Abstract
Fast growing hybrid poplar offers the means for sustainable production of specialty and commodity chemicals, in addition to rapid biomass production for lignocellulosic deconstruction. Herein we describe transformation of fast-growing transgenic hybrid poplar lines to produce 2-phenylethanol, this being an important fragrance, flavor, aroma, and commodity chemical. It is also readily converted into styrene or ethyl benzene, the latter being an important commodity aviation fuel component. Introducing this biochemical pathway into hybrid poplars marks the beginnings of developing a platform for a sustainable chemical delivery system to afford this and other valuable specialty/commodity chemicals at the scale and cost needed. These modified plant lines mainly sequester 2-phenylethanol via carbohydrate and other covalently linked derivatives, thereby providing an additional advantage of effective storage until needed. The future potential of this technology is discussed. MALDI metabolite tissue imaging also established localization of these metabolites in the leaf vasculature.
Highlights
There is an urgent need for sustainable, renewable, domestic sources of commodity/specialty chemicals, biofuels, and materials currently obtained from eventually dwindling petroleum and coal based resources at scale and cost both and for our future generations
Mitchell) corolla limbs (PhPAAS), whereas the PAR1 was obtained from S. lycopersicum young leaf tissue
Coli We initially expressed both phenylacetaldehyde synthase (PAAS) genes simultaneously with the tomato PAR1 in an E. coli system for proof-of-concept that their synchronized gene expression would result in PEA production
Summary
There is an urgent need for sustainable, renewable, domestic sources of commodity/specialty chemicals, biofuels, and materials currently obtained from eventually dwindling petroleum and coal based resources at scale and cost both and for our future generations. Several aromatics [e.g., styrenes, ethyl benzene, 2-phenylethanol (PEA)] are currently produced synthetically as commodity chemicals annually from our non-renewable and finite petrochemical resources [1]. Such processes have considerable drawbacks that include use of harsh synthetic conditions and production of undesirable side-products. Occurring PEA is a colorless, fragrant, liquid found in essential oils of several plant species. It has a pleasant ‘‘rose-like’’ aroma and is widely used as a fragrance and flavoring agent, as an antibiotic, and for production of the flavoring agent phenylethyl-acetate [2]. Ethyl benzene is a major aromatic component of aviation fuel
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