User:GMcArthurIV/Research: Difference between revisions

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==Research in Microbial Metabolic Engineering==
==Research in Microbial Metabolic Engineering==
UNDER CONSTRUCTION


The ability to (re)program microbial metabolism offers a sustainable alternative to chemical production from petroleum. Therefore, the goal of my research is to develop a
The ability to (re)program microbial metabolism offers a sustainable alternative to chemical production from petroleum. Therefore, the goal of my research is to develop a platform microorganism for industrial bioprocesses. In particular, I am interested in implementing novel metabolism in photosynthetic microbes such as microalgae for the direct photobiosynthesis of high-value products and commodity chemicals (e.g., biofuel). Results from this work include progress toward establishing a collection of standard biological parts, which is fundamental to the development of synthetic biology.
 
Novel metabolism implemented in microalgae may provide
 
 
The conversion of lignocellulosic raw materials to molecules suitable for liquid transportation fuel can be acheived via microbial metabolism. However, this does not usually occur naturally in a single microorganism nor does it occur efficiently.  Therefore, novel metabolism must be developed to realize the desired chemical transformation.  [http://syntheticbiology.org/ Synthetic biology] (specifically, synthetic genomics) offers an approach to truly engineering metabolic, regulatory and signaling pathways by providing well-characterized genetic modules (e.g., like those found in the [http://bioparts.org Registry of Standard Biological Parts]) that can be interchanged and composed into larger, more complex systems.  Eventually, whole-cell systems may be engineered to function or behave in a predicted manner (e.g., economically viable production of fuel from inexpensive biomass).
''Thermophile Synthetic Biology'' Thermostable enzymes and thermophilic microbes are useful in bioprocessing...
''Microalgal Metabolic Engineering''
Microalgae rule.
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==Biochemical Process Engineering==
==Biochemical Process Engineering==
Although engineered microorganisms may synthesize the desired product or products, separation processes are necessary for purification.  In addition, the bioreactor in which the microbes are grown must be optimized for the particular process and the substrate must be appropriately treated upstream of the bioreactor.  This work is focused on the development of an optimal bioreactor for the growth of the platform organism and the production of the desired product.  In addition, a novel extraction system is being developed for the facile separation of product from culture broth.
 
One of the main challenges in culturing microalgae at an industrial scale is designing a cost-effective bioreactor.  Therefore, to optimize the impact of a photosynthetic platform organism, I am working on a novel photobioreactor design.

Revision as of 12:41, 6 April 2009

George H. McArthur IV, Ph.D. student, Virginia Commonwealth University



Research in Microbial Metabolic Engineering

The ability to (re)program microbial metabolism offers a sustainable alternative to chemical production from petroleum. Therefore, the goal of my research is to develop a platform microorganism for industrial bioprocesses. In particular, I am interested in implementing novel metabolism in photosynthetic microbes such as microalgae for the direct photobiosynthesis of high-value products and commodity chemicals (e.g., biofuel). Results from this work include progress toward establishing a collection of standard biological parts, which is fundamental to the development of synthetic biology.

Biochemical Process Engineering

One of the main challenges in culturing microalgae at an industrial scale is designing a cost-effective bioreactor. Therefore, to optimize the impact of a photosynthetic platform organism, I am working on a novel photobioreactor design.

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