Scientists unlock hidden productivity in algae-based chemical factories
Researchers have identified how to reprogram the internal control systems of cyanobacteria—photosynthetic organisms that convert CO2 into chemicals and fuels—making them substantially more efficient. The breakthrough could lower production costs for sustainable alternatives to petroleum-based chemicals, potentially opening a viable market for companies seeking carbon-neutral manufacturing.
Originaltitel: Tailoring regulatory components for metabolic engineering in cyanobacteria
<p>The looming climate crisis has prompted an ever-growing interest in cyanobacteria due to their potential as sustainable production platforms for the synthesis of energy carriers and value-added chemicals from CO<sub>2</sub> and sunlight. Nonetheless, cyanobacteria are yet to compete with heterotrophic systems in terms of space-time yields and consequently production costs. One major drawback leading to the low production performance observed in cyanobacteria is the limited ability to utilize the full capacity of the photosynthetic apparatus and its associated systems, i.e. CO<sub>2</sub> fixation and the directly connected metabolism. In this review, novel insights into various levels of metabolic regulation of cyanobacteria are discussed, including the potential of targeting these regulatory mechanisms to create a chassis with a phenotype favorable for photoautotrophic production. Compared to conventional metabolic engineering approaches, minor perturbations of regulatory mechanisms can have wide-ranging effects.</p>