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GCMS confirms that The PetroBrick enables diesel production from sugar using E. coli

We preformed GC-MS analysis on extracts from cell cultures expressing both Acyl-ACP reductase (AAR) and Aldehyde Decarbonylase (ADC). To act as controls and in order to show that the alkane production system is working as expected, we also analyzed cell cultures expressing either only AAR, or only ADC.

GCMS confirms PetroBrick diesel production from sugar using E. coli

No significant hydrocarbons peaks in samples extracted from cells expressing only ADC. The blue GCMS chromatagram trace on the bottom show no significant peaks are found on the ADC only control within the time range that we expect alkane signal based upon GC-MS runs on chemical standards (8-10.5 minutes). This is expected, as E. coli does not normally produce any long chain length aldehyde substrates.

C16 alcohols are observed when AAR is expressed on its own. The red GCMS chromatagram trace in the middle has a significant peak at 10.2 minutes corresponding to the C16 alcohol (as confirmed by comparison of the peak's MS spectra to a reference library) is observed when AAR is expressed in MG1655 E. coli. The production of C16 alcohols in cells expressing AAR (but not in cells expressing only ADC) is consistent with AAR reducing even chain length Acyl-ACPs into even chain length fatty aldehydes, which are further reduced by aldehyde dehydrogenases to the alcohol.

The PetroBrick Works! C13, C15, and C17 alkanes are produced when both AAR and ADC are expressed. The green GCMS chromatagram trace in the middle has a significant new peaks corresponding to the C13 (8.2min) and C15 (9.2min) alkanes, as well as a peak at 10.2 minutes that contains both the C16 alcohol and the C17 alkene. The fact that the C17 alkene and C16 alcohol peak overlaps with the C16 alcohol peak makes quantification of C17 akene yields impossible, but we have sufficient evidence to determine that both molecules are present in the 10.2 minute peak( the later section of the peak has an MS spectra consistent with the C16 alcohol, and the earlier section is consistent with the C17 alkene). The C13 and C15 alkane peaks showed MS spectra highly consistent with C13 and C15 alkane reference spectra. In addition, both alkane molecules eluted off of the GC at the same time as C13 and C15 alkane standards, further increasing confidence that the 8.2 min and 9.2 min peaks do correspond to the C13 and C15 alkanes. Odd chain length alkane production is what is expected from our system, as ADC removes a carbonyl group from even chain length aldehydes produced by AAR, yielding an odd chain length alkane.The mass spectra for the peaks at 8.2 and 9.3 elute and have the same MS spectra as our standards, as well as the NIST compound library. The peak at 10.2 corresponded to a mixture of C17 alkene and C16 alcohol. Therefore quantifying the amount of C13 and C15 alkanes was readily achieved by constructing a standard curve. The coelution of the C17 with the significant alcohol peaks made it difficult to quantify the level of C17 alkene produced.

Initial Quantization of Alkane Production

In order to be able to know how much alkane was being produced by our E. coli, we spiked known amounts of alkane into cell cultures known to not produce alkanes. We then extracted using ethyl acetate, and analyzed extracts using GC-MS. Since peak area corresponds to the amount of each substance present, we used these GC plots to make a standard curve that allows us to convert peak area into an absolute amount. To determine how much alkane was being produced by our alkane production construct, we grew up 3 E. coli cultures expressing ADC and AAR in a standard M9 media (link), and analyzed using GC-MS.

Diagram showing yields of the C13 and C15 alkanes, and C17 alkenes. Note: This C17 quantification is a rough approximation.

Optimized Production

By optimizing the method of growth, media, vectors, and cell line we were able to succesfull increase yeilds of alkane production over 50-fold. In addition, the peak at C17 no longer had any trace of alcohol and all three peaks were clearly the desired alkenes, as determined by comparrsion to our product standards and the standard NIST reference spectrum library. The paramters we adjusted for optimization are discussed in detail at our systems optimization page under future directions, as this is an on going process.

Diagram showing yields of the C13 and C15 alkanes, and C17 alkenes.