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Woo SG, Averesch NJH, Berliner AJ, Deutzmann JS, Pane VE, Chatterjee S, Criddle CS. Isolation and characterization of a Halomonas species for non-axenic growth-associated production of bio-polyesters from sustainable feedstocks. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024:e0060324. [PMID: 39058034 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00603-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics are urgently needed to replace petroleum-derived polymeric materials and prevent their accumulation in the environment. To this end, we isolated and characterized a halophilic and alkaliphilic bacterium from the Great Salt Lake in Utah. The isolate was identified as a Halomonas species and designated "CUBES01." Full-genome sequencing and genomic reconstruction revealed the unique genetic traits and metabolic capabilities of the strain, including the common polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis pathway. Fluorescence staining identified intracellular polyester granules that accumulated predominantly during the strain's exponential growth, a feature rarely found among natural PHA producers. CUBES01 was found to metabolize a range of renewable carbon feedstocks, including glucosamine and acetyl-glucosamine, as well as sucrose, glucose, fructose, and further glycerol, propionate, and acetate. Depending on the substrate, the strain accumulated up to ~60% of its biomass (dry wt/wt) in poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), while reaching a doubling time of 1.7 h at 30°C and an optimum osmolarity of 1 M sodium chloride and a pH of 8.8. The physiological preferences of the strain may not only enable long-term aseptic cultivation but also facilitate the release of intracellular products through osmolysis. The development of a minimal medium also allowed the estimation of maximum polyhydroxybutyrate production rates, which were projected to exceed 5 g/h. Finally, also, the genetic tractability of the strain was assessed in conjugation experiments: two orthogonal plasmid vectors were stable in the heterologous host, thereby opening the possibility of genetic engineering through the introduction of foreign genes. IMPORTANCE The urgent need for renewable replacements for synthetic materials may be addressed through microbial biotechnology. To simplify the large-scale implementation of such bio-processes, robust cell factories that can utilize sustainable and widely available feedstocks are pivotal. To this end, non-axenic growth-associated production could reduce operational costs and enhance biomass productivity, thereby improving commercial competitiveness. Another major cost factor is downstream processing, especially in the case of intracellular products, such as bio-polyesters. Simplified cell-lysis strategies could also further improve economic viability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung-Geun Woo
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nils J H Averesch
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Aaron J Berliner
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Joerg S Deutzmann
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Vince E Pane
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Sulogna Chatterjee
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Craig S Criddle
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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2
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Adams J, Clark DS. Techno-Economic Assessment of Electromicrobial Production of n-Butanol from Air-Captured CO 2. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:7302-7313. [PMID: 38621294 PMCID: PMC11064224 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c08748] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Electromicrobial production (EMP), where electrochemically generated substrates (e.g., H2) are used as energy sources for microbial processes, has garnered significant interest as a method of producing fuels and other value-added chemicals from CO2. Combining these processes with direct air capture (DAC) has the potential to enable a truly circular carbon economy. Here, we analyze the economics of a hypothetical system that combines adsorbent-based DAC with EMP to produce n-butanol, a potential replacement for fossil fuels. First-principles-based modeling is used to predict the performance of the DAC and bioprocess components. A process model is then developed to map material and energy flows, and a techno-economic assessment is performed to determine the minimum fuel selling price. Beyond assessing a specific set of conditions, this analytical framework provides a tool to reveal potential pathways toward the economic viability of this process. We show that an EMP system utilizing an engineered knallgas bacterium can achieve butanol production costs of <$6/gal ($1.58/L) if a set of optimistic assumptions can be realized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy
David Adams
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Douglas S. Clark
- Department
of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
- Molecular
Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, 1 Cyclotron Road, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
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3
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Morgan MF, Diab J, Gilliham M, Mortimer JC. Green horizons: how plant synthetic biology can enable space exploration and drive on Earth sustainability. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2024; 86:103069. [PMID: 38341984 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2024.103069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
As humanity looks towards expanding activity from low Earth orbit to the Moon and beyond, resource use efficiency and self-sustainability will be critical to ensuring success in the long term. Furthermore, solutions developed for the stringent requirements of space will be equally valuable in meeting sustainability goals here on Earth. Advances in synthetic biology allow us to harness the complex metabolism of life to produce the materials we need in situ. Translating those lessons learned from microbial systems to more carbon-efficient photosynthetic organisms is an area of growing interest. Plants can be engineered to sustainably meet a range of needs, from fuels to materials and medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Fox Morgan
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Jonathan Diab
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia
| | - Matthew Gilliham
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia.
| | - Jenny C Mortimer
- School of Agriculture, Food and Wine & Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond, SA 5064, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellent in Plants for Space, Australia; Joint BioEnergy Institute, CA, USA.
