Investigation new positions for catalytic activity of Chaetomium thermophilum and Ceriporiopsis subvermispora formate dehydrogenases

NADH-dependent formate dehydrogenase mutants for efficient carbon dioxide fixation

Bioconversion of CO2 to high-valuable products is a globally pursued sustainable technology for carbon neutrality. However, low CO2 activation with formate dehydrogenase (FDH) remains a major challenge for further upcycling due to the poor CO2 affinity, reduction activity and stability of currently used FDHs. Here, we present two recombined mutants, ΔFDHPa48 and ΔFDHPa4814, which exhibit high CO2 reduction activity and antioxidative activity. Compared to FDHPa, the reduction activity of ΔFDHPa48 was increased up to 743 % and the yield in the reduction of CO2 to methanol was increased by 3.16-fold. Molecular dynamics identified that increasing the width of the substrate pocket of ΔFDHPa48 could improve the enzyme reduction activity. Meanwhile, the enhanced rigidity of C-terminal residues effectively protected the active center. These results fundamentally advanced our understanding of the CO2 activation process and efficient FDH for enzymatic CO2 activation and conversion.

Renewable Hydrogen Production and Storage Via Enzymatic Interconversion of CO2 and Formate with Electrochemical Cofactor Regeneration

The urgent need to reduce CO2 emissions has motivated the development of CO2 capture and utilization technologies. An emerging application is CO2 transformation into storage chemicals for clean energy carriers. Formic acid (FA), a valuable product of CO2 reduction, is an excellent hydrogen carrier. CO2 conversion to FA, followed by H2 release from FA, are conventionally chemically catalyzed. Biocatalysts offer a highly specific and less energy-intensive alternative. CO2 conversion to formate is catalyzed by formate dehydrogenase (FDH), which usually requires a cofactor to function. Several FDHs have been incorporated in bioelectrochemical systems where formate is produced by the biocathode and the cofactor is electrochemically regenerated. H2 production from formate is also catalyzed by several microorganisms possessing either formate hydrogenlyase or hydrogen-dependent CO2 reductase complexes. Combination of these two processes can lead to a CO2 -recycling cycle for H2 production, storage, and release with potentially lower environmental impact than conventional methods.

Bioelectrocatalysis for CO2 reduction: recent advances and challenges to develop a sustainable system for CO2 utilization

Activation and turning CO₂ into value added products is a promising orientation to address environmental issues caused by CO₂ emission. Currently, electrocatalysis has a potent well-established role for CO₂ reduction with fast electron transfer rate; but it is challenged by the poor selectivity and low faradic efficiency. On the other side, biocatalysis, including enzymes and microbes, has been also employed for CO₂ conversion to target C_n products with remarkably high selectivity; however, low solubility of CO₂ in the liquid reaction phase seriously affects the catalytic efficiency. Therefore, a new synergistic role in bioelectrocatalysis for CO₂ reduction is emerging thanks to its outstanding selectivity, high faradic efficiency, and desirable valuable C_n products under mild condition that are surveyed in this review. Herein, we comprehensively discuss the results already obtained for the integration craft of enzymatic-electrocatalysis and microbial-electrocatalysis technologies. In addition, the intrinsic nature of the combination is highly dependent on the electron transfer. Thus, both direct electron transfer and mediated electron transfer routes are modeled and concluded. We also explore the biocompatibility and synergistic effects of electrode materials, which emerge in combination with tuned enzymes and microbes to improve catalytic performance. The system by integrating solar energy driven photo-electrochemical technics with bio-catalysis is further discussed. We finally highlight the significant findings and perspectives that have provided strong foundations for the remarkable development of green and sustainable bioelectrocatalysis for CO₂ reduction, and that offer a blueprint for C_n valuable products originate from CO₂ under efficient and mild conditions.

Formate dehydrogenases for CO2 utilization

New measures for reducing atmospheric CO₂ are urgently needed. Formate dehydrogenases (FDHs, EC 1.17.1.9) catalyze conversion of CO₂ to formate (HCOO^-) via a reverse catalytic ability. This enzymatic conversion of CO₂ represents a novel first step approach for biocatalytic carbon capture and utilization targeting both CO₂ reduction and substitution of petrochemical-based production of important commodity chemicals. To achieve robust and efficient FDH catalyzed CO₂ conversion for sustainable large-scale implementation, it is critical to focus on the efficacy of the electron donor, enzyme stabilization, and on how the desired reverse FDH reactivity can be enhanced. Recent advances include the realization that NADH, the most common natural cofactor for reverse FDH catalysis, is an inefficient electron donor for FDH catalyzed CO₂ conversion. Improved understanding of the redox reaction details and structure-function relations of both metal-dependent and metal-independent FDHs provides the foundation for achieving rational technological advancements to promote enzymatic CO₂ utilization.