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Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Modification and Functionalization of the Guanidine Group by Tailor-made Precursors
Published on: April 27, 2017
Cyanobacterial Biofertilizer Production by Guanidine-Producing Enzymes
Hakyung Lee1,2, Jacob Sebesta1, Eric Schaedig1
1Bioscience Center, National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, Colorado 80401, United States.
None:
Cyanobacterial production of a biofertilizer shows promise as an environmentally benign alternative to conventional nitrogen fertilizers, reducing environmental and energy burdens through light-driven nitrogen and carbon fixation. One route to realizing the potential for a nitrogen-rich, slow-releasing biofertilizer involves the genetic engineering of cyanobacteria to produce guanidine. Recent advances have demonstrated enzymatic guanidine production in cyanobacteria, but an understanding of cyanobacterial guanidine metabolism is still limited. This Perspective highlights strategies and opportunities for cyanobacterial guanidine production in a Design-Build-Test-Learn cycle. Exploring new guanidine-producing enzymes via phylogenetics could expand candidate enzymes, while understanding the metabolism of substrates can identify constraints and opportunities in substrate utilization. Additionally, guanidine sensing and export are crucial areas of study to enable continuous fertilizer production and stable nitrogen flux. These strategies will guide the development of advanced nitrogen biofertilizer strategies for the agricultural sector.
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