3-hydroxypropionic acid—3-HP, for short—is an important chemical precursor that can be converted to various commercial materials and compounds (largely polymer precursors) for use in everything from cars and electronics to clothing and diapers. 3-HP can also be biologically polymerized to produce biodegradable polymers for use in items such as disposable cups.

Products accessed through 3-HP have traditionally been synthesized using fossil fuel feedstocks; prior attempts to generate 3-HP from biological sources have typically involved costly ingredients and resulted in low yields.

Through the Agile BioFoundry, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) researchers have leveraged the Lab’s unique capabilities in metabolic modeling, multiomics analysis, and bioprocess development to engineer a fungus (Aspergillus niger) to produce 3-HP at higher levels that are suitable for commodity production. The novel method relies on PNNL’s optimization of the fermentation process, as well as its discovery of critical enzymes and transporters involved in 3-HP metabolism.

The fungus is fed with inexpensive lignocellulosic and waste feedstock materials, such as corn stover (the parts of the corn plant that are not harvested) and fermentation wastewater from the fuel ethanol production industry, further lowering the costs and enhancing the sustainability of the product.

The result: low-cost, high-yield, fossil-free 3-HP. This biologically produced 3-HP stands to produce major reductions in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions compared to existing petrochemical methods.

Please reference PNNL IPID numbers 31814 and 32514 when making inquiries.