Creating new-to-nature carbon fixation: A guide
Helena Schulz-Mirbach1, Beau Dronsella2, Hai He1
1Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
Metabolic Engineering
|December 31, 2023
Summary
Synthetic biology creates novel CO2-fixation pathways for efficient carbon capture and conversion, surpassing natural systems like the Calvin Benson Bassham cycle. This review offers a practical guide for designing and implementing these synthetic pathways.
Area of Science:
- Synthetic biology
- Metabolic engineering
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Naturally evolved systems, such as the Calvin Benson Bassham (CBB) cycle, have limitations in CO2 capture and conversion efficiency.
- Synthetic biology offers a powerful approach to design novel biological functions and expand the natural solution space.
Approach:
- This review introduces the concept of "synthetic CO2-fixation" pathways.
- It provides a comprehensive overview of the enzymology and topology of synthetic pathways.
- General design principles are derived from eight naturally evolved analogs.
Key Points:
- The review details synthetic carbon-assimilation pathways.
- It offers a step-by-step practical guide from theoretical design to implementation.
- New developments and future outlooks in the field are discussed.
Conclusions:
- Synthetic CO2-fixation pathways present a promising avenue for enhanced carbon capture and conversion.
- This work provides a practical guideline for researchers to design and realize novel CO2-fixation pathways.
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