On carbon dioxide storage based on biomineralization strategies

An Atomistic View on the Mechanism of Diatom Peptide-Guided Biomimetic Silica Formation

Deciphering nature's remarkable way of encoding functions in its biominerals holds the potential to enable the rational development of nature-inspired materials with tailored properties. However, the complex processes that convert solution-state precursors into solid biomaterials remain largely unknown. In this study, an unconventional approach is presented to characterize these precursors for the diatom-derived peptides R5 and synthetic Silaffin-1A1 (synSil-1A1). These molecules can form defined supramolecular assemblies in solution, which act as templates for solid silica structures. Using a tailored structural biology toolbox, the structure-function relationships of these self-assemblies are unveiled. NMR-derived constraints are employed to enable a recently developed fractal-cluster formalism and then reveal the architecture of the peptide assemblies in atomistic detail. Finally, by monitoring the self-assembly activities during silica formation at simultaneous high temporal and residue resolution using real-time spectroscopy, the mechanism is elucidated underlying template-driven silica formation. Thus, it is demonstrated how to exercise morphology control over bioinorganic solids by manipulating the template architectures. It is found that the morphology of the templates is translated into the shape of bioinorganic particles via a mechanism that includes silica nucleation on the solution-state complexes' surfaces followed by complete surface coating and particle precipitation.

A bicarbonate-rich liquid condensed phase in non-saturated solutions in the absence of divalent cations

Bicarbonate (HCO3 -) and sodium (Na+)-containing solutions contain droplets of a separate, bicarbonate-rich liquid condensed phase (LCP) that have higher concentrations of HCO3 - relative to the bulk solution in which they reside. The existence and composition of the LCP droplets has been investigated by nanoparticle tracking analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, refractive index measurements and X-ray pair distribution function analysis. The bicarbonate-rich LCP species is a previously unaccounted-for, ionic phenomenon which occurs even in solutions with solely monovalent cations. Its existence requires re-evaluation of models used to describe and model aqueous solution physicochemistry, especially those used to describe and model carbonate mineral formation.

Discovery of a hyperalkaline liquid condensed phase: significance toward applications in carbon dioxide sequestration

Bicarbonate ion-containing solutions such as seawater, natural brines, bovine serum and other mineralizing fluids have been found to contain hyperalkaline droplets of a separate, liquid condensed phase (LCP), that have higher concentrations of bicarbonate ion (HCO3 -) relative to the bulk solution in which they reside. The existence and unique composition of the LCP droplets have been characterized by nanoparticle tracking analysis, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, dissolved inorganic carbon analysis and refractive index measurements. Carbon dioxide can be brought into solution through an aqueous reaction to form LCP droplets that can then be separated by established industrial membrane processes as a means of concentrating HCO3 -. Reaction of calcium with the LCP droplets results in calcium carbonate precipitation and mineral formation. The LCP phenomenon may bear on native mineralization reactions and has the potential to change fundamental approaches to carbon capture, sequestration and utilization.

Manila clam and Mediterranean mussel aquaculture is sustainable and a net carbon sink

Aquaculture is a globally expanding industry that contributes to feeding an increasing global population. Shellfish cultivation is one of the largest sectors of aquaculture and one of the few food productions that have the potential capacity of acting as carbon sink. In fact, >90 % of bivalve shells are calcium carbonate (CaCO₃), synthetized during biocalcification process, which incorporates a molecule of CO₂. Manila clam (Venerupis philippinarum, Adams & Reeves, 1850) and Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Lamarck, 1819) are two of the major groups of cultivated shellfish. Our aim was to assess the potential role of those two bivalve species in the overall marine carbon balance using an ecosystem approach, and to evaluate if they can be definitely regarded as carbon sink. The contribution to CO₂ emissions (as CO₂ eq./kg of fresh products) due to mollusk farming has been also calculated as carbon-source term by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). LCA is nowadays the most shared and accepted tool for evaluating the environmental impacts of aquaculture productions. As a case study, the Sacca di Goro coastal lagoon (Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy) has been considered, because it is the premier site in Europe for clam farming, and one of the most important for mussels. Our study has shown that for each kilogram of harvested and packaged clams and mussels, shell formation throughout the mollusk growth allows to permanently capture 254 and 146 g of CO₂, in the face of 22 and 55 g CO₂ eq. emitted for farming, respectively. As a result, clams and mussel aquaculture could be considered as a carbon sink, with a net carbon capture capacity of 233 and 91 g CO₂/kg of fresh product, respectively. In a wider context, bivalve aquaculture could be included in the carbon trading system and played a role towards the carbon-neutral economy.

A Review on the Performance Evaluation of Autonomous Self-Healing Bacterial Concrete: Mechanisms, Strength, Durability, and Microstructural Properties

The development of cracks, owing to a relatively lower tensile strength of concrete, diverse loading, and environmental factors driving the deterioration of structures, is an inescapable key concern for engineers. Reparation and maintenance operations are thus extremely important to prevent cracks from spreading and mitigating the lifetime of structures. However, ease of access to the cracked zone may be challenging, and it also needs funds and manual power. Hence, autonomous sealing of cracks employing microorganisms into the concrete sans manual intervention is a promising solution to the dilemma of the sustainable improvement of concrete. ‘Ureolytic bacteria’, key organism species in rumen-producing ‘urease’ enzymes such as Bacillus pasteurii or subtilis—when induced—are capable of producing calcium carbonate precipitations into the concrete. As their cell wall is anionic, CaCO3 accumulation on their surface is extensive, and the whole cell, therefore, becomes crystalline and ultimately plugs pores and cracks. This natural induction technique is an environmentally friendly method that researchers are studying intensively. This manuscript reviews the application process of bacterial healing to manufacture autonomous self-healing bacterial concrete. Additionally, it provides a brief review of diverse attributes of this novel concrete which demonstrate the variations with the auto-addition of different bacteria, along with an evaluation of crack healing as a result of the addition of these bacteria directly into concrete or after encapsulation in a protective shell. Comparative assessment techniques for autonomous, bio-based self-healing are also discussed, accompanied by progress, potential, modes of application of this technique, and its resultant benefits in the context of strength and durability. Imperatives for quantitative sustainability assessment and industrial adoption are identified, along with the sealing of artificially cracked cement mortar with sand as a filling material in given spaces, as well as urea and CaCl2 medium treatment with Bacillus pasteurii and Sporosarcina bacteria. The assessment of the impact on the compressive strength and rigidity of cement mortar cubes after the addition of bacteria into the mix is also considered. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images on the function of bacteria in mineral precipitation that is microbiologically induced are also reviewed. Lastly, future research scope and present gaps are recognised and discussed.

New Biocalcifying Marine Bacterial Strains Isolated from Calcareous Deposits and Immediate Surroundings

Marine bacterial biomineralisation by CaCO3 precipitation provides natural limestone structures, like beachrocks and stromatolites. Calcareous deposits can also be abiotically formed in seawater at the surface of steel grids under cathodic polarisation. In this work, we showed that this mineral-rich alkaline environment harbours bacteria belonging to different genera able to induce CaCO3 precipitation. We previously isolated 14 biocalcifying marine bacteria from electrochemically formed calcareous deposits and their immediate environment. By microscopy and µ-Raman spectroscopy, these bacterial strains were shown to produce calcite-type CaCO3. Identification by 16S rDNA sequencing provided between 98.5 and 100% identity with genera Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudidiomarina, Epibacterium, Virgibacillus, Planococcus, and Bhargavaea. All 14 strains produced carbonic anhydrase, and six were urease positive. Both proteins are major enzymes involved in the biocalcification process. However, this does not preclude that one or more other metabolisms could also be involved in the process. In the presence of urea, Virgibacillus halodenitrificans CD6 exhibited the most efficient precipitation of CaCO3. However, the urease pathway has the disadvantage of producing ammonia, a toxic molecule. We showed herein that different marine bacteria could induce CaCO3 precipitation without urea. These bacteria could then be used for eco-friendly applications, e.g., the formation of bio-cements to strengthen dikes and delay coastal erosion.

Enzymes for Efficient CO2 Conversion

The accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere as a result of human activities has caused a number of adverse circumstances in the world. For this reason, the proposed solutions lie within the aim of reducing carbon dioxide emissions have been quite valuable. However, as the human activity continues to increase on this planet, the possibility of reducing carbon dioxide emissions decreases with the use of conventional methods. The emergence of compounds than can be used in different fields by converting the released carbon dioxide into different chemicals will construct a fundamental solution to the problem. Although electro-catalysis or photolithography methods have emerged for this purpose, they have not been able to achieve successful results. Alternatively, another proposed solution are enzyme based systems. Among the enzyme-based systems, pyruvate decarboxylase, carbonic anhydrase and dehydrogenases have been the most studied enzymes. Pyruvate dehydrogenase and carbonic anhydrase have either been an expensive method or were incapable of producing the desired result due to the reaction cascade they catalyze. However, the studies reporting the production of industrial chemicals from carbon dioxide using dehydrogenases and in particular, the formate dehydrogenase enzyme, have been remarkable. Moreover, reported studies have shown the existence of more active and stable enzymes, especially the dehydrogenase family that can be identified from the biome. In addition to this, their redesign through protein engineering can have an immense contribution to the increased use of enzyme-based methods in CO₂ reduction, resulting in an enormous expansion of the industrial capacity.

Tuning CO2 Capture at the Gas/Amine Solution Interface by Changing the Solvent Polarity

Carbon dioxide scrubbing by aqueous amine solution is considered as a promising technology for post-combustion CO₂ capture, while mitigating climate change. The lack of physicochemical details for this process, especially at the interface between the gas and the condensed phase, limits our capability in designing novel and more cost-effective scrubbing systems. Here, we present classical and first-principles molecular dynamics results on CO₂ capture at the gas/amine solution interfaces using solvents of different polarities. Even if it is apolar, carbon dioxide is absorbed at the gas/monoethanolamine (MEA) aqueous solution interface, forming stable and interfacial [CO₂·MEA] complexes, which are the first reaction intermediate toward the chemical conversion of CO₂ to carbamate ions. We report that the stability of the interfacial [CO₂·MEA] precomplex depends on the nature and polarity of the solution, as well as on the conformer population of MEA. By changing the polarity of the solvent, using chloroform, we observed a shift in the interfacial MEA population toward conformers that form more stable [CO₂·MEA] complexes and, at the same time, a further stabilization of the complex induced by the solvent environment. Thus, while lowering the polarity of the solvent could decrease the solubility of MEA, at the same time, it favors conformers that are more prone to CO₂ capture and mineralization. The results presented here offer a theoretical framework that helps in designing novel and more cost-effective solvents for CO₂ scrubbing systems, while shedding further light on the intrinsic reaction mechanisms of interfacial environments in general.

Alpha-Carbonic Anhydrases from Hydrothermal Vent Sources as Potential Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Agents: In Silico Sequence, Structure and Dynamics Analyses

With the increase in CO2 emissions worldwide and its dire effects, there is a need to reduce CO2 concentrations in the atmosphere. Alpha-carbonic anhydrases (α-CAs) have been identified as suitable sequestration agents. This study reports the sequence and structural analysis of 15 α-CAs from bacteria, originating from hydrothermal vent systems. Structural analysis of the multimers enabled the identification of hotspot and interface residues. Molecular dynamics simulations of the homo-multimers were performed at 300 K, 363 K, 393 K and 423 K to unearth potentially thermostable α-CAs. Average betweenness centrality (BC) calculations confirmed the relevance of some hotspot and interface residues. The key residues responsible for dimer thermostability were identified by comparing fluctuating interfaces with stable ones, and were part of conserved motifs. Crucial long-lived hydrogen bond networks were observed around residues with high BC values. Dynamic cross correlation fortified the relevance of oligomerization of these proteins, thus the importance of simulating them in their multimeric forms. A consensus of the simulation analyses used in this study suggested high thermostability for the α-CA from Nitratiruptor tergarcus. Overall, our novel findings enhance the potential of biotechnology applications through the discovery of alternative thermostable CO2 sequestration agents and their potential protein design.

Biomineralization of Monohydrocalcite Induced by the Halophile Halomonas smyrnensis WMS‐3

The halophilic bacterium Halomonas smyrnensis from a modern salt lake used in experiments to induce biomineralization has resulted in the precipitation of monohydrocalcite and other carbonate minerals. In this study, a Halomonas smyrnensis WMS‐3 (GenBank:MH425323) strain was identified based on 16S rDNA homology comparison, and then cultured in mediums with 3% NaCl concentration to induce monohydrocalcite at different Mg/Ca molar ratios of 0, 2, 5, 7, and 9. The growth curve of WMS‐3 bacteria, pH values, NH4+ concentration, HCO3− and CO32− concentration, carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity, and the changes in Ca2+ and Mg2+ ion concentration were determined to further explore the extracellular biomineralization mechanism. Moreover, the nucleation mechanism of monohydrocalcite on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) was analyzed through studying ultrathin slices of the WMS‐3 strain by High resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), Selected area election diffraction (SAED), Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), and elemental mapping, besides this, amino acids in the EPS were also analyzed. The results show that pH increased to about 9.0 under the influence of ammonia and CA activity. The precipitation ratio (%, the ratio of the mass/volume concentration) of the Ca2+ ion was 64.32%, 62.20%, 60.22%, 59.57%, and 54.42% at Mg/Ca molar ratios of 0, 2, 5, 7, and 9, respectively, on the 21st day of the experiments, and 6.69%, 7.10%, 7.74%, 8.09% for the Mg2+ ion concentration at Mg/Ca molar ratios 2, 5, 7, and 9, respectively. The obtained minerals were calcite, Mg‐rich calcite, aragonite, and hydromagnesite, in addition to the monohydrocalcite, as identified by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses. Monohydrocalcite had higher crystallinity when the Mg/Ca ratio increased from 7 to 9; thus, the stability of monohydrocalcite increased, also proven by the thermogravimetry (TG), derivative thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analyses. The C=O and C–O–C organic functional groups present in/on the minerals analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), the various morphologies and the existence of P and S determined by scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive spectrometer (SEM‐EDS), the relatively more negative stable carbon isotope values (−16.91‰ to −17.91‰) analyzed by a carbon isotope laser spectrometer, plus the typical surface chemistry by XPS, all support the biogenesis of these mineral precipitates. Moreover, Ca2+ ions were able to enter the bacterial cell to induce intracellular biomineralization. This study is useful to understand the mechanism of biomineralization further and may provide theoretical reference concerning the formation of monohydrocalcite in nature.

