Projects
Projects: Summary of Projects by RegionProjects in Region Scotland involving University of Edinburgh : BB/L003910/1 |
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| Reference Number | BB/L003910/1 | |
| Title | Cellulect: A Synthetic Biology Platform for the Optimization of Enzymatic Biomass Processing | |
| Status | Completed | |
| Energy Categories | Renewable Energy Sources(Bio-Energy, Other bio-energy) 100%; | |
| Research Types | Basic and strategic applied research 100% | |
| Science and Technology Fields | BIOLOGICAL AND AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES (Biological Sciences) 100% | |
| UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation | Not Cross-cutting 100% | |
| Principal Investigator |
Prof A (Alistair ) Elfick No email address given SynthSys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology University of Edinburgh |
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| Award Type | Research Grant | |
| Funding Source | BBSRC | |
| Start Date | 30 September 2013 | |
| End Date | 29 September 2016 | |
| Duration | 36 months | |
| Total Grant Value | £359,425 | |
| Industrial Sectors | Transport Systems and Vehicles | |
| Region | Scotland | |
| Programme | ERA-NET Industrial Biotechnology (ERANETIB) | |
| Investigators | Principal Investigator | Prof A (Alistair ) Elfick , SynthSys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh (99.998%) |
| Other Investigator | Dr C (Chris ) French , SynthSys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh (0.001%) Dr L (Louise ) Horsfall , SynthSys - Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh (0.001%) |
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| Web Site | ||
| Objectives | It is abundantly apparent from the recent influx of industry leaders in many commercial sectors, eager to consider and investigate industrial biotechnology and synthetic biology routes to their products that many in manufacturing industry have begun to understand the need for sustainability through biotechnology. It is essential that biotechnology developers and providers in academia and industry recognise the need to continually improve the predictability with which biotechnology can demonstrate feasibility and deliver results rapidly. The Cellulect team believes that success of the enabling technology being developed in this project will contribute greatly to a necessary step change in the ability to implement competitive economic processes using cellulosic biomass. The project can demonstrate an extremely strong and direct commercial fit through our partner company, Ingenza Ltd. The technology developed is highly synergistic with Ingenza's existing strain development programmes in biofuel, sustainable manufacture of chemicals and many other areas. In addition to the applications already described with market leaders in bioethanol and polymer production, Ingenza is engaged at the feasibility and proposal stages with 4 additional large scale industrial partnerships, in which the efficient use of cellulosic biomass is a critical element of long-term success. Therefore, Ingenza provides a gateway to many end-users thus ensuring an immediate and substantial impact on industrial practise. |
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| Abstract | We propose to develop and implement a genetic platform for optimizing blends of enzymes for biomass processing applications, using computational modeling, combinatorial gene assembly, expression control and high-throughput screening of gene cassettes from a library of genes in modular format. In addition to providing optimal enzyme blends for any given application, analysis of the results will allow us to develop heuristics which will facilitate rational design of biomass processing systems in the future, and will lead to a deeper understanding of biomass degradation processes. The expected results are: 1 To generate a library of modular genetic parts encoding biomolecules active in biomass degradation; 2 To create a portfolio of bacterial / fungal strains with optimised degradation performance for key industrially-relevant types of biomass; 3 To define the design rules for what biomolecules are required for effective biodegradation. Exploitation will be achieved by industry partner Ingenza who provide a ready route to exploitation of this high-throughput platform technology via sale of enzyme cocktails (direct or by third party), licensed production of proprietary engineered strain to third party and/or contracted development of custom biomass-optimised strain. |
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| Data | No related datasets |
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| Projects | No related projects |
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| Publications | No related publications |
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| Added to Database | 17/03/14 | |
