Cyanuric Acid – Melamine Biocatalysis Project:
Fundamental Science and Business Opportunities
PIs: Lawrence Wackett, Michael Sadowsky, Steve Heilmann
Emphasis has evolved from swimming pool clean-up to food safety. Progress includes development of an enzyme-based kit to test foods. more >>
Novel Bioderived Polyesters
PIs: Friedrich Srienc, Romas Kazlauskas
Genetically engineered bacterial polymerases to produce new polymers with a range of properties including molecular weight, conductivity, stability and biodegradability.
Biocatalytic Azide Incorporation
for Proteomics and Protein Labeling
PIs: Mark Distefano, Wei-Shou Hu, Claudia Schmidt-Dannert
Have shown that certain protein substrates can be labeled with azide in vivo using a mutant enzyme. Work continues to broaden the substrate by modifying the enzyme, and a high throughput assay has been developed to test the various substrates and mutant enzymes.
Hydrothermal Carbonization of Algae
and Application of “Synthetic Coal”
PIs: Kenneth Valentas, Marc von Keitz, Fred Schendel, Paul Lefebvre, Steve Heilmann
Treatment of algae at high temperature and pressure to create a synthetic coal-like product and a byproduct with potential for use as a fertilizer. more >>
Cloning and Characterization of an
Oat2 Transporter from Humans
PIs: Robert Brooker
The human Oat 2 gene (organic anion transporter) has been cloned and expressed in yeast.
Engineering Proteins and Cellular Biocatalysts for
Electrode Binding via High Throughput in vitro Selection
PIs: Burckhard Seelig, Jeffrey Gralnick, Daniel Bond
An E. Coli gene permitting E. Coli to bind to gold surfaces has been cloned and will be tested in another bacterium.
Diverting Fatty Acid Metabolism
to Make Liquid Fuels
PIs: Romas Kazlauskas, Lawrence Wackett
Have succeeded in mimicking the production of beta-keto thioesters of CoA by enzymatically producing N-acetyl cysteamine thioester with the goal of finding a late intermediate in the synthesis of long chain fatty acids and converting it to a long chain combustible product.
High Intensity Enzymatic Biocatalysis for
Direct Conversion of Solar Energy into Chemical Fuels
PIs: Ping Wang, William Tze
An explorative study of cofactor regeneration via solar power driven water electrolysis.
Engineered “Platelets” Linking Microbial
Electrochemistry to Redox Enzymes
PIs: Daniel Bond, Stephen Campbell
One enzyme has been purified and tested for binding potential.
Engineering a Designer Cellulolytic
Ethanol-Producing Microorganism
PIs: Wei-Shou Hu, Prodromos Daoutidis, Yiannis Kaznessis
Have discovered an anaerobe that can degrade cellulose and produce ethanol.