Accelerated CO₂ Hydration with Thermostable Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense Carbonic Anhydrase-Chitin Binding Domain Fusion Protein Immobilised on Chitin Support

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) represent a group of enzymes that catalyse important reactions of carbon dioxide hydration and dehydration, a reaction crucial to many biological processes and environmental biotechnology. In this study we successfully constructed a thermostable fusion enzyme composed of the Sulfurihydrogenibium azorense carbonic anhydrase (Saz_CA), the fastest CA discovered to date, and the chitin binding domain (ChBD) of chitinase from Bacillus circulans. Introduction of ChBD to the Saz_CA had no major impact on the effect of ions or inhibitors on the enzymatic activity. The fusion protein exhibited no negative effects up to 60 °C, whilst the fusion partner appears to protect the enzyme from negative effects of magnesium. The prepared biocatalyst appears to be thermally activated at 60 °C and could be partially purified with heat treatment. Immobilisation attempts on different kinds of chitin-based support results have shown that the fusion enzyme preferentially binds to a cheap, untreated chitin with a large crystallinity index over more processed forms of chitin. It suggests significant potential economic benefits for large-scale deployment of immobilised CA technologies such as CO₂ utilisation or mineralisation.

Carbonic Anhydrases: Role in pH Control and Cancer

The pH of the tumor microenvironment drives the metastatic phenotype and chemotherapeutic resistance of tumors. Understanding the mechanisms underlying this pH-dependent phenomenon will lead to improved drug delivery and allow the identification of new therapeutic targets. This includes an understanding of the role pH plays in primary tumor cells, and the regulatory factors that permit cancer cells to thrive. Over the last decade, carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have been shown to be important mediators of tumor cell pH by modulating the bicarbonate and proton concentrations for cell survival and proliferation. This has prompted an effort to inhibit specific CA isoforms, as an anti-cancer therapeutic strategy. Of the 12 active CA isoforms, two, CA IX and XII, have been considered anti-cancer targets. However, other CA isoforms also show similar activity and tissue distribution in cancers and have not been considered as therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. In this review, we consider all the CA isoforms and their possible role in tumors and their potential as targets for cancer therapy.

A novel proton transfer salt of 2-amino-6-sulfamoylbenzothiazole and its metal complexes: the evaluation of their inhibition effects on human cytosolic carbonic anhydrases

A novel proton transfer compound (SMHABT)+(HDPC)- (1) obtained from 2-amino-6-sulfamoylbenzothiazole (SMABT) and 2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid (H2DPC) and its Fe(III), Co(II), Ni(II) complexes (2-4), and Fe(II) complex of SMABT (5) have been prepared and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. Additionally, single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques were applied to complexes (2-4). All complexes (2-4) have distorted octahedral conformations and the structure of 5 might be proposed as octahedral according to spectral and analytical results. All compounds, including acetazolamide (AAZ) as the control compound, were also evaluated for their in vitro inhibition effects on human hCA I and hCA II for their hydratase and esterase activities. The synthesized compounds have remarkable inhibitory activities on hCA I and hCA II. Especially, the inhibition potentials of the salt and the metal complexes (1-5) are comparable with AAZ. Inhibition data have been analyzed by using a one-way analysis of variance for multiple comparisons (p < .0001).

About how to capture and exploit the CO2 surplus that nature, per se, is not capable of fixing

Human activity has been altering many ecological cycles for decades, disturbing the natural mechanisms which are responsible for re-establishing the normal environmental balances. Probably, the most disrupted of these cycles is the cycle of carbon. In this context, many technologies have been developed for an efficient CO₂ removal from the atmosphere. Once captured, it could be stored in large geological formations and other reservoirs like oceans. This strategy could present some environmental and economic problems. Alternately, CO₂ can be transformed into carbonates or different added-value products, such as biofuels and bioplastics, recycling CO₂ from fossil fuel. Currently different methods are being studied in this field. We classified them into biological, inorganic and hybrid systems for CO₂ transformation. To be environmentally compatible, they should be powered by renewable energy sources. Although hybrid systems are still incipient technologies, they have made great advances in the recent years. In this scenario, biotechnology is the spearhead of ambitious strategies to capture CO₂ and reduce global warming.

Utility of thermo-alkali-stable γ-CA from polyextremophilic bacterium Aeribacillus pallidus TSHB1 in biomimetic sequestration of CO2 and as a virtual peroxidase

Aeribacillus pallidus TSHB1 polyextremophilic bacterium produces a γ-carbonic anhydrase (ApCA), which is a homotrimeric biocatalyst with a subunit molecular mass of 32 ± 2 kDa. The enzyme is stable in the pH range between 8.0 and 11.0 and thus alkali-stable and moderately thermostable with T_1/2 values of 40 ± 1, 15 ± 1, and 8 ± 0.5 min at 60, 70, and 80 °C, respectively. Activation energy for irreversible inactivation "E _d " of carbonic anhydrase is 67.119 kJ mol^-1. The enzyme is stable in the presence of various flue gas contaminants such as SO₃^2-,SO₄^2-, and NO₃^- and cations Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Ca²⁺, and Ba²⁺. Fluorescence studies in the presence of N-bromosuccinimide and fluorescence quenching using KI and acrylamide revealed the importance of tryptophan residues in maintaining the structural integrity of the enzyme. ApCA is more efficient than the commercially available bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) in CO₂ sequestration. The enzyme was successfully used in biomineralization of CO₂ from flue gas. Replacement of active site Zn²⁺ with Mn²⁺ enabled ApCA to function as a peroxidase which exhibited alkali-stability and moderate thermostability like ApCA.

