YceI Gene from Marinobacter aquaeolei Confers Bio-jet Fuel Tolerance in Escherichia coli

Through efforts in metabolic engineering, microorganisms that produce biofuels were developed.  However, these fuels are toxic to cells, limiting their yields. Some microorganisms have evolved mechanisms for tolerating hydrocarbons, such as those that thrive near natural oil seeps and in oil-polluted waters.

Timothy A. Tomko and Mary J. Dunlop from the University of Vermont developed transgenic Escherichia coli using DNA from the hydrocarbon-degrading microbe Marinobacter aquaeolei. The researchers then exposed the cells to pinene, a monoterpene that serves as a jet fuel precursor. Further analysis determined that a single gene, yceI, was responsible for improving hydrocarbon tolerance.

The tolerance of transgenics to other monoterpenes were also tested and showed that yceI selectively improved their tolerance.