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Tu W, Thompson IP, Huang WE. Engineering bionanoreactor in bacteria for efficient hydrogen production. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2404958121. [PMID: 38985767 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2404958121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen production through water splitting is a vital strategy for renewable and sustainable clean energy. In this study, we developed an approach integrating nanomaterial engineering and synthetic biology to establish a bionanoreactor system for efficient hydrogen production. The periplasmic space (20 to 30 nm) of an electroactive bacterium, Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, was engineered to serve as a bionanoreactor to enhance the interaction between electrons and protons, catalyzed by hydrogenases for hydrogen generation. To optimize electron transfer, we used the microbially reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to coat the electrode, which improved the electron transfer from the electrode to the cells. Native MtrCAB protein complex on S. oneidensis and self-assembled iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles acted in tandem to facilitate electron transfer from an electrode to the periplasm. To enhance proton transport, S. oneidensis MR-1 was engineered to express Gloeobacter rhodopsin (GR) and the light-harvesting antenna canthaxanthin. This led to efficient proton pumping when exposed to light, resulting in a 35.6% increase in the rate of hydrogen production. The overexpression of native [FeFe]-hydrogenase further improved the hydrogen production rate by 56.8%. The bionanoreactor engineered in S. oneidensis MR-1 achieved a hydrogen yield of 80.4 μmol/mg protein/day with a Faraday efficiency of 80% at a potential of -0.75 V. This periplasmic bionanoreactor combines the strengths of both nanomaterial and biological components, providing an efficient approach for microbial electrosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiming Tu
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom
| | - Ian P Thompson
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom
| | - Wei E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3PJ, United Kingdom
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Wang H, Zhai P, Long X, Ma J, Li Y, Liu B, Xu Z. Research progress on using biological cathodes in microbial fuel cells for the treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1270431. [PMID: 37789847 PMCID: PMC10544973 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1270431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Various types of electroactive microorganisms can be enriched to form biocathodes that reduce charge-transfer resistance, thereby accelerating electron transfer to heavy metal ions with high redox potentials in microbial fuel cells. Microorganisms acting as biocatalysts on a biocathode can reduce the energy required for heavy metal reduction, thereby enabling the biocathode to achieve a lower reduction onset potential. Thus, when such heavy metals replace oxygen as the electron acceptor, the valence state and morphology of the heavy metals change under the reduction effect of the biocathode, realizing the high-efficiency treatment of heavy metal wastewater. This study reviews the mechanisms, primary influencing factors (e.g., electrode material, initial concentration of heavy metals, pH, and electrode potential), and characteristics of the microbial community of biocathodes and discusses the electron distribution and competition between microbial electrodes and heavy metals (electron acceptors) in biocathodes. Biocathodes reduce the electrochemical overpotential in heavy metal reduction, permitting more electrons to be used. Our study will advance the scientific understanding of the electron transport mechanism of biocathodes and provide theoretical support for the use of biocathodes to purify heavy metal wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengxiang Zhai
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Xizi Long
- Key Laboratory of Typical Environmental Pollution and Health Hazards of Hunan Province, School of Public Health, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, China
| | - Jianghang Ma
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Yu Li
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
| | - Zhiqiang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Eco-Hydraulics in Northwest Arid Region, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
- Department of Municipal and Environmental Engineering, School of Water Resources and Hydro-Electric Engineering, Xi'an University of Technology, Xi'an, China
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Quek G, Vázquez RJ, McCuskey SR, Lopez-Garcia F, Bazan GC. An n-Type Conjugated Oligoelectrolyte Mimics Transmembrane Electron Transport Proteins for Enhanced Microbial Electrosynthesis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202305189. [PMID: 37222113 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202305189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Interfacing bacteria as biocatalysts with an electrode provides the basis for emerging bioelectrochemical systems that enable sustainable energy interconversion between electrical and chemical energy. Electron transfer rates at the abiotic-biotic interface are, however, often limited by poor electrical contacts and the intrinsically insulating cell membranes. Herein, we report the first example of an n-type redox-active conjugated oligoelectrolyte, namely COE-NDI, which spontaneously intercalates into cell membranes and mimics the function of endogenous transmembrane electron transport proteins. The incorporation of COE-NDI into Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cells amplifies current uptake from the electrode by 4-fold, resulting in the enhanced bio-electroreduction of fumarate to succinate. Moreover, COE-NDI can serve as a "protein prosthetic" to rescue current uptake in non-electrogenic knockout mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenn Quek
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Ricardo Javier Vázquez
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Samantha R McCuskey
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Fernando Lopez-Garcia
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Guillermo C Bazan
- Departments of Chemistry and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Institute for Functional Intelligent Materials (I-FIM), National University of Singapore, 119077, Singapore, Singapore
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