Organocatalyzed coupling of carbon dioxide with epoxides for the synthesis of cyclic carbonates: catalyst design and mechanistic studies

The coupling of carbon dioxide (CO₂) with epoxides with the formation of cyclic carbonates is a highly attractive 100% atom economic reaction. It represents a greener and safer alternative to the conventional synthesis of cyclic carbonates from diols and toxic phosgene.

Increased incorporation of gaseous CO2 into succinate by Escherichia coli overexpressing carbonic anhydrase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase genes

Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is an abundant and cheap carbon source that is partly responsible for global warming in the atmosphere. The objective of this study was to construct a recombinant E. coli strain that can show enhanced production of succinate derived from CO₂. In this study, we confirmed the enhancement of utilization by analyzing succinate containing one carbon-13 (¹³C) derived from ¹³CO₂. Firstly, the carbonic anhydrase gene (SP(-)HCCA) derived from Hahella chejuensis KCTC 2396 was over-expressed to enhance carbon flux toward bicarbonate ion (HCO₃^-) synthesis in E. coli. The phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene (ppc) was over-expressed to enhance the production of oxaloacetate by enhancing the carbon flux. Compared with the control strain, the percentage of the succinate containing one ¹³C (succinate¹¹⁹) to total succinate was enhanced by approximately 2.80-fold and the amount of succinate¹¹⁹ also increased by approximately 4.09-fold in SGJS120. Secondly, the lactate dehydrogenase gene (ldhA) was deleted to re-direct the utilization of the carbon source from glucose to enhance succinate production in SGJS120. However, ldhA deletion did not increase CO₂ utilization in SJGS120. Finally, the phosphotransferase system gene (ptsG) and pyruvate kinase F gene (pykF) were deleted to increase the amount of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP). SGJS126 (pykF deletion strain) showed the highest increase, which was 6.05-fold higher than the control strain. From the results, SP(-)HCCA overexpression and pykF deletion may be useful for enhancing CO₂ utilization in E. coli. Additionally, engineered strains showed the potential to reduce the cost of succinate production by using an industrially cheaper carbon source such as CO₂ and converting CO₂ to a valuable chemical.

Novel alkalistable α-carbonic anhydrase from the polyextremophilic bacterium Bacillus halodurans: characteristics and applicability in flue gas CO2 sequestration

The emissions of CO2 into the atmosphere have been constantly rising due to anthropogenic activities, which have led to global warming and climate change. Among various methods proposed for mitigating CO2 levels in the atmosphere, carbonic anhydrase (CA)-mediated carbon sequestration represents a greener and safer approach to capture and convert it into stable mineral carbonates. Despite the fact that CA is an extremely efficient metalloenzyme that catalyzes the hydration of CO2 (CO2 + H2O ↔ HCO3 (-) + H(+)) with a kcat of ∼10(6) s(-1), a thermostable, and alkalistable CA is desirable for the process to take place efficiently. The purified CA from alkaliphilic, moderately thermophilic, and halotolerant Bacillus halodurans TSLV1 (BhCA) is a homodimeric enzyme with a subunit molecular mass of ~37 kDa with stability in a broad pH range between 6.0 and 11.0. It has a moderate thermostability with a T1/2 of 24.0 ± 1.0 min at 60 °C. Based on the sensitivity of CA to specific inhibitors, BhCA is an α-CA; this has been confirmed by nucleotide/amino acid sequence analysis. This has a unique property of stimulation by SO4 (2-), and it remains unaffected by SO3 (2-), NOx, and most other components present in the flue gas. BhCA is highly efficient in accelerating the mineralization of CO2 as compared to commercial bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) and is also efficient in the sequestration of CO2 from the exhaust of petrol driven car, thus, a useful biocatalyst for sequestering CO2 from flue gas.

