Katja Hahne
Technische Universität Dresden, Germany
Title: Yeast whole cell sensors for the detection of acetic acid in biogas production
Biography
Biography: Katja Hahne
Abstract
BioSAM, an innovative regional growth core funded by the BMBF, encompasses 11 companies and six research institutions that are focusing on applications of whole cell sensors in biotechnology, environmental and medical technology. Besides their high sensitivity and specificity, whole cell based biosensors indicate the bioavailability of a specific analytes. The project Biogas aims to generate functionalized yeast cells as sensors for the control and optimization of the biogas process. Acetic acid as a critical intermediate was defined as the key analytes. The accumulation of acetic acid indicates an imbalance of the process due to a kinetic uncoupling between acid producers and consumers. Monitoring of acetic acid may thus assist optimizing the biogas process. We here describe the generation and validation of yeast whole cell sensors which modulate the expression of a fluorescent protein depending on the concentration of the analyte. In order to increase the endurance of a monitoring device, in addition to vegetative cells, spores are tested for the monitoring process.