The IRB team study the relationships between (i) structure and function of enzymes and between (ii) production and physiological state of cells, in order to orient the reaction towards a compound of interest.

In this context, we are focusing on the development of two flagship projects on emerging themes in the UMR: the bioproduction of PHAs (polyhydroxyalkanoates) polymers and functionalized lipids, with controlled composition and structure.

Controlled microbial biosynthesis of PHAs:

The orientation of the metabolism towards the synthesis of polymers of controlled composition depends strongly on the type of strain used, the sources of carbon and energy assimilated and the type of limitation imposed. This theme, currently funded by a European project H2020 USABLE  and an ANR Project LOOP4PACK . The project USABLE focuses on the production of medium chain PHA with an approach combining stoichiometric flow modelling, instrumented reactor cultures and near-line analyses of the physiological state of Pseudomonas. The project LOOP4PACK focuses on the production of P(3HBco3HV) (PolyHydroxyButyrate-co-HydroxyValerate) with a high 3HV content with an approach combining stoichiometric flow modelling, instrumented reactor cultures and near-line analyses of the physiological state of Cupriavidus.

Bioproduction of lipid derivatives from microalgae:

The use of microalgae as renewable resources, particularly for lipid production, is at the heart of many issues and debates. In this context, the team is working on two complementary strategies aiming at the production and functionalization of the lipid fraction of the algae biomass. First of all, we study the accumulation of lipids in relation with endogenous lipase activities in microalgae, in order to control lipid/lipase interactions and use them to conduct transesterification reactions in situ. This innovative approach aims to develop simple and inexpensive processes on wet biomass, allowing the recovery of all lipids. It is based on the control of metabolism during cultivation, and from bioconversion to harvesting.

This work is currently being carried out as part of a thesis funded by the Technologico de Costa Rica (Karla Meneses). A strong collaboration with the Algae Biotechnology Center of the University of California, San Diego -UCSD- was initiated by Maeva Subileau, who benefited from an international researcher mobility funded by 3BCAR, Agropolis Fondation and Supagro and by an excellence scholarship from the University of Montpellier -MUSE EXPLORE2-. A funding from the Carnot 3BCAR institute has been obtained: the FermAlip project.

Project synthesis table: