合成生物学

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基于微生物电合成的一碳生物转化

李逸鑫1, 董蓉2, 解一诺2, 王远鹏2, 曹名锋2   

  1. 1.华侨大学化工学院生物工程与技术系/先进碳转化技术研究院,福建 厦门 361021
    2.厦门大学化学化工学院化学工程与生物工程系,厦门市合成生物技术重点实验室,福建 厦门 361001
  • 收稿日期:2025-07-30 修回日期:2025-10-18 出版日期:2025-10-21
  • 通讯作者: 王远鹏,曹名锋
  • 作者简介:李逸鑫(1992—),男,博士,讲师。研究方向为微生物电催化高值转化低值底物、胞外电子传递。E-mail:liyixin@hqu.edu.cn
    王远鹏(1979—),男,博士,教授。研究方向为废水/固体废弃物的资源化;微生物胞外电子传递与金属还原;环境污染修复。E-mail:wypp@xmu.edu.cn
    曹名锋(1984—),男,博士,教授。研究方向为非模式微生物合成生物学与代谢工程,芳香族化合物生物合成与细胞工厂构建,一碳利用途径设计与生物转化。E-mail:mfcao@xmu.edu.cn
  • 基金资助:
    国家自然科学基金(22038012);国家自然科学基金(32271477);国家自然科学基金(U24A20543)

One-carbon bioconversion based on microbial electrosynthesis

LI Yixin1, DONG Rong2, JIE Yinuo2, WANG Yuanpeng2, CAO Mingfeng2   

  1. 1.Department of Bioengineering and Technology,College of Chemical Engineering/Institute of Advanced Carbon Conversion Technology,Huaqiao University,Xiamen 361021,Fujian,China
    2.Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering,Xiamen University,Xiamen 361001,Fujian,China
  • Received:2025-07-30 Revised:2025-10-18 Online:2025-10-21
  • Contact: WANG Yuanpeng, CAO Mingfeng

摘要:

微生物电合成(Microbial electrosynthesis, MES)是一项具有广阔前景的技术,主要依赖微生物通过阴极提供的电子将二氧化碳转化为增值化学品。然而,目前对MES的机制分析以及不同底物的一碳转化利用尚存在一定的局限性。因此,研究不同类型的MES装置,并根据其特性提供适宜的底物一碳生物转化路径至关重要。此外,各类MES装置及其基本原理也会影响纳米材料的选择与其强化机制。本文通过对不同MES装置及其核心基本原理的分析,探讨了不同生物一碳转化路径的优缺点,同时研究了纳米材料在MES过程中的强化机制,以期提高MES的效率,因为纳米颗粒在电子转移中对功能基因的表达起着重要作用。尽管MES目前仍处于初步开发阶段,其法拉第效率、底物转化路径及产物合成效率相对较低,但依然是未来最具潜力的二氧化碳转化技术,对推动低碳未来的可持续生物技术战略具有重要意义。

关键词: 微生物电合成, CO2固定, 电子传递, 纳米生物技术, 生物合成

Abstract:

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) stands as a cutting-edge and promising technology that harnesses the metabolic capabilities of microbial cells to drive the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into a diverse range of value-added chemicals, with electrons derived from the cathode serving as the critical reducing power. This innovative approach not only offers a potential solution to mitigate anthropogenic CO2 emissions but also presents a sustainable route for the production of high-value compounds, bridging the gap between environmental remediation and industrial biotechnology. However, despite the significant progress made in recent years, several key limitations persist in the field of MES. A major hurdle lies in the incomplete mechanistic understanding of the underlying processes, particularly regarding the intricate interactions between the microbial cells and the electrode surfaces, as well as the precise regulatory mechanisms governing electron uptake and carbon fixation. Additionally, the efficient utilization of one-carbon conversion pathways from various substrates remains a challenge, with many pathways exhibiting suboptimal activity or being restricted to specific substrates, thereby limiting the versatility and applicability of MES systems. Given these constraints, a comprehensive analysis of different types of MES devices and their operational characteristics is of paramount importance. Each device configuration, whether single-chamber, dual-chamber, or more advanced designs, possesses unique features that influence mass transfer, electron transfer efficiency, and microbial growth conditions. By gaining a deep understanding of these device-specific properties, researchers can tailor and optimize one-carbon bioconversion pathways to match the requirements of different substrates, thereby maximizing the overall efficiency and productivity of the MES process. This customization of pathways based on device characteristics represents a crucial step towards unlocking the full potential of MES technology. Furthermore, the selection and implementation of nanomaterials in MES systems are closely intertwined with the design and basic principles of the MES devices. Nanomaterials, with their unique physicochemical properties such as high surface area, excellent conductivity, and tunable surface functionalities, have emerged as promising modifiers to enhance MES performance. However, the effectiveness of nanomaterials is highly dependent on the specific device architecture and operational parameters. For instance, in devices with limited mass transfer, nanomaterials that facilitate electron transfer at the electrode-microbe interface may be more beneficial, whereas in systems where microbial adhesion is a limiting factor, nanomaterials that promote biofilm formation could be prioritized. Thus, a thorough analysis of the interplay between MES devices, nanomaterials, and their strengthening mechanisms is essential to develop synergistic strategies for efficiency enhancement. In this context, we delve into the analysis of various MES device configurations, elucidating their core operational principles and highlighting their respective advantages and limitations. Concurrently, we evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of different biological one-carbon conversion pathways, considering factors such as energy requirements, carbon flux distribution, and product specificity. Moreover, we explore the multifaceted roles of nanomaterials in augmenting MES efficiency, with a particular focus on their ability to modulate extracellular electron transfer (EET) processes. Nanoparticles have been shown to exert significant effects on the expression of functional genes involved in EET, thereby enhancing the electron uptake capacity of microbial cells and promoting more efficient communication between the microbes and the electrodes. Despite the current challenges, including low Faradaic efficiencies, suboptimal substrate conversion rates, and limited product synthesis yields that relegate MES to the early stages of development, the technology holds immense promise as one of the most viable CO₂ conversion strategies for the future. Its inherent sustainability, coupled with the potential for integration with renewable energy sources to power the electrochemical reactions, positions MES as a key player in the transition towards a low-carbon economy. By addressing the existing limitations through interdisciplinary research that combines microbiology, electrochemistry, materials science, and metabolic engineering, MES has the potential to make a substantial contribution to advancing sustainable biotechnology strategies and realizing a more environmentally benign and resource-efficient future.

Key words: microbial electrosynthesis, CO2 fixation, electron transfer, nanobiotechnology, biosynthesis

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