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Abstract
The increasing demand for energy and fuel has contributed to a surplus in carbon emissions. Metabolic engineering provides a framework for weaning off the reliance of oil and coal. By engineering microorganisms with novel biosynthetic pathways, we can provide industrially desired chemicals from cheap, renewable sources. Our work aims to produce enantiopure (R,R)-2,3-butanediol, a high value chemical, from pretreated lignocellulose in Escherichia coli. Avicel and xylan will be pretreated with Caldicellulosiruptor bescii, a thermophilic bacterium known to degrade plant biomass without any thermal or chemical pretreatment. The research will provide implementation of desired chemical production from media previously used in carbohydrate polymer degradation. Furthermore, the research will focus on genetically engineering the E. coli so that the mutated strain may simultaneously metabolize both pentane and hexane sugars in the media, thereby increasing both production titer and yield. By upregulating xylose metabolism genes, xylA and xylB, we hope to combat carbon catabolite repression. Amixture of avicel and xylan will be pretreated and fed to the engineered E. coli strain. The mixed sugar media will properly model lignocellulose degradation from plant biomass.