High yields of octanoate derived from E. coli at Harvard lab

In Massachusetts, an E. coli-based metabolic pathway that produces fatty acids easily converted into fuel is the subject of research being performed at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering at Harvard University. The process, which produces octanoate, produces the highest yields yet reported. The work was funded by the Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Project Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) program, and by the National Science Foundation.

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