NATIONAL CENTER FOR AGRICULTURAL UTILIZATION RESEARCH Microbial Genomics & Bioprocessing Research

Research in my laboratory focuses on developing new microbial processes for adding functionality groups to plant lipids or their component fatty acids to produce value-added food and industrial products. The goal is to develop new products from surplus soybean oil or its component fatty acids through bioprocesses. Oxygenated fatty acids such as hydroxy-, keto-, epoxy-, and cyclic fatty acids are important industrial chemicals and as materials in national defense. Castor oil and its derivatives (hydroxy fatty acid) are classified by the Department of Defence as strategic and critical materials. Newly discovered hydroxy unsaturated fatty acids were reported to have interesting physiological activity. Several microorganisms and biocatalytic processes have been identified that introduce new functional groups to the inner carbon atoms of fatty acids. These hydroxy fatty acids are classified into three types, namely: monohydroxy, dihydroxy and trihydoxy fatty acids.