Difference between revisions of "Team:TU Darmstadt/Project/Bio/Monomeres/Itaconsaeure"

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<p>The compilation of our toolbox requires a molecule containing at least two carboxygroups for esterifications with polyalcohols. Furthermore it is important that one compartment of the polymer contains a crosslinking functionality which composes bonds with other strings under specific conditions. A molecule that complies with both requirements is the dicarbonacid itaconic acid, which has an ethylene group that preserves the cross-linking functionality by addition reactions under radical activation.</p>
 
<p>The compilation of our toolbox requires a molecule containing at least two carboxygroups for esterifications with polyalcohols. Furthermore it is important that one compartment of the polymer contains a crosslinking functionality which composes bonds with other strings under specific conditions. A molecule that complies with both requirements is the dicarbonacid itaconic acid, which has an ethylene group that preserves the cross-linking functionality by addition reactions under radical activation.</p>
<p>Itaconic acid is already used as a comonomer for the synthesis of polyacrylates and vulcanized rubber as well as a basic module for biologically degradable polymers that are for example used in the packaging industry. The property to act as a comonomer with different other components has the consequence that itaconic acid is discussed as a possible substitute for methacrylic acid which is utilized to date in the petrochemical industry.(1)</p>
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<p>Itaconic acid is already used as a comonomer for the synthesis of polyacrylates and vulcanized rubber as well as a basic module for biologically degradable polymers that are for example used in the packaging industry. The property to act as a comonomer with different other components has the consequence that itaconic acid is discussed as a possible substitute for methacrylic acid which is utilized to date in the petrochemical industry. &nbsp;(1)</p>
 
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<figcaption><b>Figure 1</b> cis-aconitate decarboxylase (coded by cadA)</figcaption>
 
<figcaption><b>Figure 1</b> cis-aconitate decarboxylase (coded by cadA)</figcaption>
 
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<p>The conventional exploitation of itaconic acid is achieved by chemical synthesis or takes place in <em>Aspergillus terreus</em> where amounts of 80g/L are provided.(2)An important disadvantage of the recent production is the high cost of approximately US$4/kg. <em>(3)</em></p>
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<p>The conventional exploitation of itaconic acid is achieved by chemical synthesis or takes place in <em>Aspergillus terreus</em> where amounts of 80g/L are provided.&nbsp;(2) An important disadvantage of the recent production is the high cost of approximately US$4/kg. (3)</p>
 
<p>A possibility to achieve a better production of itaconic acid in a different host than Aspergillus terreus could be performed by the introduction of a single key enzyme of the <em>Aspergillus terreus</em>.</p>
 
<p>A possibility to achieve a better production of itaconic acid in a different host than Aspergillus terreus could be performed by the introduction of a single key enzyme of the <em>Aspergillus terreus</em>.</p>
 
<p><p>The cis-aconitate decarboxylase encoded by&nbsp;<em>cadA&nbsp;</em><a class="internal link" title="Opens internal link in current window" href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1602009">(BBa_K1602003)</a>&nbsp;from <em>Aspergillus terreus </em>catalyzes the reaction of cis-aconitate to itaconic acid under loss of carbon dioxide. Cis-aconitate is an intermediate of the TCA-cycle that occurs in most organisms. For that reason there are a lot of different possible hosts. We decided to use <em>Escherichia coli</em> which contains the whole TCA-cycle and is also well characterized as a model organism.</p>
 
<p><p>The cis-aconitate decarboxylase encoded by&nbsp;<em>cadA&nbsp;</em><a class="internal link" title="Opens internal link in current window" href="http://parts.igem.org/Part:BBa_K1602009">(BBa_K1602003)</a>&nbsp;from <em>Aspergillus terreus </em>catalyzes the reaction of cis-aconitate to itaconic acid under loss of carbon dioxide. Cis-aconitate is an intermediate of the TCA-cycle that occurs in most organisms. For that reason there are a lot of different possible hosts. We decided to use <em>Escherichia coli</em> which contains the whole TCA-cycle and is also well characterized as a model organism.</p>

Revision as of 16:52, 18 September 2015

Biotechnological production of itaconic acid in Escherichia coli

Figure 2 Itaconic acid pathway including cis-aconitate decarboxylase

The compilation of our toolbox requires a molecule containing at least two carboxygroups for esterifications with polyalcohols. Furthermore it is important that one compartment of the polymer contains a crosslinking functionality which composes bonds with other strings under specific conditions. A molecule that complies with both requirements is the dicarbonacid itaconic acid, which has an ethylene group that preserves the cross-linking functionality by addition reactions under radical activation.

Itaconic acid is already used as a comonomer for the synthesis of polyacrylates and vulcanized rubber as well as a basic module for biologically degradable polymers that are for example used in the packaging industry. The property to act as a comonomer with different other components has the consequence that itaconic acid is discussed as a possible substitute for methacrylic acid which is utilized to date in the petrochemical industry.  (1)


Figure 1 cis-aconitate decarboxylase (coded by cadA)

The conventional exploitation of itaconic acid is achieved by chemical synthesis or takes place in Aspergillus terreus where amounts of 80g/L are provided. (2) An important disadvantage of the recent production is the high cost of approximately US$4/kg. (3)

A possibility to achieve a better production of itaconic acid in a different host than Aspergillus terreus could be performed by the introduction of a single key enzyme of the Aspergillus terreus.

The cis-aconitate decarboxylase encoded by cadA (BBa_K1602003) from Aspergillus terreus catalyzes the reaction of cis-aconitate to itaconic acid under loss of carbon dioxide. Cis-aconitate is an intermediate of the TCA-cycle that occurs in most organisms. For that reason there are a lot of different possible hosts. We decided to use Escherichia coli which contains the whole TCA-cycle and is also well characterized as a model organism.



  1. Huang X, Lu X, Li Y, Li X, Li JJ. Improving itaconic acid production through genetic engineering of an industrial Aspergillus terreus strain. Microb Cell Fact. 2014;13:119.
  2. Huang X, Chen M, Lu X, Li Y, Li X, Li JJ. Direct production of itaconic acid from liquefied corn starch by genetically engineered Aspergillus terreus. Microb Cell Fact. 2014;13:108.
  3. Willke T, Vorlop KD. Biotechnological production of itaconic acid.
    Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2001;56(3-4):289-95.