From 2008.igem.org
Regulation of the synthesis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutryate) - Experimental
To be filled in soon
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Microbial Conversion of Polyethylene to Hydrocarbon Fuel
Polyethylene, the major component of plastic wares such as bags and jars, has widely been considered non-biodegradable, though recent studies have demonstrated that certain bacteria are able to metabolize polyethylene under specific conditions. (References)
Recent research in the field of synthetic biology has also revealed the capability of bacteria to synthesize replacement for crude oil and/or the various refined products of crude oil by synthesizing fatty acids--their energy storing medium--and removing the carboxyl group at the end by a decarboxylase, leaving a hydrocarbon that is the fuel. Companies such as LS9, Inc. and Amyris Biotechnologies have made great progresses in the field, to the point where they are able to engineer their bacteria to produce hydrocarbons according to their specifications.
Our project proposes the conjunction of both these processes: we, in essence, will try to engineer a bacteria (by modifying E. coli, as it seems at the present moment) to be able to metabolize polyethylene as its main carbon source, convert a significant quantity of the carbon into fatty acids, and express a decarboxylase gene so that it ultimately produces a hydrocarbon chain.
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References
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If it's green and it stinks, it's biology
If it blows up, it's chemistry
If it doesn't work, it's physics
-B. Gotwals
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