In a Scientific Reports (Nature) paper entitled “In vitro characterization of phenylacetate decarboxylase, a novel enzyme catalyzing toluene biosynthesis in an anaerobic microbial community”, researchers at JBEI investigated an enzyme that could enable first-time biochemical production of the widely used octane booster, toluene. Read more on the JBEI website.
In the August 8 edition of Berkeley Lab’s Commuter Chronicles Stacey Gauny of the Biological Systems & Engineering Division discussed why she started carpooling from El Sobrante to the Lab more than 20 years ago, and encourages others who have considered carpooling to give it a shot. Stacey, a principal research associate in the Kronenberg Lab, has been a division representative of the Lab’s Carpool Program Focus Group for the Vehicle Access and Alternative Transportation Advisory Group since its initiation last December. Read her story here.
JBEI collaborated with Engineering Biology Research Consortium (EBRC) at the launch of the “summer of synbio” at The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose this past week. The activity was part of the Building with Biology project, a nationwide effort to bring synthetic biologists and the public together at science museums across the US this summer.
JBEI volunteers Leanne Chan, Kosuke Iwai and Phil Gach connected with the public to de-mystify biological engineering and its growing relevance in everyday life. They shared synbio concepts through fun, hands-on learning kits and engaged in two-way conversations about building the future with biology.
High School students taking part in National Student Leadership Conference’s Biotechnology program hosted at Laney College visited JBEI for a series of lab tours, bioenergy overviews and career explorations. A total of 164 students visited JBEI during four visits in July and August. Read more on the JBEI website.
In a Metabolic Engineering Communications paper entitled “Enhanced fatty acid production in engineered chemolithoautotrophic bacteria using reduced sulfur compounds as energy sources” researchers at the Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) have demonstrated a promising biological approach to convert nuisance chemicals in municipal wastewater (sewage) treatment plants into renewable fuels or chemicals. Read more on the JBEI website.
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