S126: Development of robust and genetically stable production strains by incorporating toxic biochemicals into biologically inert PHA polymers

Metabolix has developed technologies for the industrial production of polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) polymers that deliver sustainable solutions to the plastics and chemicals industries. Metabolix’s technology platform with core competencies in strain engineering, fermentation, downstream processing, and polymer science has enabled the production of a family of materials such used in compostable bags and performance additives. Metabolix also applies the same technology platform for the development and commercialization of C3, C4, and C5 biochemicals to replace petroleum-based industrial chemicals. Here we discuss progress in our biochemicals programs – in particular aspects of developments of microbial strains and fermentation processes, which led to the successful production of C3 and C4 chemicals. High-titer production of many biochemicals often is challenged by the toxicity of the desired end products towards growth and metabolism of the microbial host cells and requires the chemical be purified from the complex fermentation broth. The PHA biosynthesis technology established by Metabolix sequesters the high productivity production of many interesting chemical building blocks such as acrylic acid and 1,4-butanediol by accumulating polymeric PHA precursors which do not inhibit, reduce or result in low fermentation titers or productivity and in some cases higher sugar yield.  By storing the target chemical in polymeric precursor form Metabolix can effectively apply its proprietary Fast Acting Selective Thermolysis (FAST) conversion/recovery process to achieve very high product recovery and purity products. The PHA-FAST process will be discussed for the production of C3 and C4 monomers with a combined annual market value in excess of $10 billion.