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4
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Berliner AJ, Zezulka S, Hutchinson GA, Bertoldo S, Cockell CS, Arkin AP. Domains of life sciences in spacefaring: what, where, and how to get involved. NPJ Microgravity 2024; 10:12. [PMID: 38287000 PMCID: PMC10825151 DOI: 10.1038/s41526-024-00354-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J Berliner
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Program in Aerospace Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Spencer Zezulka
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- School of Information, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gwyneth A Hutchinson
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sophia Bertoldo
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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5
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Tremblay PL, Zhang T. Genetic tools for the electrotroph Sporomusa ovata and autotrophic biosynthesis. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0175723. [PMID: 38117058 PMCID: PMC10807461 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01757-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporomusa ovata is a Gram-negative acetogen of the Sporomusaceae family with a unique physiology. This anerobic bacterium is a core microbial catalyst for advanced CO2-based biotechnologies including gas fermentation, microbial electrosynthesis, and hybrid photosystem. Until now, no genetic tools exist for S. ovata, which is a critical obstacle to its optimization as an autotrophic chassis and the acquisition of knowledge about its metabolic capacities. Here, we developed an electroporation protocol for S. ovata. With this procedure, it became possible to introduce replicative plasmids such as pJIR751 and its derivatives into the acetogen. This system was then employed to demonstrate the feasibility of heterologous expression by introducing a functional β-glucuronidase enzyme under the promoters of different strengths in S. ovata. Next, a recombinant S. ovata strain producing the non-native product acetone both from an organic carbon substrate and from CO2 was constructed. Finally, a replicative plasmid capable of integrating itself on the chromosome of the acetogen was developed as a tool for genome editing, and gene deletion was demonstrated. These results indicate that S. ovata can be engineered and provides a first-generation genetic toolbox for the optimization of this biotechnological workhorse.IMPORTANCES. ovata harbors unique features that make it outperform most microbes for autotrophic biotechnologies such as a capacity to acquire electrons from different solid donors, a low H2 threshold, and efficient energy conservation mechanisms. The development of the first-generation genetic instruments described in this study is a key step toward understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in these outstanding metabolic and physiological characteristics. In addition, these tools enable the construction of recombinant S. ovata strains that can synthesize a wider range of products in an efficient manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pier-Luc Tremblay
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institut WUT-AMU, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Shaoxing Institute for Advanced Research, Wuhan University of Technology, Shaoxing, China
- Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya, China
| | - Tian Zhang
- School of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, and Life Science, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Institut WUT-AMU, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China
- Shaoxing Institute for Advanced Research, Wuhan University of Technology, Shaoxing, China
- Sanya Science and Education Innovation Park, Wuhan University of Technology, Sanya, China
- Advanced Engineering Technology Research Institute of Zhongshan City, Wuhan University of Technology, Zhongshan, China
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6
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Ma R, Li J, Tyagi RD, Zhang X. Carbon dioxide and methane as carbon source for the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates and concomitant carbon fixation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 391:129977. [PMID: 37925086 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023]
Abstract
The currently used plastics are non-biodegradable, and cause greenhouse gases (GHGs) emission as they are petroleum-based. Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are biopolymers with excellent biodegradability and biocompatibility, which can be used to replace petroleum-based plastics. A variety of microorganisms have been found to synthesize PHAs by using typical GHGs: carbon dioxide and methane as carbon sources. Converting carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) to PHAs is an attractive option for carbon capture and biodegradable plastic production. In this review, the microorganisms capable of using CO2 and CH4 to produce PHAs were summarized. The metabolic mechanism, PHAs production process, and the factors influencing the production process are illustrated. The currently used optimization techniques to improve the yield of PHAs are discussed. The challenges and future prospects for developing economically viable PHAs production using GHGs as carbon source are identified. This work provides an insight for achieving carbon sequestration and bioplastics based circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Ma
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Application and Environmental Pollution Control, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - Ji Li
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Application and Environmental Pollution Control, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Guangdong 518055, PR China
| | - R D Tyagi
- Chief Scientific Officer, BOSK-Bioproducts, Quebec, Canada
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Application and Environmental Pollution Control, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, Shenzhen Guangdong 518055, PR China.
