Impact
A multidisciplinary research approach is undertaken to develop novel technologies that improve production of bio-based chemicals, fuels and materials with smaller carbon footprint. Non-model organisms belonging to bacteria, fungi and microalgae are being studied with the objective of exploiting them to enhance food security and sustainability for urban cities.
Collaborations, Achievements & Honours
- Lead-PI for National Research Foundation’s Competitive Research Programme (CRP) (2012-2017)
- Lead PI for Single Cell Protein production under the Singapore Food Story’s industry alignment programme (2021-2024)
- Lead PI, Project Coordinator or Co-PI for several industrial collaboration projects, eg, Delta & Pine Land (USA), Wilmar International, Joil, Olam
- Inventor for 15 international patents (4 licensed)
Research Areas
Synthetic Biology and Metabolic Engineering; Utilization of Biomass, Microbial Resource and CO2; Future Food
Affiliations
- Senior Principal Investigator, TLL
Question
How to harness the strong metabolic power of yeast to produce natural, safe and cost competitive food ingredients?
Approach
Established in 2003, Lianghui’s laboratory started translational research on tissue culture and genetic transformation in plants, including cotton, Jatropha and oil palm. This evolved into a industrial biotechnology programme, which focuses on converting Rhodotorula toruloides as a platform for high land-efficiency production system for flavours and fragrances; nutritional and healthcare ingredients as well as single cell proteins and starch. Lianghui believes that synthetic biology revolutionizes the way to produce chemicals and materials that are native to plants, animals and microbes. He strives to make a difference with natural, sustainable production methods via bioprocess engineering, genome evolution and editing. His long-term aim is to create a system where food can be efficiently manufactured by microbial fermentation of CO2-derived feedstock, such as acetic acid, formic acid and ethanol.
Bio
Lianghui received his Bachelor degree in China before joining the China National Rice Research Institute. He did his PhD with Prof. Peter Langridge at the University of Adelaide. He moved to Singapore in 1997 as a research fellow to investigate plant virus interaction. He established his independent lab TLL in 2003. He is currently Senior Principal Investigator and Director of Strategic Research Programme at TLL.
Senior Principal Investigator
Ji Lianghui
Dr Ji Lianghui’s laboratory studies the pathways and regulation for the biosynthesis and metabolism of food ingredients, particularly lipids, carotenoid and proteins. He builds and enhances microbes, particularly red yeast Rhodotorula toruloides, as a platform for food and chemical production.
Group Publications
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Sphingomonas jatrophae sp. nov. and Sphingomonas carotinifaciens sp. nov., two yellow-pigmented endophytes isolated from stem tissues of Jatropha curcas L
Madhaiyan M, Tan HHA, Cho H, Kim S-J, Weon H-Y, Kwon S-W, Whitman WB, Ji L.
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The genetics of chromosome pairing in wheat
Ji LH, Langridge P. -
An early meiosis-specific clone from T. aestivum
Ji LH, Langridge P. -
Ilarviruses encode a cucumovirus-like 2b gene that is absent in other genera within the Bromoviridae
Xin HW, Ji LH, Scott SW, Symons RH, Ding SW. -
Viral pathogenicity determinants are suppressors of transgene silencing in Nicotiana benthamiana
Brigneti G, Voinnet O, Li WX, Ji LH, Ding SW, Baulcombe DC. -
Strong host resistance targeted against a viral suppressor of the plant gene silencing defence mechanism
Li HW, Lucy AP, Guo HS, Li WX, Ji LH, Wong SM, Ding SW. -
The suppressor of transgene RNA silencing encoded by Cucumber mosaic virus interferes with salicylic acid-mediated virus resistance
Ji LH, Ding SW. -
Microbial Utilization of Next-Generation Feedstocks for the Biomanufacturing of Value-Added Chemicals and Food Ingredients
Zhang CQ, Ottenheim C, Weingarten M and Ji L. -
Plant Growth Promoting Abilities of Novel Burkholderia-Related Genera and Their Interactions With Some Economically Important Tree Species
Madhaiyan M, Selvakumar G, Tan AHH, Cai L, Ji L. -
Understanding and exploiting the fatty acid desaturation system in Rhodotorula toruloides
Liu Y, Koh CMJ, Yap SA, Cai L, Ji L.
