Doublesystem

Doublesystem is a chemical platform for synthetic biology research, designed to produce alkanes and other chemical compounds. The process involves two microorganisms working together in a multi-organism system to create novel bio-based materials.

The doublesystem is typically composed of two genetically engineered bacteria, usually Escherichia coli (E. coli), that are statistically linked to grow together within the same extracellular matrix. One strain of bacteria is engineered to produce a certain enzyme, while the other strain produces a complementary enzyme. The cooperative action of both strains enables the efficient production of alkanes, which are then retrieved from the mixture as a collected product.

The primary characteristics of the doublesystem include high product yields, efficient substrate conversions, and improved strain stability due to the collaborative growth of the bacteria. This increases the possibility of producing reactions that were previously challenging for synthetic biology research. Throughout the development and optimization process of the doublesystem, various engineering strategies are employed, such as different dosages of nutrients, scarification of the bacterial membrane, and other biochemical modifications.

Research conducted on the doublesystem aims to push the limits of current techniques in synthetic biology, opening opportunities for large-scale production of propellant materials, surfactants, and other chemical compounds that have high growth potential for emerging industries. As with many areas of ongoing scientific research, the key areas of focus for the doublesystem include continuous monitoring of industrial-scale generated products, further enhancements of the robustness of the bacterial interactions, and reduced costs for large-scale production.