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7
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Sander K, Abel AJ, Friedline S, Sharpless W, Skerker J, Deutschbauer A, Clark DS, Arkin AP. Eliminating genes for a two-component system increases PHB productivity in Cupriavidus basilensis 4G11 under PHB suppressing, nonstress conditions. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:139-156. [PMID: 37638652 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Species of bacteria from the genus Cupriavidus are known, in part, for their ability to produce high amounts of poly-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) making them attractive candidates for bioplastic production. The native synthesis of PHB occurs during periods of metabolic stress, and the process regulating the initiation of PHB accumulation in these organisms is not fully understood. Screening an RB-TnSeq transposon library of Cupriavidus basilensis 4G11 allowed us to identify two genes of an apparent, uncharacterized two-component system, which when omitted from the genome enable increased PHB productivity in balanced, nonstress growth conditions. We observe average increases in PHB productivity of 56% and 41% relative to the wildtype parent strain upon deleting each gene individually from the genome. The increased PHB phenotype disappears, however, in nitrogen-free unbalanced growth conditions suggesting the phenotype is specific to fast-growing, replete, nonstress growth. Bioproduction modeling suggests this phenotype could be due to a decreased reliance on metabolic stress induced by nitrogen limitation to initiate PHB production in the mutant strains. Due to uncertainty in the two-component system's input signal and regulon, the mechanism by which these genes impart this phenotype remains unclear. Such strains may allow for the use of single-stage, continuous bioreactor systems, which are far simpler than many PHB bioproduction schemes used previously, given a similar product yield to batch systems in such a configuration. Bioproductivity modeling suggests that omitting this regulation in the cells may increase PHB productivity up to 24% relative to the wildtype organism when using single-stage continuous systems. This work expands our understanding of the regulation of PHB accumulation in Cupriavidus, in particular the initiation of this process upon transition into unbalanced growth regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Sander
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Anthony J Abel
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Skyler Friedline
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - William Sharpless
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Jeffrey Skerker
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Adam Deutschbauer
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Douglas S Clark
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Adam P Arkin
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, Berkeley, California, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California, USA
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8
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Kumar V, Lakkaboyana SK, Tsouko E, Maina S, Pandey M, Umesh M, Singhal B, Sharma N, Awasthi MK, Andler R, Jayaraj I, Yuzir A. Commercialization potential of agro-based polyhydroxyalkanoates biorefinery: A technical perspective on advances and critical barriers. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 234:123733. [PMID: 36801274 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.123733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
The exponential increase in the use and careless discard of synthetic plastics has created an alarming concern over the environmental health due to the detrimental effects of petroleum based synthetic polymeric compounds. Piling up of these plastic commodities on various ecological niches and entry of their fragmented parts into soil and water has clearly affected the quality of these ecosystems in the past few decades. Among the many constructive strategies developed to tackle this global issue, use of biopolymers like polyhydroxyalkanoates as sustainable alternatives for synthetic plastics has gained momentum. Despite their excellent material properties and significant biodegradability, polyhydroxyalkanoates still fails to compete with their synthetic counterparts majorly due to the high cost associated with their production and purification thereby limiting their commercialization. Usage of renewable feedstocks as substrates for polyhydroxyalkanoates production has been the thrust area of research to attain the sustainability tag. This review work attempts to provide insights about the recent developments in the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates using renewable feedstock along with various pretreatment methods used for substrate preparation for polyhydroxyalkanoates production. Further, the application of blends based on polyhydroxyalkanoates, and the challenges associated with the waste valorization based polyhydroxyalkanoates production strategy is elaborated in this review work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinay Kumar
- Ecotoxicity and Bioconversion Laboratory, Department of Community Medicine, Saveetha Medical College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Thandalam 602105, India; Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, India.
