The group around Xuefeng LU at QIBEBT studies alkane production by Synechococcus PCC7942 using recombinant aliphatic aldehydes deformylation dioxygenase ( ADO) as the critical enzyme for hydrocarbon production from accumulated triglycerides. Based on promoters from Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter which are triggered by long-chain alkanes, the group constructed a GFP-reporter which allows the rapid screening of high alkane-producing mutants.
CAS news release, June 11, 2015