Synthesis of Polyester Amides in Genetically Modified E. coli Bacteria
Hey there, folks! You curious cats must've stumbled across the fascinating world of bioplastics. Let's talk about the latest buzz in this domain - genetically engineered E. coli bacteria, that's (usually) associated with foods, notwithstanding the odd tummy upset.
Recent research by Tong Un Chae et al., as excitementingly featured in Nature Chemical Biology (but shh, it's behind a paywall, don't tell anyone), explored the use of those bacteria for creating long chains of polyester amides (PEAs). The twist? They tricked the bacteria into channeling their survival energy storage route into PEA synthesis!
Now, hold your horses, it's not as simple as it sounds. Utilizing this engineered pathway has a bit of a quirk - it tends to be a choose-your-own-adventure, picking whatever amino acid monomers to add to the chain. This randomness is not ideal when you're aiming for pure, unadulterated PEA.
Although genetically-engineered bacteria aren't strangers to the production line, take insulin synthesis for example, it seems bio-plastic production using our microscopic pals might not be ready for its industrial debut yet. After all, we're still stuck in the lab, hard at work.
As for the research by Tong Un Chae and co., if you're itching to learn more, you might need to comb through scientific databases or delve into specific publications that focus on their work. The world of microbial biosynthesis is brewing (pun intended!) with innovation, as researchers from all over experiment with various approaches to enhance polymer properties and streamline production.
On that note, let's give a shout-out to the KAIST researchers who've made some splash in the scene, developing technologies for engineering E. coli to produce aromatic polyesters! They've managed to ratchet up the efficiency of the biosynthetic pathway for phenyllactate (PhLA), reaching impressive poly(PhLA) concentrations and hinting at potential for large-scale manufacturing[1].
So, the scene's hot, the action's poppin', and the future's looking brighter than a neon sign for bioplastics. Stay tuned, friends - science never disappoints!
[1] Lee, J., Bae, J., Yun, S., Cho, J., Lee, S., Kang, H., & Kim, Y. (2021). Microbial engineering for pharmaceutical and industrial chemicals. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 1–19.
- The use of genetically modified E. coli bacteria in creating long chains of polyester amides (PEAs) for potential bioplastic production, as showcased by Tong Un Chae et al., demonstrates the intersection of science, technology, and health-and-wellness, with potential impacts on the medical-conditions related to the prevalence of plastic waste.
- While genetically engineered bacteria have already been successfully deployed in the production of insulin, the area of bioplastic production still faces challenges, especially with regard to ensuring consistency and purity in the final product, a key concern in the health-and-wellness industry. These endeavors, driven by scientific research, indicate a promising future for both medical-conditions treatments and health-and-wellness advancements as well as technology.
