Shota Atsumi

An increased understanding of system properties underlying cellular networks enables us to construct novel systems by assembling the components and the control systems into new combinations. We are applying this approach to the field of metabolic engineering, which strives for the optimization of desired properties and functions, such as the production of valuable biochemicals. The production of valuable chemicals from microorganisms suites to solve some significant challenges, such as converting renewable feedstocks into energy-rich biofuels. Currently, our main focus is developing synthetic organisms capable of converting CO2 directly to biofuels.

Education, Awards and Professional Highlights

• UC Davis Chancellor's Fellow (2018)
• NSF CAREER Award (2014)
• UC Davis Hellman Fellowship (2012)
• Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) (2010) 
• Appointed to UC Davis faculty (2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, UCLA (2006-2009)
• Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Arizona (2002-2006)
• PhD Kyoto University (2002)

Representative Publications

• Tashiro, Y., Hirano, S., Matson, M.M., Atsumi, S*., Kondo, A*. *co-corresponding author
  Electrical-biological hybrid system for CO2 reduction. Metab Eng. 47: 211-218 (2018)
• Kanno, M., Carroll, A.L. & Atsumi, S. Global metabolic rewiring for improved CO2 fixation and chemical production in cyanobacteria Nat Commun. 8: 14724 (2017) 
• Tashiro, Y., Desai, S.H. & Atsumi, S. Two-dimensional isobutyl acetate production pathways to improve carbon yield. Nat Commun. 6: 7488 (2015)
• Rodriguez, G.M.*, Tashiro, Y.*, & Atsumi, S. Expanding ester biosynthesis in Escherichia coli. Nat Chem Biol. 10: 259-265 (2014) *Contributed equally to this work
• Rabinovitch-Deere, C.A., Oliver, J.W.K, Rodriguez, G.M., & Atsumi, S. Synthetic biology and metabolic engineering approaches to produce biofuels. Chem Rev. 113(7): 4611-4632 (2013)
• McEwen, J.T., Machado, I.M.P, Connor, M.R., & Atsumi, S. Engineering Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 for continuous growth under diurnal conditions. Appl Environ Microbiol. 79(5): 1668-1675 (2013)
• Oliver, J.W.K.*, Machado, I.M.P.*, Yoneda, H., & Atsumi, S. Cyanobacterial conversion of carbon dioxideto 2,3-butanediol. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 110(4): 1249-1254 (2013) *Contributed equally to this work
• Atsumi, S., Higashide, W. & Liao, J.C. Direct photosynthetic recycling of carbon dioxide to isobutyraldehyde. Nat Biotechnol. 27: 1177-1180 (2009) (News & Views by J. Sheehan)
• Atsumi, S., Hanai, T. & Liao, J.C. Non-fermentative pathways for synthesis of branched-chain higher alcohols as biofuels. Nature. 451: 86-89 (2008)
• Atsumi, S. & Little, J.W. A synthetic phage lambda regulatory circuit. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 103: 19045-19050 (2006)
• Atsumi, S. & Little, J.W. Role of the lytic repressor in prophage induction of phage lambda analyzed by a module-replacement approach. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 103: 4558-4563 (2006)
• Atsumi, S.& Little, J.W. Regulatory circuit design and evolution using phage lambda. Genes Dev. 18: 2086-2094 (2004)
• Atsumi, S., Ikawa, Y., Shiraishi, H. & Inoue, T. Design and development of a catalytic ribonucleoprotein. EMBO J, 20: 5453-5460 (2001)