Suitability of the alkalistable carbonic anhydrase from a polyextremophilic bacterium Aeribacillus pallidus TSHB1 in biomimetic carbon sequestration

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) was produced from the polyextremophilic (halotolerant, moderately thermophilic and alkaliphilic) bacterium Aeribacillus pallidus TSHB1 isolated from water and sediment samples of Choti Anhoni hot spring of Pipariya, Madhya Pradesh (India), is being reported to be suitable for carbon sequestration. Growth and CA production were inhibited at higher CO2 concentration (5-10 %). Under optimized culture variables (tryptone 0.8 %, yeast extract 0.08 %, glucose 1 %, micronutrient solution 1 %, inoculums size 1.10 %, agitation 200 at pH 8, and temperature 55 °C), 3.7-fold higher CA production was attained than that under unoptimized conditions. The zymogram analysis of the partially purified CA revealed an activity band corresponding to 32 kDa. The enzyme is stable in the pH range between 8.0 and 11.0 with T 1/2 of 40, 15, and 8 min at 60, 70, and 80 °C, respectively. The CA of A. pallidus displayed a marked enhancement in the rate of CaCO3 precipitation from aqueous CO2. The CA-aided formation of CaCO3 was 42.5 mg mg(-1) protein. Scanning electron microscopy revealed the formation of rhomboid calcite crystals. This is the first report on the production and applicability of CA from the polyextremophilic A. pallidus in carbon sequestration.

Accelerating Mineral Carbonation Using Carbonic Anhydrase

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzymes have gained considerable attention for their potential use in carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technologies because they are able to catalyze rapidly the interconversion of aqueous CO2 and bicarbonate. However, there are challenges for widespread implementation including the need to develop mineralization process routes for permanent carbon storage. Mineral carbonation of highly reactive feedstocks may be limited by the supply rate of CO2. This rate limitation can be directly addressed by incorporating enzyme-catalyzed CO2 hydration. This study examined the effects of bovine carbonic anhydrase (BCA) and CO2-rich gas streams on the carbonation rate of brucite [Mg(OH)2], a highly reactive mineral. Alkaline brucite slurries were amended with BCA and supplied with 10% CO2 gas while aqueous chemistry and solids were monitored throughout the experiments (hours to days). In comparison to controls, brucite carbonation using BCA was accelerated by up to 240%. Nesquehonite [MgCO3·3H2O] precipitation limited the accumulation of hydrated CO2 species, apparently preventing BCA from catalyzing the dehydration reaction. Geochemical models reproduce observed reaction progress in all experiments, revealing a linear correlation between CO2 uptake and carbonation rate. Data demonstrates that carbonation in BCA-amended reactors remained limited by CO2 supply, implying further acceleration is possible.

Thermostable Carbonic Anhydrases in Biotechnological Applications

Carbonic anhydrases are ubiquitous metallo-enzymes which catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide in bicarbonate ions and protons. Recent years have seen an increasing interest in the utilization of these enzymes in CO₂ capture and storage processes. However, since this use is greatly limited by the harsh conditions required in these processes, the employment of thermostable enzymes, both those isolated by thermophilic organisms and those obtained by protein engineering techniques, represents an interesting possibility. In this review we will provide an extensive description of the thermostable carbonic anhydrases so far reported and the main processes in which these enzymes have found an application.

Characterization of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase from Oceanimonas smirnovii in Escherichia coli

In this study, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) derived from Oceanimonas smirnovii (OS) was expressed as a soluble protein in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). We isolated OS-PEPC (a recombinant PEPC protein) by his-tag purification. The purified protein showed a single band upon analysis with SDS-PAGE, and it had an apparent molecular mass of 98 kDa. Pufied OS-PEPC showed a specific activity value of 21.8 ± 0.495 U/mg protein. Especially, OS-PEPC showed the enzymatic activity between 40 and 50 °C. It maintained enzymatic activity in basic pH conditions (pH value, 9-10). We also measured OS-PEPC PEP and HCO3 (-) saturation kinetics and confirmed the effect of divalent cation on OS-PEPC activity.

Community variability and ecological functioning: 40 years of change in the North Sea benthos

Using established associations between species traits (life history, morphological and behavioural characteristics) and key ecological functions, we applied biological traits analysis (BTA) to investigate the consequences of 40 years of change in two North Sea benthic communities. Ecological functioning (trait composition) was found to be statistically indistinguishable across periods that differed significantly in taxonomic composition. A temporary alteration to functioning was, however, inferred at both sampling stations; coinciding with the North Sea regime shift of the 1980s. Trait composition recovered after 1 year at the station located inside the grounds of a trawl fishery, whereas the station located outside the main area of fishing activity underwent a six-year period of significantly altered, and temporally unstable, trait composition. A further alteration to functioning was inferred at the fished station, when the population of a newly established species rapidly increased in numbers. The results suggest that density compensation by characteristically similar (redundant) taxa acts to buffer changes to ecological functioning over time, but that functional stability is subject to aperiodic disruption due to substitutions of dissimilar taxa or uncompensated population fluctuations. The rate at which ecological functioning stabilises and recovers appears to be dependent on environmental context; e.g. disturbance regime.

