FURI | Fall 2022, Summer 2022

Engineering a Photosynthetic Microbe for Chemical Production

Through genetic engineering, scientists can manipulate microbial metabolism to maximize the production of a certain chemical. Cyanobacteria have previously been engineered to produce a wide variety of chemicals. That said, current efforts to increase titers in cyanobacteria have not been optimal for industrial use. Slow growth rate and low titers hinder economic feasibility. If one strain were engineered to perform multiple tasks, it would contribute toward improving the economics of the biorefinery industry. This proof of concept could be further expanded to a wider variety of chemicals.