2001 Technology for a Sustainable Environment: NSF/EPA Partnership: Metabolic Engineering of Monooxygenases for 1-Naphthol and Styrene Epoxide Formation (TSE01-D)

0124401

Wood

The objective of this project is to optimize the activity and expression of monooxygenases for the purpose of converting naphthalene to 1-naphthol and (chiral) styrene epoxide. Replacing the current method for producing 1-naphthol and styrene epoxide with the proposed enzymatic alternative may prove to be more environmentally benign in that less solvent and by-product wastes will result. There are two components to the work: (1) enzyme 'breeding' (University of Connecticut) and (2) regulation of expression and bioprocess optimization (University of Maryland), which are highly synergistic.