Improvement of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase activity of Phaeodactylum tricornutum PEPCase 1 through protein engineering

In order to mitigate CO2 accumulation and decrease the rate of global warming and climate change, we previously presented a strategy for the development of an efficient CO2 capture and utilization system. The system employs two recombinant enzymes, carbonic anhydrase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which were originated from microalgae. Although utilization of this integrated system would require a large quantity of high quality PEPCase protein, such quantities could be produced by increasing the solubility of the Phaeodactylum tricornutum PEPCase 1 (PtPEPCase 1) protein in the Escherichia coli heterologous expression system. We first expressed the putative mitochondria targeting peptide- and chloroplast transit peptide-truncated proteins of PtPEPCase 1, mPtPEPCase 1 and cPtPEPCase 1, respectively, in E. coli. After affinity chromatography, the amount of purified PEPCase protein from 500mL of E. coli culture was greatest for cPtPEPCase 1 (1.99mg), followed by mPtPEPCase 1 (0.82mg) and PtPEPCase 1 (0.61mg). Furthermore, the enzymatic activity of mPtPEPCase 1 and cPtPEPCase 1 showed approximately 1.6-fold (32.19 units/mg) and 3-fold (59.48 units/mg) increases, respectively. Therefore, cPtPEPCase 1 purified using the E. coli heterogeneous expression system could be a strong candidate for a platform technology to capture CO2 and produce value-added four-carbon platform chemicals.

Surface Display of Small Peptides on Escherichia coli for Enhanced Calcite Precipitation Rates

Mineralization has emerged as a promising strategy for long-term carbon sequestration. These processes involve carbon dioxide hydration followed by mineral precipitation. We have explored the production of whole-cell biocatalysts engineered with carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity to accelerate the CO₂ hydration reaction. In this study, short polypeptides were displayed on the surface of E. coli cells and whole-cell biocatalysts containing periplasmically expressed CAs in an attempt to enhance calcite mineral formation. It was found that cells coexpressing recombinant periplasmic CA and surface-displayed GPA peptide (PEVPEGAFDTAI) outperformed other peptide-expressing biocatalysts evaluated in terms of the amount of precipitate formed, as well as the overall formation rate of solids. Cells expressing the Cab CA isoform (BLR-pCab) and Cam isoform (BLR-pCam) with the surface-displayed GPA peptide exhibited 36 and 59% improvements in precipitation amounts, as well as 18 and 60% improvements in overall formation rates, respectively, over similar biocatalysts without GPA expression. The biocatalyst with the best performance was BLR-pCam/GPA, which generated 0.15 g of CaCO₃, while BLR cells generated only 0.08 g of CaCO₃ under the same small batch reaction conditions. The BLR-pCam/GPA cells also exhibited the fastest formation rates, achieving the maximum change in solution turbidity after only 2.2 min, as opposed to 6.3 min for BLR cells. These results demonstrate that synthetic biology approaches can be used to create novel biocatalysts with the ability to enhance both catalysis and precipitation activities.

Vanishing clams on an Iberian beach: local consequences and global implications of accelerating loss of shells to tourism

Multi-decadal increase in shell removal by tourists, a process that may accelerate degradation of natural habitats, was quantified via two series of monthly surveys, conducted thirty years apart (1978–1981 and 2008–2010) in one small embayment on the Mediterranean coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Over the last three decades, the local tourist arrivals have increased almost three-fold (2.74), while the area has remained unaffected by urban encroachment and commercial fisheries. During the same time interval the abundance of mollusk shells along the shoreline decreased by a comparable factor (2.62) and was significantly and negatively correlated with tourist arrivals (r = −0.52). The strength of the correlation increased when data were restricted to months with high tourist arrivals (r = −0.72). In contrast, the maximum monthly wave energy (an indirect proxy for changes in rate of onshore shell transport) was not significantly correlated with shell abundance (r = 0.10). Similarly, rank dominance of common species, drilling predation intensity, and body size-frequency distribution patterns have all remained stable over recent decades. A four-fold increase in global tourist arrivals over the last 30 years may have induced a comparable worldwide acceleration in shell removal from marine shorelines, resulting in multiple, currently unquantifiable, habitat changes such as increased beach erosion, changes in calcium carbonate recycling, and declines in diversity and abundance of organisms, which are dependent on shell availability.

Carbonic anhydrases in industrial applications

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) catalyze a fundamental reaction: the reversible hydration and dehydration of carbon dioxide (CO2) and bicarbonate ([Formula: see text]), respectively. Current methods for CO2 capture and sequestration are harsh, expensive, and require prohibitively large energy inputs, effectively negating the purpose of removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Due to CA's activity on CO2 there is increasing interest in using CAs for industrial applications such as carbon sequestration and biofuel production. A lot of work in the last decade has focused on immobilizing CA onto various supports for incorporation into CO2 scrubbing applications or devices. Although the proof of principle has been validated, current CAs being tested do not withstand the harsh industrial conditions. The advent of large-scale genome sequencing projects has resulted in several emerging efforts seeking out novel CAs from a variety of microorganisms, including bacteria, micro-, and macro-algae. CAs are also being investigated for their use in medical applications, such drug delivery systems and artificial lungs. This review also looks at possible downstream uses of captured and sequestered CO2, from using it to enhance oil recovery to incorporating it into useful and financially viable products.

