Alternative pathways for vitamin biosynthesis mediated by in vitro selected nucleic acids

The aim of this project is to select an RNAzyme by means of SELEX (Systemic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment) that converts a synthetic precursor of an intermediate in the VitB1 (thiamin) biosynthesis into the thiamine precursor itself. In this way, the prethiamin precursor will lead to the biosynthesis of thiamin (in an appropriate auxothrophic strain), via a reaction that is not part of the natural thiamin biosynthesis pathway. This project will be the first example of an organism dependent on the activity of a synthetic (non-natural) nucleic acids enzyme and a major breakthrough in Synthetic Biology. It is also the first step towards rendering an organism dependent on a synthetic cofactor and ultimately reaching orthogonality in the level of metabolism.

Publication year:2020

Accessibility:Open