synthetic biology for synthetic drugs and fuels

Synthetic Biologyfor Synthetic Drugs and Fuels

Jay KeaslingUniversity of California, Berkeley

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Malaria

NCl

NHH3C

H3C

H3C

Chloroquine-based drugs

Source: Roll Back MalariaWorld Malaria Report 2005

Artemisininthe best anti-malarial drug

O

O

O

OO

H

HH

Current process

Artemisinin

O

O

O

OO

H

HH

Plant synthesis

Purification

Artesunate

O

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

OOH

OO

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

O

OH

ArtelinateArteetherArtemether

O

O

OMe

OO

H

HHO

O

OEt

OO

H

HH

ChemicalConversions

Artemisinin demand analysis

Source: Boston Consulting Group

247 in 2006

Malaria Cases (millions)

GMAP target135 in 2020

Total ACT DemandMillions of treatments

ACTs delivered (actual)

Demand forecasts from other groupsBCG Demand forecast scenarios

ACTs delivered

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Artemisinin price swingsArtemisinin prices($/kg)

Food prices (indexed to Jan 2002)

Artemisininprices

Commodityfood prices

2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Source: Boston Consulting Group

Artemisinin supply

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

03 04 05 06 07 08 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20

Tonnes of Artemisinin

Variable production

Stock from previous yearHistoric production

Demand

Minimum production floor

09

Source: Boston Consulting Group

Current process

Artemisinin

O

O

O

OO

H

HH

Plant synthesis

Purification

Artesunate

O

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

OOH

OO

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

O

OH

ArtelinateArteetherArtemether

O

O

OMe

OO

H

HHO

O

OEt

OO

H

HH

ChemicalConversions

Microbial process

Artemisinin

O

O

O

OO

H

HH

Microbial synthesis

Purification

Artesunate

O

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

OOH

OO

O

H

H HH

OO

OH

O

OH

ArtelinateArteetherArtemether

O

O

OMe

OO

H

HHO

O

OEt

OO

H

HH

ChemicalConversions

Microbial synthesis of artemisinin

Improvements in yield lower

artemisinin costs

Current cost of API $1.00/g

Cost with new process $.10/g

Research, Development & Delivery

Keasling Laboratory

Amyris Biotechnologies

Global Warming and

Energy Security

Petroleum-based transportation fuelsCO2

Corn to Ethanol

CO2

CO2

Corn to Ethanol

CO2

CO2

CO2

CO2

Corn to Ethanol

Corn is not an ideal energy crop

• Water requirements• Fertilizer requirements• Bred to be a food crop

CO2

CO2

Biomass to Ethanol

US annual biomass inventory 1.3 billion tons

Forest12.8%

Urban waste2.9%

Manure4.1%

Grains5.2%

Crop residues7.6%

Soy6.2%

Wheat straw6.1%Corn stover

19.9%

Perennial crops35.2%

From: Billion ton Vision, DOE & USDA 2005

5

6

7

Bill

ion

Bar

rels

of O

il Eq

uiva

lent

s

0

1

2

3

4

2007 US Imports

2007 US Domestic Production

Fuel yields from biomass using mid-term conversion technology

Energy from burning biomass4.4

2.51.9

3.5

How much fuel can we produce from 1.3 billion tons of biomass?

2007 US PetroleumConsumption7.6

CO2

CO2

Biomass to Ethanol

Ethanol is not an ideal fuel

Repurposing a microbial production platform

Repurposing a microbial production platform

Biofuel

Engineered microbes produce oil and advanced biofuels

Biomass to advanced transportation fuels

CO2

CO2

The Joint BioEnergy Institute (jbei)

CO2

CO2

jbei: a Bay Area Partnership

jbei’s Research Program

CO2

CO2

jbei: a single location

jbei: an incubator for great ideas and the green economy

Biofuels Companies

Feedstock Companies

Chemical Companies

Petroleum Companies

Plant Genetics

Companies

Biotech Companies