Genome-scale metabolic modelling to optimise high value biomanufacturing

Ingenza, Lucite and the University of Cambridge will apply innovative genome-scale flux balance analysis to rationally redesign the biochemistry of this organism to synthesise a high value polymer intermediate. Lucite, a UK based global leader in acrylic polymer manufacture will provide expert downstream chemistry, engineering and the route to market for the resulting bioprocess, replacing petrochemical derived feedstocks. Model-driven synthetic biology will overcome limitations of more random, iterative approaches, providing a new manufacturing platform, in an industrially compatible timeframe. Combinatorial genetics will construct the engineered microbes and plant design modelling by the end user will assess manufacturing options. Thus, the project combines bioinformatics, molecular biology and engineering to produce a suitable, safe and sustainable bioroute to one of the world’s most important and valuable industrial products.