Boyang Chen

• BSc (Hons) Biomedical Sciences
• Biobutanol from Bacillus subtilis

In this project we will remodel the metabolic pathway of Bacillus subtilis into producers of butanol, then use genetic manipulation and analytical techniques to optimise the production process. We will focus on four objectives:

1) Using genetic tools to alter the transcriptional regulatory systems involved in the biosynthesis of precursors for the pathway.

2) Design a suitable butanol assay and measure the butanol productivity of the constructed strains under defined growth conditions.

3) Analyse butanol toxicity and investigate whether the inserted constructs have any effect on butanol resistance.

Project Supervisor: Dr Richard A Daniel, Institute for Cell & Molecular Biosciences

Funding Source: Newcastle University