Tuesday, January 6th, 2015 

1:10 PM, 2045 Bainer Hall 

Topic: "Systematic construction of biosynthetic pathways for chemical production" 

Speaker: Dr. Shota Atsumi, Assistant Professor 
Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis 

Abstract 
Whole-cell biocatalysts have gained increased interest as a method for producing chemicals and fuels renewably due to concerns over future fossil fuel supplies and environmental impacts. Using an intact microorganism as a catalyst offers several advantages over conventional synthesis: 1. high enantioselectivity, 2. high regioselectivity, 3. self-replicating, 4. self-maintaining, and 5. high multistep efficiency from a renewable carbon source. We engineered Escherichia coli to expand natural metabolism and produce several target chemicals specifically and efficiently through systematic comparison of components in each step of the biosynthetic pathway and careful matching of genes, pathway, and chemical toxicity to the chosen host. We expanded this strategy to cyanobacteria. Cyanobacteria offer advantages to microbial chemical production from CO2, including use of non-arable land, high-efficiency photon harvesting, and direct conversion of CO2 without a biomass intermediate. 

Coffee and cookies will be served.