Holland. A group of researchers from Wagenigen University developed a variety of potato plants capable of producing itaconic acid, an input used in the manufacture of resins and synthetic fibers.This acid, which has a structure similar to that of citric acid is used in the production of methacrylate and polymethyl methacrylate. In nature, itaconic acid is produced by the fungus Aspergillus terreus that is already used commercially in some companies, although it is expensive and has a high energy consumption.
In order to reduce production costs, the Dutch researchers modified the plants with genetic information from this fungus. The process had good results, but it still needs to be refined before it is introduced commercially.
"We now want to investigate where in the plant, and in which compartment of cells, itaconic acid can be best synthesized and accumulated," said Ingrid van der Meer, one of the participating scientists. "We already know, for example, that tubers are much more suitable for this process."
