Genomics Enabled Optimization of E. Coli Succinate Production

Traditional optimization of bacterial strains for biorefining applications is a time-extensive process, which requires significant knowledge about the metabolic pathways that convert sugars into a specific commodity or platform chemical. In contrast, population based genomics approaches present the opportunity to identify and manipulate the genetics responsible for chemical production. To date, these approaches have been normally limited to only selectable phenotypes. A new approach has been developed, Scalar Analysis of Library Enrichments (SCALEs), to identify the potential genes for increased productivity of engineered bacterial strains. This approach is being utilized in the context of organic-acid production in E. coli. In addition, we have initiated the development of an antibiotic resistance reporter that responds to succinate concentrations. This project summarizes the effort to combine this reporter with SCALEs for succinate overproduction in E. coli, as well as the genetic elements involved in production optimization.