Green, sustainable chemicals from CO2: replacing endangered animal sources through high-tech domestication of algae biosynthesis
Novo Nordisk Foundation
University of Southern Denmark, Odense
Squalene is an ingredient in cosmetics such as sunscreens and lipsticks, and in pharmaceuticals such as vaccines. The cheapest source of squalene are livers of deep-water sharks. As a consequence, most of the squalene used by the cosmetic industry is derived from sharks, causing serious damage to marine ecosystems. Microalgae are microorganisms that convert CO2 into biomass and bioproducts, through photosynthesis. Some algae produce large amounts of squalene through an elusive but efficient mechanism. As their growth is too slow, they cannot be used for industrial production, hence this efficient trait is currently untapped. I will use a revolutionary approach to understand this mechanism and to transfer it into microalgae better suited for industrial cultivation. I will generate photosynthetic microbes that will efficiently produce squalene from atmospheric CO2 or from flue gases in scalable photobioreactors, to provide a sustainable alternative to shark-based sourcing.
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