Science Daily June 30, 2022
An international team of researchers (Denmark, USA – Lawrence Berkely National Laboratory, Sandia National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, UC Berkeley) explored the chemical diversity encoded in thousands of bacterial genomes to identify and repurpose naturally occurring cyclopropanated molecules. They identified a set of candidate iterative polyketide synthases (iPKSs) predicted to produce polycyclopropanated fatty acids (POP-FAs), expressed them in Streptomyces coelicolor, and produced POP-FAs. By determining the structure of the molecules, they were able increase their production 22-fold and produce polycyclopropanated fatty acid methyl esters (POP-FAMEs). Their research showed that the POP-FAMEs and other POPs have the energetic properties for energy-demanding applications for which sustainable alternatives are scarce. These molecules can be converted into renewable fuels for energy-demanding applications such as shipping, long-haul transport, aviation, and rocketry…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE
Graphical abstract. Credit: Joule, June 30, 2022Â