Microbial utilization of carbon dioxide to synthesize fuels and chemicals——third-generation biorefineries

doi:10.12211/2096-8280.2020-058

Abstract

Abstract:

Concerns about oil depletion and global climate change caused by greenhouse gas emissions have stimulated interests in renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. Extensive research and exploration have been conducted to convert renewable feedstock and atmospheric carbon dioxide into fuels and chemicals using microbial cell factories. In this article, we discuss the latest developments in the use of synthetic biology technologies to promote microbial utilization of carbon dioxide to synthesize fuels and chemicals (third-generation biorefineries). After summarizing the key enzymes and energy utilization profiles of the six carbon dioxide fixation pathways that have been found in nature, we review the application of carbon dioxide as a raw material for microbes (including microorganisms and photoelectric coupled microbes). Then, we discuss the major opportunities and barriers in carbon dioxide fixation and energy capture. Finally, we summarize the factors that should be considered for the selection of ideal microorganisms and the currently attractive host microorganisms for carbon dioxide utilization.

Key words: third-generation biorefineries, greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide, biofuels, energy capture, synthetic biology technology, microbial utilization

摘要：

对由石油枯竭与温室气体排放引起的全球气候变化的担忧激发了人们对化石燃料可再生替代品的兴趣。研究人员进行了大量的研究探索，旨在利用微生物细胞工厂将可再生能源和大气中的二氧化碳转化为燃料及化学品。本文讨论了合成生物学技术助力微生物二氧化碳利用合成燃料及化学品（第三代生物炼制）的最新进展。在概述了目前已经发现的六条存在于微生物体内的二氧化碳固定途径的关键蛋白以及能量利用等情况后，回顾了以二氧化碳为原料的微生物应用（包括纯微生物固碳法与光电耦合微生物固碳法），并提出了二氧化碳固定和能量捕获中的重大机遇和障碍。最后，总结了在二氧化碳利用方面，理想的微生物选择所需考虑的因素以及目前较有吸引力的二氧化碳利用的宿主微生物。

关键词: 第三代生物炼制, 温室气体, 二氧化碳, 生物燃料, 能量捕获, 合成生物学技术, 微生物利用

CLC Number:

Kai WANG, Zihe LIU, Biqiang CHEN, Meng WANG, Yang ZHANG, Haoran BI, Yali ZHOU, Yiying HUO, Tianwei TAN. Microbial utilization of carbon dioxide to synthesize fuels and chemicals——third-generation biorefineries[J]. Synthetic Biology Journal, 2020, 1(1): 60-70.

王凯, 刘子鹤, 陈必强, 王萌, 张洋, 毕浩然, 周雅莉, 霍奕影, 谭天伟. 微生物利用二氧化碳合成燃料及化学品——第三代生物炼制[J]. 合成生物学, 2020, 1(1): 60-70.

Figures/Tables 3

Tab. 1 Comparison of natural carbon dioxide fixation pathways[21,22,23,24,25,26,27]

途径	固碳的种类	关键酶	酶比活力^①/μmol·(min·mg)^-1	产物	ATP能量消耗
卡尔文循环	CO₂	RuBisCO	304.3^[22]	3-磷酸甘油醛	9
W-L途径	CO₂	甲酸脱氢酶 CO脱氢酶	439^[23]	乙酰辅酶A	<1^②
W-L途径	CO₂	甲酸脱氢酶 CO脱氢酶	14 000^[24]	乙酰辅酶A	<1^②
DC/HB循环	CO₂/HCO₃^-	4-羟基丁酰辅酶A脱水酶	—	乙酰辅酶A	5
HP/HB循环	HCO₃^-	4-羟基丁酰辅酶A脱水酶	—	乙酰辅酶A	6
3-HP双循环	HCO₃^-	丙二酰辅酶A还原酶丙酰辅酶A合酶	80^[25] 22^[26]	丙酮酸	7
还原性 TCA 循环	CO₂	2-酮戊二酸合酶	35.2^[27]	乙酰辅酶A	2
还原性 TCA 循环	CO₂	ATP柠檬酸裂合酶	26.7	乙酰辅酶A	2

Fig. 1 Overview of three generations of biorefineries[Light green part (left): the first-generation biorefineries, the main raw material is vegetable oil, waste edible oil, etc. to synthesize biofuels; Blue part (middle): the second-generation biorefineries, the raw material is mainly non-food biomass, including grain straw, bagasse, etc.; Green part (right): the third-generation biorefineries, microbes use CO2 as raw material to produce fuels and chemicals]

Fig. 2 Artificial carbon fixation system

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