Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing appr ....Combining new synthetic biology tools to boost crop CO2 capture and growth. A solution for improving crop yield is to enhance the carbon dioxide fixation properties of the enzyme Rubisco whose inefficient activity often limits plant growth. This project makes use of new synthetic biology capabilities to artificially evolve Rubisco in the laboratory and select for new versions with improved performance. These beneficial changes will be introduced into crop Rubisco using targeted gene editing approaches and the improvements in photosynthesis, growth and yield evaluated. This information will aid complimentary biotechnological efforts seeking to supercharge photosynthesis and help deliver the second Green Revolution needed to meet the improvement required in future agriculture productivity and resource use.Read moreRead less
Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to estab ....Nano-reactors: Protein cages as reusable scaffolds for designer enzymes. This project aims to develop robust protein cages derived from the coats of viruses to contain heat-stable P450 enzymes, for use as specialised protein bio-catalysts in chemical industries. A valuable chemical precursor of renewable bio-plastics will be produced from seed oils by enzymes, reducing the use of fossil fuels. This synthetic biology approach combines biotechnology, nanotechnology and protein engineering to establish a plant-based platform biotechnology for using enzymes as catalysts to make high-value molecules. The project aims to show how to engineer clean, sustainable chemistry in designer nano-environments. This should make synthetic processes more sustainable and enhance advanced chemical manufacturing in Australia.Read moreRead less