ERA-NET: Thermophilic cell factories for efficient conversion of brown algae biomass to high-value chemicals

ThermoFactories has represented a concerted European effort to accelerate research and development of bioconversion organisms genetically redesigned for efficient and economical production of specific industrial compounds. We have explored and genetically engineered four metabolically different environmental bacteria, inherently suitable to harsh process conditions, for sustainable production of a number of industrially important platform and specialty chemicals, including 1,2-propanediol, cadaverine, GABA, propanol and lycopene. In parallel, feedstock development and process engineering has been a major focus to optimize fermentability of the seaweed hydrolysates, and ensure integration with downstream processing and product recovery. The two Norwegian partners NTNU and SINTEF have in particular focused on harvesting of seaweed from Norwegian cost line and preparation of hydrolysates therefor useful for bacterial cultivations. More specifically, we have demonstrated cultivations of our thermophilic model organisms Bacillus methanolicus on Saccharina latissima extracts, and demonstrated production of industrially important chemicals cadaverine and GABA from this renewable feedstock. We also demonstrated for the first time production of cadaverine under fed-batch mannitol fermentation. We experimentally confirmed that Bacillus methanolicus has a functional MEP pathway and that this bacterium can produce carotenoids from mannitol and SWE. This work has now been published (Hakvåg et al 2020; Irla et al 2020). We also demonstrated growth of B. methanolicus on alternative seaweed extracts prepared from the species Laminaria digitata together with project collaborators in Sweden, Portugal and Iceland, which was also recent published (Leila et al., 2020). Together, the project results from ThermoFactories has contributed to extending both the feedstock and product range of the industrially important bacterium Bacillus methanolicus and fully demonstrated its potential in marine bio refineries.

ThermoFactories et internasjonalt betydelig internasjonalt konsortium innenfor marin bioteknologi med utmerkede nettverks- og kommunikasjonsmuligheter. Resultater og teknologi utviklet i ThermoFactories har direkte implikasjoner for samfunnet og bidrar til bærekraftig produksjon av biobaserte produkter fra fornybare marine ressurser. Makroalger dyrkes og høstes i stor skala globalt og mye av råmaterialet er ennå underutnyttet og i dette prosjektet har vi demonstrert at vi kan opparbeide dette materialet til et glimrende vekstmedium for industrielle mikroorganismer. Koblet sammen med utvikling av mikrobielle termofile cellefabrikker har vi demonstrert hvordan marine råmaterialer kan konverteres til industrielt og medisinsk verdifulle kjemikalier (Hakvåg et al; 2020; Irla et al 2020; Leila et al 2020). ThermoFactories leverer biologiske materialer, teknologi, produkter og prosesser som er anvendelige for industrien, samt nye grunnleggende kunnskap relevant for forskning og utvikling.

Brown algae biomass is a promising and challenging resource for industrial bioconversions, but there is a need to develop efficient cell factories to convert the constituent carbohydrates into high-value added products. In this proposal, four metabolically different environmental bacteria, inherently suitable to harsh process conditions, will be engineered for production of a number of industrially important platform and specialty chemicals, including 1,2-propanediol, cadaverine, propanol and lycopene. We have selected four metabolically different chassis organisms and we will implement and integrate approaches and methodologies of microbiology, Synthetic, and Systems Biology, metabolic engineering and adaptive evolution. By rational selection of organisms followed by rounds of optimization/reconstruction using model-based metabolic engineering, thermophilic cell factories will be developed for sustainable and cost-efficient production of selected value-added chemicals. Feedstock development and process engineering are important parts, to optimize fermentability of the algal hydrolysates, and ensure integration with downstream processing and product recovery. By recruiting expertise across various disciplines, ThermoFactories represents a concerted European effort to accelerate research and development of bioconversion organisms redesigned or streamlined for efficient and economical production of specific industrial compounds. At the end of the project, use of all major carbohydrate fractions from brown algae through integrated processing will be demonstrated at small pilot scale.