University of Illinois

University of South Florida

Eastman Renewable Materials, LLC

Zhen Shi

Steven F Stoddard

Hans P Blaschek

Gloria C Ferreira

Described herein are methods, compositions and synthetic biology approaches for solvent production, including but not limited to butanol production. Described herein are recombinant bacteria and yeast strains which may be used in production of a solvent, including but not limited to butanol, from lignocellulosic and other plant-based feedstocks. Described herein are methods of producing solvents, including but not limited to butanol, using bacteria and yeast strains. Described herein are methods of producing organisms that display highly efficient butanol production.

Methods and compositions for producing solvents

Provided herein, is a means for development of ferrochelatase variants with improved tolerance towards N-methyl protoporphyrin. Also disclosed are cell assay systems utilizing the variants, as the variants would confer resistance to N-methyl protoporphyrin inhibition and thereby keep heme synthesis uninterrupted. The variants contain loop mutations that affect the NMPP-ferrochelatase interaction, and different degrees of NMPP tolerance are obtained with the introduction of loop mutations in wild-type ferrochelatase. Also disclosed is kinetic mechanism of inhibition of ferrochelatase by NMPP, using the disclosed variants whose mutations in the 'porphyrin-interacting loop' motif weakened the potency of NMPP as an inhibitor.

Cell modeling of heme deficiency using ferrochelatase mutations

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Growing community of inventors

Champaign, IL, United States of America

Zhen Shi