Development of a Bacillus subtilis strain to produce 5-aminolevulinc acid

• Grant number: 23/16746-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: December 01, 2024
• End date: February 28, 2029
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Danielle Biscaro Pedrolli
• Grantee: Leonardo Ferro Tavares
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCFAR). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Araraquara. Araraquara , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 22/07368-2 - Exploring metabolic diversity for sustainable bioproduct production, AP.BIOEN.R

Abstract

The Search for biosustainable solutions for industrial production of compunds of interest is one of the most major objectives of biotechnology and synthetic biology. A range of products can be synthesized by biotechnological routes. Nevertheless, we are still far away of the real potential of industrial biotechnology. To achive this goals, to developed microbial strains that are able to overproduction compounds of interest and have celular viability in large bioreactors are the decade chalenge. Among these compounds, the 5-Aminolevulinic Acid (5ALA) has been highlight in global scenario, since can be used as biofertilizer, plant growth maximizer, animal food supplement and as an agent in the treatment of skin cancer due to its photosensitive properties. Consequently, the global market of this product, which has high cost and low availability (Around U$ 200,00 per gram/ October 2023 values) is growing consistently year by year being able to achive Around U$ 500 millions in 2030. Therefore, this Project propose the development of a B. subtilis strain able to overproduct 5ALA. B. subtilis is a bacteria generally recognized as safe (GRAS), widely used in synthetic biology and as a industrial host. (AU)