CO2 to Terpenes: Autotrophic and Electroautotrophic α‐Humulene Production with Cupriavidus necator. Issue 7 (15th January 2018) - Krieg, Thomas
Abstract: We show that CO2 can be converted by an engineered "Knallgas" bacterium ( Cupriavidus necator ) into the terpene α‐humulene. Heterologous expression of the mevalonate pathway and α‐humulene synthase resulted in the production of approximately 10 mg α‐humulene per gram cell dry mass (CDW) under heterotrophic conditions. This first example of chemolithoautotrophic production of a terpene from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and oxygen is a promising starting point for the production of different high‐value terpene compounds from abundant and simple raw materials. Furthermore, the production system was used to produce 17 mg α‐humulene per gram CDW from CO2 and electrical energy in microbial electrosynthesis (MES) mode. Given that the system can convert CO2 by using electrical energy from solar energy, it opens a new route to artificial photosynthetic systems. Abstract : Out of thin air : CO2 and electrical energy can be converted by an engineered "Knallgas" bacterium into the terpene α‐humulene. Up to 17 mg α‐humulene per gram cell dry mass were produced in this microbial electrosynthesis.