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The study of polymers, particularly plastics, is crucial in modern society. However, traditional polymers are derived from fossil resources, which are finite and contribute to pollution. To address this issue, researchers are exploring biopolymers produced by microorganisms, such as E. coli. A recent study in Nature Chemical Biology, led by Tong Un Chae et al., genetically engineered E. coli to synthesize polyester amides (PEAs) using energy storage pathways. The modified pathway allows for the creation of long chains of pure PEA, but with one limitation: the bacteria are not picky about the type of amino acid monomers they add to the chain. While bacterially synthesizing products on an industrial scale is not new, the production of plastics using microorganisms is still in the experimental stage and not yet ready for large-scale application.

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