An acetobacter known as K. xylinus produces extracellular cellulose, which is of growing interest in the biotechnology field. To help understand this bacteria, metabolic models which provide mathematical representations of cellular systems, have been created. Our current model was missing several sugars that a strain of K. xylinus was able to metabolize into cellulose. By researching the possible metabolic pathways for these sugars, the model could be updated to more accurately describe real world phenomena. We successfully incorporated new pathways, including ones for arabitol and arabinose, as well as modified existing ones to predicate the cellulose flux produced by each sugar. However, some predictions, like in the case of mannitol and galactose, greatly deviated from expectations. Additional research into the operation of the model and improvements to its usability would allow the model to become a more useful tool.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Boggiano, Nicholas T.
• Chaves, Seth J.

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 19621
• E-project-042821-113406

Advisor

• Young, Eric Mosher

Year

• 2021

Date created

• 2021-04-28

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Chemical Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2021-08-29