| | - Sivarama Krishna Lakkaboyana
- Department of Chemistry, Vel Tech Rangarajan Dr. Sagunthala R&D Institute of Science and Technology, Avadi, Chennai 600062, India; Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT)-Universiti Technologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Erminta Tsouko
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, School of Environment, University of the Aegean, Metropolite Ioakeim 2, 81400, Myrina, Lemnos, Greece
| | - Sofia Maina
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece
| | - Muskan Pandey
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, U.P., India
| | - Mridul Umesh
- Department of Life Sciences, CHRIST (Deemed to be University), Hosur Road, Bengaluru 560029, Karnataka, India
| | - Barkha Singhal
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, U.P., India
| | - Neha Sharma
- Metagenomics and Bioprocess Design Laboratory, School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, PR China
| | - Rodrigo Andler
- Escuela de Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Centro de Biotecnología de los Recursos Naturales (Cenbio), Universidad Católica del Maule, Chile
| | - Iyyappan Jayaraj
- Department of Bioengineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Saveetha School of Engineering, SIMATS, Chennai 602105, India
| | - Ali Yuzir
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering (ChEE), Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology (MJIIT)-Universiti Technologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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9
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Ren C, Ni W, Li H. Recent Progress in Electrocatalytic Reduction of CO2. Catalysts 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/catal13040644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
A stable life support system in the spacecraft can greatly promote long-duration, far-distance, and multicrew manned space flight. Therefore, controlling the concentration of CO2 in the spacecraft is the main task in the regeneration system. The electrocatalytic CO2 reduction can effectively treat the CO2 generated by human metabolism. This technology has potential application value and good development prospect in the utilization of CO2 in the space station. In this paper, recent research progress for the electrocatalytic reduction of CO2 was reviewed. Although numerous promising accomplishments have been achieved in this field, substantial advances in electrocatalyst, electrolyte, and reactor design are yet needed for CO2 utilization via an electrochemical conversion route. Here, we summarize the related works in the fields to address the challenge technology that can help to promote the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction. Finally, we present the prospective opinions in the areas of the electrocatalytic CO2 reduction, especially for the space station and spacecraft life support system.
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10
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Ricci L, Seifert A, Bernacchi S, Fino D, Pirri CF, Re A. Leveraging substrate flexibility and product selectivity of acetogens in two-stage systems for chemical production. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 16:218-237. [PMID: 36464980 PMCID: PMC9871533 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO2 ) stands out as sustainable feedstock for developing a circular carbon economy whose energy supply could be obtained by boosting the production of clean hydrogen from renewable electricity. H2 -dependent CO2 gas fermentation using acetogenic microorganisms offers a viable solution of increasingly demonstrated value. While gas fermentation advances to achieve commercial process scalability, which is currently limited to a few products such as acetate and ethanol, it is worth taking the best of the current state-of-the-art technology by its integration within innovative bioconversion schemes. This review presents multiple scenarios where gas fermentation by acetogens integrate into double-stage biotechnological production processes that use CO2 as sole carbon feedstock and H2 as energy carrier for products' synthesis. In the integration schemes here reviewed, the first stage can be biotic or abiotic while the second stage is biotic. When the first stage is biotic, acetogens act as a biological platform to generate chemical intermediates such as acetate, formate and ethanol that become substrates for a second fermentation stage. This approach holds the potential to enhance process titre/rate/yield metrics and products' spectrum. Alternatively, when the first stage is abiotic, the integrated two-stage scheme foresees, in the first stage, the catalytic transformation of CO2 into C1 products that, in the second stage, can be metabolized by acetogens. This latter scheme leverages the metabolic flexibility of acetogens in efficient utilization of the products of CO2 abiotic hydrogenation, namely formate and methanol, to synthesize multicarbon compounds but also to act as flexible catalysts for hydrogen storage or production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Ricci
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly,Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | | | | | - Debora Fino
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly,Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | - Candido Fabrizio Pirri
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly,Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
| | - Angela Re
- Department of Applied Science and TechnologyPolitecnico di TorinoTurinItaly,Centre for Sustainable Future TechnologiesFondazione Istituto Italiano di TecnologiaTurinItaly
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11
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Collaborative catalysis for solar biosynthesis. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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12
