Harnessing the power of microbial autotrophy.
Autotrophic microorganisms convert CO2into biomass by deriving energy from light or inorganic electron donors. These CO2-fixing microorganisms have a large, but so far only partially realized, potential for the sustainable production of chemicals and biofuels. Productivities have been improved in autotrophic hosts through the introduction of production pathways and the modification of autotrophic systems by genetic engineering. In addition, approaches are emerging in which CO2fixation pathways and energy-harvesting systems are transplanted into heterotrophic model microorganisms. Alternative promising concepts are hybrid production systems of autotrophs and heterotrophs, and bio-inorganic hybrids of autotrophic microorganisms with electrocatalysts or light-harvesting semiconductor materials. In this Review, we discuss recent advances and bottlenecks for engineering microbial autotrophy and explore novel strategies that will pave the way towards improved microbial autotrophic production platforms.
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Nico J
NJ
Claassens
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
Diana Z
DZ
Sousa
Laboratory of Systems and Synthetic Biology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.|LifeGlimmer GmbH, Markelstraße 38, 12163 Berlin, Germany.
Vitor A P Martins
VA
Dos Santos
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Research Programme Unit Immunobiology, Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Helsinki University, Haartmaninkatu 3, 00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Willem M
WM
de Vos
Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE Wageningen, The Netherlands.
John
J
van der Oost
D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D056804:Biofuels; D018533:Biomass; D057486:Carbon Cycle; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005818:Genetic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D052836:Heterotrophic Processes; D008027:Light; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D012993:Solar Energy; D058615:Synthetic Biology
D056804:Biofuels; D002245:Carbon Dioxide
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