(567bc) Optimization of General Metabolic Engineering Techniques in the Photosynthetic Cyanobacterium Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803

Metabolic engineering of various organisms is increasing at an almost exponential rate. Many techniques and procedures have been optimized for select heterotrophic bacteria, but few techniques have been designed with photoautotrophic cyanobacteria in mind. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has been closely studied in relation to its similarity in photosynthetic process to higher plants. Many techniques and protocols have been designed and pathways identified for photosynthetic systems, but much of the remaining metabolic pathways have yet to be understood, much less optimized.

Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a very versatile organism for a variety of reasons. It is an photoautotrophic bacterium for which its haploid genomic DNA has been sequenced. Techniques allowing for natural uptake, electroporation, and homologous recombination are well annotated. The organisms is capable of 8 hour doubling times while harboring such metabolic pathways as flavonoid, clavulanic acid , and fatty acid biosynthesis while also harboring pathways capable of toluene, atrizine, DDT degradation. Our group plans to focus on understanding specific pathways endemic to Synechocystis. We will discuss the development of the metabolic engineering toolbox for this versatile organism.