Directed evolution of squalene-converting biosynthetic pathways

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15H04189
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Biofunction/Bioprocess
• Research Institution: Chiba University
• Principal Investigator: Umeno Daisuke 千葉大学, 大学院工学研究院, 准教授 (00400812)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 河合 繁子 千葉大学, 大学院工学研究院, 助教 (40638920)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 合成生物学 / 進化分子工学 / スクリーニング / トリテルペン / オキシドスクアレン / 環化酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

All of the > 30,000 trierpenoinds are synthesized via squalene. To start accessing those structurally and functionally diverse compounds, we have developed a novel screening system to visualize squalene consumption. By using this as a screening principle, we have identified activity mutants of squalene cyclizing enzymes, enabling efficient microbial synthesis of cyclic triterpenoids. By combining these mutant enzymes with pathways for squalene-like molecules, we succeeded in establishing pathways toward numbers of novel compounds that have not been previously reported.

Free Research Field

進化合成生物学