commercial biofuel of choice; however, current production and distillation of ethanol in the United States is inefficient. With this problem in mind, the iGEM Wisconsin team is looking for alternative ways to make not only ethanol, but other biofuels through synthetic biology. We've designed the following two projects based around using E. coli to produce biofuels.

Figure 3: Flow chart illustrates the process our team followed in creating our genetically engineered cells.

One project focuses on using E. coli to produce sorbitol, a sugar alcohol, in large quantities for eventual commercial scale catalytic conversion to hydrocarbons. Along with producing sorbitol, we've modeled alterations in E. coli to make sorbitol production from a glycerol carbon source possible. Our aim is to modify a cell that will utilize glycerol, a byproduct from biodiesel production, and effectively create sorbitol.

In the other project we are attempting to use E. coli to break down lignin from plant matter. This would increase the efficiency of biofuel production from plant biomass. We are currently aiming to insert a fungal gene coding for lignin peroxidase into E. coli. Lignin breakdown will be made possible through the transport of lignin peroxidase out of the cell.

Lignin Peroxidase

Our project takes this initiative one step further by identifying and creating a means to break down lignin for fermentation as well. Lignin is the second most abundant organic substance on earth (30% of plant matter). Not only is it another largely untapped source of energy, it is one of the obstacles to cellulose fermentation efficiency. Lignin is a very complex phenyl-propane polymer that is covalently attached to cellulose. Lignin also happens to be one of the hardest organic molecules to degrade, causing challenges in cellulose fermentation. Lignin is bound to the outside of cellulose as a component of the cell wall. This hinders cellulose breakdown in nature by preventing access to cellulose as a substrate for enzymes. However, there are enzymes and organisms out there that can break down lignin. By adding genes necessary for the enzymatic breakdown of lignin to a microbe, it allows for the breakdown of lignin on a large scale, facilitating ethanol fermentation from organic matter. The white rot fungus, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, has the enzyme lignin peroxidase which seems to be promising for our purpose. If this is successful, not only will ethanol production from corn be much more efficient but other biological sources for ethanol could also be more feasible such as switch grass, wood scraps, yard waste, and really just about any plant matter readily available.

However, there are some difficulties with the implementation. Lignin is an extremely complex molecule formed by radical reactions, and it has proved very difficult to study. The mechanism of lignin peroxidase is not fully understood. Also, there could be other genes involved with lignin breakdown some of which may not even be known to the experts.

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Figure 4: Images of Lignin peroxidase. Disulphide bonds (yellow), Ca2+ ions (green spheres), Heme access channel (purple), Surface active cite (red) with hydroxylated typ171 (orange), Hydrogen peroxide active cite (tan wireframe, above heme), Heme group (CPK coloring space fill.)

In researching for an appropriate assay in analyzing the amount of lignin peroxidase produced by our E. coli strain, we found that the veratryl alcohol assay, developed in 1984, is currently the most widely used. It works by viewing the absorbance spectrum of the reaction solution. As veratryl alcohol is oxidized by lignin peroxidase over time, the optical density (OD) and wavelength of the absorbance peak changes. By observing the disappearance of the substrate (the rate of change), we can determine the amount of active enzyme in the solution.

In doing additional research we came across a newer and seemingly more effective assay—the Azure B assay. Research showed that Azure B (a blue colored dye) has a higher specificity to lignin peroxidase compared to veratryl alcohol, as veratryl alcohol can be oxidized by fungal enyzmes other than lignin peroxidase. The Azure B assay works the same way as the veratryl alcohol assay and the disappearance of the dye is measured to determine the amount of lignin peroxidase. The reaction solution comprises of a tartrate buffer (50 mM at pH 4.5), the dye Azure B (32 μM), hydrogen peroxide (100 μM), and the enzyme to be measured, lignin peroxidase.

Figure 5: Azure B. Sigma Aldrich. (2008). Retrieved Oct 18. </i>

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