Title: Synthase-encoding gene involved in α-Olefin biosynthesis in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002
Authors: Joseph Villanueva1, D. Mendez-Perez2, M. B. Begemann2,3, and B. F. Pfleger2,3,4
Affiliations: 1Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, University of New Mexico, 2Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 3Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 4Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Abstract: As the world's population continues to grow, so too does the demand for liquid transportation fuels. What's more, the alarming rate at which CO2 gas is released into the atmosphere must be curbed to prevent further climate change. Photosynthetic organisms such as the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 offer promising potential for the development of clean, renewable and sustainable biofuels that can be easily integrated into the transportation system with no need to change existing infrastructure. A gene identified in Synechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 is involved in the production of a medium length chain α-olefin. This "gene encodes a large multidomain protein with homology to type I polyketide synthases, suggesting a route for hydrocarbon biosynthesis from fatty acids via an elongation decarboxylation mechanism1." Based on this mechanism of formation, we hypothesize that fatty acids and hydrocarbons play an interconnected role in cell membrane fluidity. Experiments were carried out at 38°C, optimum growth temperature, and at 31°C to test variation of hydrocarbon production. These experiments used three different strains: a wild type, an upregulated and a knockout. Additional tests were carried out using only the wild type and knockout strains under varied UV exposure to determine if the light-dependent reactions pathway plays a role in hydrocarbon production.