Beau B. Dronsella

Combining evolution and machine learning-guided pathway optimization to engineer a novel methylsuccinate module for synthetic C1 metabolism in vivo

This paper combines adaptive laboratory evolution and machine learning to engineer a methylsuccinate module for synthetic C1 metabolism in E. coli, achieving growth in three weeks versus six months with evolution alone.

System-level characterization of engineered and evolved formatotrophic E. coli strains

This study investigates why engineered E. coli strains for formate utilization do not reach theoretical biomass yields and identifies metabolic bottlenecks and evolutionary changes to improve them.

Engineering the biological conversion of formate into crotonate in Cupriavidus necator

This paper engineers the bacterium C. necator to convert formate into crotonate, achieving higher titer, productivity, and yield through metabolic pathway optimization.

Integrated rational and evolutionary engineering of genome-reduced Pseudomonas putida strains empowers synthetic formate assimilation

The paper engineers genome-reduced Pseudomonas putida strains to assimilate formate as a carbon source using a modular approach and adaptive evolution, achieving faster growth and two distinct catabolic pathways.

Engineered synthetic one-carbon fixation exceeds yield of the Calvin Cycle

The paper engineers a synthetic one-carbon fixation pathway in Cupriavidus necator that achieves higher biomass yield than the native Calvin Cycle.

Activating silent glycolysis bypasses in Escherichia coli

This study identifies alternative glycolytic pathways in E. coli that bypass canonical EMP glycolysis, showing that the serine shunt is selected for in adaptive evolution.

Awakening a latent carbon fixation cycle in Escherichia coli

This study identifies a new carbon fixation pathway in E. coli using only native enzymes and demonstrates its in vivo feasibility through genetic engineering.