title: Transgenic hybrid poplar for sustainable and scalable production of the commodity/specialty chemical, 2-phenylethanol.
abstract: Fast growing hybrid poplar offers the means for sustainable production of specialty and commodity chemicals, in addition to rapid biomass production for lignocellulosic deconstruction. Herein we describe transformation of fast-growing transgenic hybrid poplar lines to produce 2-phenylethanol, this being an important fragrance, flavor, aroma, and commodity chemical. It is also readily converted into styrene or ethyl benzene, the latter being an important commodity aviation fuel component. Introducing this biochemical pathway into hybrid poplars marks the beginnings of developing a platform for a sustainable chemical delivery system to afford this and other valuable specialty/commodity chemicals at the scale and cost needed. These modified plant lines mainly sequester 2-phenylethanol via carbohydrate and other covalently linked derivatives, thereby providing an additional advantage of effective storage until needed. The future potential of this technology is discussed. MALDI metabolite tissue imaging also established localization of these metabolites in the leaf vasculature.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Joaquim V
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Doralyn S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Dalisay
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Barrington
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Herman
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Diana L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Bedgar
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Laurence B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Davin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, United States of America ; Ealasid, Inc., Pullman, Washington, United States of America.
authors.forename: Norman G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Lewis
mesh_terms: D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000378:metabolism*; D032107:Populus / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D019032:Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
chemical_list: D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol