Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) form an interesting group of fully biobased polymers, which have the potential to replace many currently fossil-based materials. However, the huge design space of more than a hundred different monomers and their different combinations in random and block copolymer structures remains largely unexplored. We combine synthetic biology, polymer science, and physics-based modelling with the aim to improve PHA material properties and reveal the potential of yet undiscovered PHA structures.
Our synthetic biology approach has focused thus far on controlling PHA copolymer structure in recombinant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have used modified Tet-On system to control expression of lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldhA) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Binding of synthetic transcription factors upstream from ldhA was adjusted by varying doxycycline concentration in the cultivation media. With this method, we produced a set of poly(D-lactate-co-3 hydroxybutyrate) [P(LA-3HB)] copolymers with varying D-lactate monomer contents from 6 mol% to
93 mol%. We are currently analyzing thermal and barrier properties of these different P(LA-3HB) copolymers to create a validation database for our modelling approaches.
At the same time, we are developing both physics-based and data-driven modelling workflows to understand how material properties follow from the primary structure of the studied polymers. Our first analyses target the barrier performance of PHA films, based on molecular simulation of permeant solubility and transport. Ultimately, we aim for a modelling platform for testing novel PHA designs before their experimental synthesis.
Our synthetic biology approach has focused thus far on controlling PHA copolymer structure in recombinant yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We have used modified Tet-On system to control expression of lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldhA) from Leuconostoc mesenteroides. Binding of synthetic transcription factors upstream from ldhA was adjusted by varying doxycycline concentration in the cultivation media. With this method, we produced a set of poly(D-lactate-co-3 hydroxybutyrate) [P(LA-3HB)] copolymers with varying D-lactate monomer contents from 6 mol% to
93 mol%. We are currently analyzing thermal and barrier properties of these different P(LA-3HB) copolymers to create a validation database for our modelling approaches.
At the same time, we are developing both physics-based and data-driven modelling workflows to understand how material properties follow from the primary structure of the studied polymers. Our first analyses target the barrier performance of PHA films, based on molecular simulation of permeant solubility and transport. Ultimately, we aim for a modelling platform for testing novel PHA designs before their experimental synthesis.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 14 Sept 2023 |
| MoE publication type | Not Eligible |
| Event | 11th European Symposium on Biopolymers - Brno Observatory and Planetarium, Brno, Czech Republic Duration: 13 Sept 2023 → 15 Sept 2023 https://esbp2023.com/ |
Conference
| Conference | 11th European Symposium on Biopolymers |
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| Abbreviated title | ESBP2023 |
| Country/Territory | Czech Republic |
| City | Brno |
| Period | 13/09/23 → 15/09/23 |
| Internet address |
Funding
Maj and Tor Nessling Foundation, Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation (for the Center for Young Synbio Scientists), Finnish Cultural Foundation, Research Council of Finland, Life Inspired Hybrid Materials (LIBER) Center of Excellence Programme