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Assembly-Line Biosynthesis in Living-Cell Emulsions via Tunable Supramolecular Surface Chemistry
Xiankun Wu1,2, Mathias Dimde3, Henrik Karring4
1Anhui Provincial Engineering Center for High Performance Biobased Nylons, School of Materials and Chemistry, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, Anhui, China.
Nature Communications
|June 24, 2026
Summary
This study introduces a living biocatalytic platform using "suprabacteria" for efficient biosynthesis. These engineered cells accelerate enzyme cascades in Pickering emulsions, enabling sustainable and scalable industrial production.
Area of Science:
- Biocatalysis and Synthetic Biology
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Nature utilizes enzyme micro-compartments for efficient biosynthesis, inspiring multienzyme cascades.
- Practical challenges in cascade implementation include enzyme incompatibility, poor substrate transfer, and inefficient catalyst recycling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a living biocatalytic platform for enhanced biosynthesis using Pickering emulsions.
- To overcome limitations of conventional multienzyme cascade systems.
Main Methods:
- Engineered enzyme-overexpressing Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells with an oil-derived photocatalyst via supramolecular chemistry.
- Formation of amphiphilic "suprabacteria" that self-assemble at water-oil interfaces to stabilize Pickering emulsions.
- Implementation of chemoenzymatic and multienzyme cascades within the emulsion platform.
Main Results:
- Achieved reaction rates up to 45-fold higher compared to conventional biphasic systems.
- Demonstrated support for single-step, sequential, and one-pot cascade reactions, including gram-scale benzoin synthesis.
- Enabled on-demand dual recycling of either the living-cell conjugate or the synthetic catalyst.
Conclusions:
- The developed platform integrates chemical and biological catalysis for sustainable and scalable industrial biosynthesis.
- Suprabacteria in Pickering emulsions offer a factory-like assembly line for efficient biocatalysis.
- Dynamic supramolecular linkages facilitate efficient catalyst and cell reuse, promoting greener industrial processes.
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