Research Areas Biochemical Engineering, Metabolic Engineering

Research Interests BIOLOGICAL CONVERSION OF C1 GAS TO USEFUL CHEMICAL
C1 gases are representative greenhouse gases that cause global warming but adding carbons to C1 gas creates new carbon chain, which can be a renewable resource. Previous technology using C1 gas has a problem of low economic feasibility compared to petroleum because it requires various processes at high temperature and high pressure. On the other hand, the research of my lab aims to use biocatalysts in order to directly convert C1 gas at low temperature and low pressure.

In my lab, microbial biocatalysts were developed to convert C1 gas (methane, carbon monoxide) into useful chemicals. This research focuses on the isolation (screening) and improvement of microorganisms capable of converting C1 gas to useful chemicals by using genetic engineering as well as biological process study for efficient conversion of C1 gas with low solubility. Research on converting substances into high value-added biochemicals through additional bioconversion is also progressed.

Selected Publications Sukhyeong Cho, Yun Seo Lee, Hanyu Chai, Sang Eun Lim, Jeong Geol Na, Jinwon Lee, “Enhanced production of ectoine from methane using metabolically engineered Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z”, Biotechnol Biofuels 15, 5(2022)

Gyo-Yeon Seo, Hoe-Suk Lee, Hyeonsoo Kim, Sukhyeong Cho, Jeong-Geol Na, Young Joo Yeon, Jinwon Lee, “A novel hyperthermophilic methylglyoxal synthase: molecular dynamic analysis on the regional fluctuations”, Sci Rep 11, 2538 (2021)

Sukhyeong Cho, Seonyoung Ha, Hye Su Kim, Jin Hee Han, Hyeonsoo Kim, Young Joo Yeon, Jeong Geol Na, Jinwon Lee, “Stimulation of cell growth by addition of tungsten in batch culture of a methanotrophic bacterium, Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z on methane and methanol”, Journal of Biotechnology, 309 (2020), 0168-1656

Jeongmo Yang, Ji Hee Son, Hyeonsoo Kim, Sukhyeong Cho, Jeong-geol Na, Young Joo Yeon, Jinwon Lee, “Mevalonate production from ethanol by direct conversion through acetyl-CoA using recombinant Pseudomonas putida, a novel biocatalyst for terpenoid production”, Microb Cell Fact 18, 168 (2019)

Hyeonsoo Kim, Jeongmo Yang, Sukhyeong Cho, Kijun Jeong, Jinbyung Park, Jinwon Lee, “Microbial synthesis of undec-9-enoic acid, heptyl ester from renewable fatty acids using recombinant Corynebacterium glutamicum-based whole-cell biocatalyst”, Process Biochemistry, 66 (2018), 1359-5113

Professional Experience Research Associate (University of Virginia, 1993.10-1994.02)
Professor (Kwangwoon University, 1994.03-2005.02)