Developing and utilising synthetic biology tools for Fomes fomentarius
A03
Research Area:
Microbiology and Molecular Biology
Affiliation:
Technische Universität Berlin | Institute of Biotechnology
Department:
Dept. Applied and Molecular Microbiology
Principal Investigator:
Carsten Freidank-Pohl
Sub-project A03 is run by junior scientist Dr. Carsten Freidank-Pohl (Applied and Molecular Microbiology, TUB). The aim of this sub-project is to establish the first ever synthetic biology toolbox for F. fomentarius to improve the functionality and characteristics of fungal composites through combinatorial and high-throughput cloning.
Developing and integrating tools from genome analysis, genome engineering, and analytical techniques into the design-build-test-learn (DBTL) cycle will considerably increase the throughput of genetic and metabolic engineering approaches. This toolbox will be used for the expression of proteins functionalising the cell wall of F. fomentarius for better adhesion to plant substrate particles. Such genetic engineering of the mesoscale interaction is expected to improve mechanical properties of fungal composite material at the macroscale.
Further, the genome of F. fomentarius is minimised through deletion of secondary metabolite gene clusters to increase biosynthetic capacity for faster biomass formation, growth, and thus faster composite production.
The sub-project is carried out in close collaboration with A01 and A02, and delivers composites to be analysed by A04, B01 – B03, and C01.