Faculty of Science
Microbiology and Immunology

Metabolic engineering of Rhodococcus aromaticivorans RHA1 for muconic acid production from lignin

A schematic of muonic acid production

Publication Date

Publication Journal

Metabolic Engineering

Author(s)

Anne T. Lalande, Logan D. Robeck, Dillon T. Hofsommer, Lucie C. L. Lippuner, Shannon S. Stahl, and Lindsay D. Eltis

Lignin, an abundant component of plant biomass, is a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels as a feedstock for chemical manufacturing. In this study, lignin was first chemically broken down into a mixture containing vanillin, vanillate, and acetovanillone. Next, the authors genetically engineered the soil bacterium Rhodococcus aromaticivoransRHA1 to convert these compounds into muconic acid, a ubiquitous precursor to everyday products, with 97 percent efficiency. This work represents a significant step toward sustainable synthesis of a high-value chemical and paves the way for the engineering of rhodococcal microbial cell factories for a range of applications.

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Microbiology and Immunology

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