New metabolism provides energy solutions

The world population has just exceeded 7 billion in 2012 and it remains a question whether we would be able to find sufficient energy sources for our children. As the reserves for oil and natural gas are limited and approaching their exhaustion in decades, the development of bio-fuel becomes increasingly significant. Currently, the primary method to make bio-fuel from sugar is through glycolysis. Glycolysis is the process which human bodies convert glycogen or glucose into smaller 3-carbon molecules. However, there is one major problem with this method: A significant amount of energy is lost in the process in the form of carbon dioxide. In fact, two out of every six carbons will not be converted into biomass.

Fortunately, the efficiency was recently solved by researchers from University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA's Dr Liao and his graduate student Igor Bogorad engineered a new pathway of glucose decomposition using enzymes found in various parts of nature. Using genetically engineered E. coli and rerouting the central metabolic pathway, the researchers were able to avoid carbon loss in the form of carbon dioxide. Dr Liao and his colleagues named the new pathway non-oxidative glycolysis.

As shown in this article, not only does bioengineering provide solutions to living organisms themselves in terms of medicine, medical instrumentations and medical imaging, it offers solutions to various other areas such as the field of energy as well.

Link: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130930162415.htm