BIOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF PHENYLACETYLENE

ACETYLENE-TERMINATED RESINS REPRESENT ONE CLASS OF POLYMERS HAVING GREAT POTENTIAL UTILITY IN THE AEROSPACE INDUSTRY. THIS TYPE OF RESIN POSSESSES DESIRABLE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES SUCH AS TEMPERATURE, MOISTURE AND SHEAR RESISTANCE. A NECESSARY PRECURSOR FOR SYNTHESIS OF THESE RESINS IS PHENYLACETYLENE, WHICH IS DIFFICULT AND EXPENSIVE TO MANUFACTURE THROUGH CHEMICAL MEANS. THE PHASE I RESEARCH PROGRAM DESCRIBED IN THIS PROPOSAL DETAILS A BIOLOGICAL ALTERNATIVE FOR PHENYLACETYLENE SYNTHESIS. THE APPROACH TAKEN WILL BE TO EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENZYME MEDIATED BIOCONVERSION OF A SUITABLE SUBSTRATE TO PHENYLACETYLENE. THE INITIAL STEP WILL BE THE ISOLATION FROM THE ENVIRONMENT OF MICROORGANISMS CAPABLE OF PARTIAL OR COMPLETE UTILIZATION OF PHENYLACETYLENE. STUDIES ON THE REACTIONS INVOLVED IN PHENYLACETYLENE BIOSYNTHESIS, WILL BE DETERMINED IN A CELL-FREE SYSTEM. THERE ARE NUMEROUS EXAMPLES IN THE LITERATURE OF ENZYME AND REACTION CONDITIONS BEING MODIFIED SUCH THAT NEW AND REVERSE REACTIONS CAN OCCUR. THE GOAL OF THE PROPOSED RESEARCH IS TO DETERMINE THE TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF A BIOLOGICAL SYNTHESIS OF PHENYLACETYLENE USING A BIOCATALYTIC CONVERSION PROCESS.