Engineered Escherichia coli with periplasmic carbonic anhydrase as a biocatalyst for CO2 sequestration

Carbonic anhydrase is an enzyme that reversibly catalyzes the hydration of carbon dioxide (CO2). It has been suggested recently that this remarkably fast enzyme can be used for sequestration of CO2, a major greenhouse gas, making this a promising alternative for chemical CO2 mitigation. To promote the economical use of enzymes, we engineered the carbonic anhydrase from Neisseria gonorrhoeae (ngCA) in the periplasm of Escherichia coli, thereby creating a bacterial whole-cell catalyst. We then investigated the application of this system to CO2 sequestration by mineral carbonation, a process with the potential to store large quantities of CO2. ngCA was highly expressed in the periplasm of E. coli in a soluble form, and the recombinant bacterial cell displayed the distinct ability to hydrate CO2 compared with its cytoplasmic ngCA counterpart and previously reported whole-cell CA systems. The expression of ngCA in the periplasm of E. coli greatly accelerated the rate of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) formation and exerted a striking impact on the maximal amount of CaCO3 produced under conditions of relatively low pH. It was also shown that the thermal stability of the periplasmic enzyme was significantly improved. These results demonstrate that the engineered bacterial cell with periplasmic ngCA can successfully serve as an efficient biocatalyst for CO2 sequestration.

Assessment of a biostimulated or bioaugmented calcification system with Bacillus pasteurii in a simulated soil environment

To evaluate how native soil microorganism and nutrients interact in a bioaugmented or biostimulated calcification process, batch experiments were conducted in saturated soil extract either amended with Bacillus pasteurii and/or NB-NH4Cl media (nutrient broth, 3.0 g/L; NH4Cl, 10.0 g/L; NaHCO3, 2.12 g/L). The NB-NH4Cl medium was chosen out of three potential candidates, where B. pasteurii precipitated the maximum amount of calcium (>95 %) as calcite in 12 h of incubation. The addition of B. pasteurii into saturated soil extract marginally improved the calcification to 4.26 % compared to the unamended control (3.2 %). Calcification with B. pasteurii in autoclaved soil extract was even better (18.75 %). However, the addition of the NB-NH4Cl medium into the soil extract could significantly improve the calcification irrespective of whether B. pasteurii was added (88.46 %) or not (77.04 %). It suggests that soil microbial activity was not limiting even though soil nutrient was inadequate. It also indicates a possible negative interaction between soil microorganisms and B. pasteurii under nutrient-limited conditions.

Characterization of carbonic anhydrase II from Chlorella vulgaris in bio-CO2 capture

Carbonic anhydrase II (CA II) can catalyze the reversible hydration reaction of CO(2) at a maximum of 1.4 × 10(6) molecules of CO(2) per second. The crude intracellular enzyme extract containing CA II was derived from Chlorella vulgaris. A successful CO(2) capture experiment with the presence of calcium had been conducted on the premise that the temperature was conditioned at a scope of 30-40 °C, that the biocatalyst-nurtured algal growth period lasted 3 days, and that pH ranged from7.5 to 8.5. Ions of K(+), Na(+), Ca(2+), Co(2+), Cu(2+), Fe(3+), Mg(2+), Mn(2+), and Zn(2+) at 0.01, 0.1, and 0.5 M were found to exhibit no more than 30 % inhibition on the residual activity of the biocatalyst. It is reasonable to expect that calcification catalyzed by microalgae presents an alternative to geological carbon capture and sequestration through a chain of fundamental researches carried on under the guidance of sequestration technology.

Expression and characterization of codon-optimized carbonic anhydrase from Dunaliella species for CO(2) sequestration application

Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have been given much attention as biocatalysts for CO(2) sequestration process because of their ability to convert CO(2) to bicarbonate. Here, we expressed codon-optimized sequence of α-type CA cloned from Dunaliella species (Dsp-aCAopt) and characterized its catalyzing properties to apply for CO(2) to calcite formation. The expressed amount of Dsp-aCAopt in Escherichia coli is about 50 mg/L via induction of 1.0 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside at 20 °C (for the case of intact Dsp-aCA, negligible). Dsp-aCAopt enzyme shows 47 °C of half-denaturation temperature and show wide pH stability (optimum pH 7.6/10.0). Apparent values of K (m) and V (max) for p-nitrophenylacetate substrate are 0.91 mM and 3.303 × 10(-5) μM min(-1). The effects of metal ions and anions were investigated to find out which factors enhance or inhibit Dsp-aCAopt activity. Finally, we demonstrated that Dsp-aCAopt enzyme can catalyze well the conversion of CO(2) to CaCO(3), as the calcite form, in the Ca(2+) solution [8.9 mg/100 μg (172 U/mg enzyme) with 10 mM of Ca(2+)]. The obtained expression and characterization results of Dsp-aCAopt would be usefully employed for the development of efficient CA-based system for CO(2)-converting/capturing processes.