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Cestellos-Blanco S, Chan RR, Shen YX, Kim JM, Tacken TA, Ledbetter R, Yu S, Seefeldt LC, Yang P. Photosynthetic biohybrid coculture for tandem and tunable CO 2 and N 2 fixation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2122364119. [PMID: 35727971 PMCID: PMC9245687 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2122364119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Solar-driven bioelectrosynthesis represents a promising approach for converting abundant resources into value-added chemicals with renewable energy. Microorganisms powered by electrochemical reducing equivalents assimilate CO2, H2O, and N2 building blocks. However, products from autotrophic whole-cell biocatalysts are limited. Furthermore, biocatalysts tasked with N2 reduction are constrained by simultaneous energy-intensive autotrophy. To overcome these challenges, we designed a biohybrid coculture for tandem and tunable CO2 and N2 fixation to value-added products, allowing the different species to distribute bioconversion steps and reduce the individual metabolic burden. This consortium involves acetogen Sporomusa ovata, which reduces CO2 to acetate, and diazotrophic Rhodopseudomonas palustris, which uses the acetate both to fuel N2 fixation and for the generation of a biopolyester. We demonstrate that the coculture platform provides a robust ecosystem for continuous CO2 and N2 fixation, and its outputs are directed by substrate gas composition. Moreover, we show the ability to support the coculture on a high-surface area silicon nanowire cathodic platform. The biohybrid coculture achieved peak faradaic efficiencies of 100, 19.1, and 6.3% for acetate, nitrogen in biomass, and ammonia, respectively, while maintaining product tunability. Finally, we established full solar to chemical conversion driven by a photovoltaic device, resulting in solar to chemical efficiencies of 1.78, 0.51, and 0.08% for acetate, nitrogenous biomass, and ammonia, correspondingly. Ultimately, our work demonstrates the ability to employ and electrochemically manipulate bacterial communities on demand to expand the suite of CO2 and N2 bioelectrosynthesis products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cestellos-Blanco
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Rachel R. Chan
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Yue-xiao Shen
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Ji Min Kim
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Tom A. Tacken
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Applied Physics, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, 5600 MB, The Netherlands
| | - Rhesa Ledbetter
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322
| | - Sunmoon Yu
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
| | - Lance C. Seefeldt
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322
| | - Peidong Yang
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Chemical Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720
- Kavli Energy Nanosciences Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720
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13
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Berliner AJ, Lipsky I, Ho D, Hilzinger JM, Vengerova G, Makrygiorgos G, McNulty MJ, Yates K, Averesch NJH, Cockell CS, Wallentine T, Seefeldt LC, Criddle CS, Nandi S, McDonald KA, Menezes AA, Mesbah A, Arkin AP. Space bioprocess engineering on the horizon. COMMUNICATIONS ENGINEERING 2022; 1:13. [PMCID: PMC10955938 DOI: 10.1038/s44172-022-00012-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Space bioprocess engineering (SBE) is an emerging multi-disciplinary field to design, realize, and manage biologically-driven technologies specifically with the goal of supporting life on long term space missions. SBE considers synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering under the extreme constraints of the conditions of space. A coherent strategy for the long term development of this field is lacking. In this Perspective, we describe the need for an expanded mandate to explore biotechnological needs of the future missions. We then identify several key parameters—metrics, deployment, and training—which together form a pathway towards the successful development and implementation of SBE technologies of the future. Space bioprocess engineering integrates synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering with the specific goal to support human life in long term space missions. In this Perspective, Berliner and colleagues describe a pathway towards the development and implementation of space bioprocessing technologies of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron J. Berliner
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Isaac Lipsky
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Davian Ho
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Jacob M. Hilzinger
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Gretchen Vengerova
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Georgios Makrygiorgos
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Matthew J. McNulty
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Kevin Yates
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Nils J. H. Averesch
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Charles S. Cockell
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Tyler Wallentine
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - Lance C. Seefeldt
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Utah State University, Logan, UT USA
| | - Craig S. Criddle
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | - Somen Nandi
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA USA
- Global HealthShare Initiative, Davis, CA USA
| | - Karen A. McDonald
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA USA
| | - Amor A. Menezes
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL USA
| | - Ali Mesbah
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
| | - Adam P. Arkin
- Center for the Utilization of Biological Engineering in Space (CUBES), Berkeley, CA USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA USA
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