UK-led Research Could Be Path to New Energy Sources
LEXINGTON, Ky. (July 11, 2011) − A team of researchers led by
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Professor Joe Chappell is making
a connection from prehistoric times to the present that could result in being able to
genetically create a replacement for oil and coal shale deposits. This could have
fundamental implications for the future of the earth's energy supply.
Tom Niehaus, completing his doctorate in the Chappell laboratory; Shigeru Okada,
a sabbatical professor from the aquatic biosciences department at the
University of Tokyo; Tim Devarenne, a UK graduate and now professor of
biochemistry and biophysics at Texas A&M University; and UK colleagues, Chappell,
David Watt, professor of cellular and molecular biochemistry (College of
Medicine) and his post-doctoral associate Vitaliy Sviripa had an important
paper published today in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).
Their research findings go well beyond the basic science dealing with the origins
of oil and coal.
While scientists previously established that oil and coal have their roots
in the organisms that lived on the planet over 500 million years ago, researchers only
are sure of one organism that directly contributed to these natural resources. That
organism is the algae Botryococcus braunii which left behind its chemical fingerprints –
an oil that over geological time has turned into oil and coal shale deposits.
"Even more exciting is that this unique algae, B. braunii, still exists today and has been
the target of studies from the large chemical and petrochemical industries," said
Chappell.
This algae is very slow growing, so it is not necessarily a good source for biofuels.
However, if scientists can capture its genetic blueprints for the biosynthesis of these
high value oils, then these genes could be used to generate alternative production
platforms.
This team of investigators isolated the necessary genes, characterized the biochemical
traits encoded by these genes, and then genetically engineered yeast to produce this
very high-value oil. This work has provided the first example of recreating a true direct
replacement for oil and coal shale deposits.
Chappell said, “This represents the culmination of an outstanding effort to understand a fundamental process that has direct ramifications for a real-world
problem — how are we going to generate a truly renewable biofuel supply?”
Devarenne added, "This study identifies a very remarkable molecular mechanism for the production of hydrocarbons that, as far as we can tell, is not found in any other organism. Thus, it offers a unique insight into how hydrocarbons were produced hundreds of millions of years ago."
MEDIA CONTACT: Carl Nathe, (859) 257-3200 or carl.nathe@uky.edu;