An itaconic acid, a branched 5-dicarboxylic acid, has been identified worldwide as one of the top key building block chemicals, which can be produced biochemically. Due to the availability of two carboxylic groups and a double bond, the itaconic acid is considered a versatile platform molecule for a variety of added-value chemicals. The largest application of itaconic acid can be found in its derivative methacrylic acid and other methacrylates, which have a large market and promising forecasts. Besides, it can serve as building block for biodegradable polyesters. Since there is no chemical synthesis route available for itaconic acid synthesis, a significant research effort has been dedicated to the biotechnological production of itaconic acid. However, the developed bio based approaches use carbohydrates or organic acids as a carbon source, components of plant biomass, undesirably competing with the food chain. Here, we propose to characterise metabolism of branched C5-dicarboxylic acids (BC5-DAs) and utilise the obtained knowledge for engineering of a chemolithoautotrophic bacterium Cupriavidus necator for itaconic acid production from carbon dioxide (CO2). This will provide a sustainable alternative to the current carbohydrate-based production process enabling the use of inorganic C1 feedstock derived from non-food sources.
Remarkably, the itaconic acid has recently emerged as a key regulatory component involved in the development and progression of inflammation and immunity, and it has been implicated as an anti-pathogenic agent. Other BC5-DAs along with the itaconic acid are now considered as promising candidates for treatment of infection. However, the understanding of the metabolic relationship between BC5-DAs and knowledge of genes involved are limited. The proposed research will further unravel genetic basis and metabolism of branched 5-carboxylic acids in C. necator deciphering common characteristics for many bacteria including pathogens.
Project funding:
Projects funded by the Research Council of Lithuania (RCL), Projects carried out by researchers’ teams
Project results:
Bus viešinami projektui pasibaigus
Project documents:
Investigation of branched C5-dicarboxylic acid metabolism and development of chemolithoautotrophic cell factory for itaconic acid production from carbon dioxide | DOCX |
Period of project implementation: 2024-10-01 - 2027-03-31
Project coordinator: Kaunas University of Technology
