Synergistic industry partnership for bioproduction of platform chemicals (2026-2029)
Abstract
Isobutanol is an attractive chemical for the manufacture of a range of products (e.g. rubber, aviation fuels), but has yet to reach competitive yields and pricing. This project integrates the pioneering technique of ancestral sequence reconstruction, in combination with AI, to engineer biocatalysts for the competitive production of isobutanol using both cell-free reaction cascades and fermentative processes. The scalability and commercial impact of both production pathways will be monitored by technoeconomic analyses. This project aims to deliver a rapid pipeline for the design of optimal biocatalysts for sustainable bioproduction processes, will generate valuable IP and contribute to the growth of the aviation fuel industry in Australia.
