{"id":143594,"date":"2024-05-07T07:15:00","date_gmt":"2024-05-07T05:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/?p=143594"},"modified":"2024-05-07T13:12:32","modified_gmt":"2024-05-07T11:12:32","slug":"bakterien-fur-klimaneutrale-chemikalien-der-zukunft-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/bakterien-fur-klimaneutrale-chemikalien-der-zukunft-2\/","title":{"rendered":"Bacteria for climate-neutral chemicals of the future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<p><strong>Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered bacteria in the laboratory to efficiently use methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products currently made by the chemical industry from fossil fuels.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-1024x512.jpg\" alt=\"Bacteria that feed on methanol and produce sustainable chemicals \u00a9 Sean Kilian\" class=\"wp-image-143587\" style=\"aspect-ratio:2;width:583px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-1024x512.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-300x150.jpg 300w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-150x75.jpg 150w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-768x384.jpg 768w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-1536x768.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-2048x1024.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.carousel.1625823161-400x200.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bacteria that feed on methanol and produce sustainable chemicals \u00a9 Sean Kilian<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">In brief<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Methanol can be synthesised from carbon dioxide and water using renewable energy.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>When this green methanol is metabolised by specialised bacteria, a variety of chemical substances can be biotechnologically produced.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The application of these bacteria could allow the chemical industry to convert the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide into valuable climate-\u200bneutral chemicals, and substantially reduce its ecological footprint.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>To produce various chemicals such as plastics, dyes or artificial flavours, the chemical industry currently relies heavily on fossil resources such as crude oil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cGlobally, it consumes 500 million tons per year, or more than one million tons per day,\u201d says <strong>Julia Vorholt, Professor at the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich<\/strong>. \u201cSince these chemical conversions are energy-\u200bintensive, the true CO<sub>2<\/sub> footprint of the chemical industry is even six to ten times larger, amounting to about five percent of total emissions globally.\u201d She and her team are looking for ways to reduce the chemical industry&#8217;s dependence on fossil fuels.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Green methanol<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Bacteria that feed on methanol, known as methylotrophs, are at the centre of these efforts. Containing just a single carbon atom, methanol is one of the simplest organic molecules and can be synthesised from the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide and water. If the energy for this synthesis reaction comes from renewable sources, the methanol is termed \u201cgreen\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThere are natural methylotrophs, but using them industrially remains difficult despite considerable research effort,\u201d says <strong>Michael Reiter, a postdoctoral researcher in Vorholt\u2019s research group<\/strong>, which instead works with the biotechnologically well-\u200bunderstood model bacterium <em>Escherichia coli<\/em>. Vorholt\u2019s team has been pursuing the idea of equipping the model bacterium, which grows on sugar, with the ability to metabolise methanol for several years.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Complete restructuring of metabolism <\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis is a major challenge because it requires a complete restructuring of the cell\u2019s metabolism,\u201d says <strong>Vorholt<\/strong>. Initially, the researchers simulated this change using computer models. Based on these simulations, they chose two genes to remove and three new genes to introduce. \u201cAs a result, the bacteria could take up methanol, albeit only in small quantities,\u201d says <strong>Reiter<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>They continued to grow the bacteria under special conditions in the laboratory for more than a year until the microbes could produce all cell components from methanol. Over the course of around 1,000 more generations, these synthetic methylotrophs became increasingly efficient, eventually doubling every four hours when fed only with methanol. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe improved growth rate makes the bacteria economically interesting,\u201d says <strong>Vorholt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Optimisation through loss of function<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>As Vorholt\u2019s team describes in their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41929-024-01137-0\">recently launched paper<\/a>, several randomly occurring mutations are responsible for the increased efficiency of methanol utilisation. Most of these mutations resulted in the loss of function of various genes. This is surprising at first glance, but upon closer inspection, it becomes apparent that the cells can save energy thanks to the loss of function of the genes. For example, some mutations cause the reverse reactions of important biochemical reactions to fail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis abolishes superfluous chemical conversions and optimises the metabolic flux in the cells,\u201d <strong>the researchers<\/strong> write.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-1024x576.jpg\" alt=\"Taking a sample from a bioreactor with methylotrophic bacteria \" class=\"wp-image-143589\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7777777777777777;width:603px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-2048x1151.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.1809660539-1-400x225.jpg 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Taking a sample from a bioreactor with methylotrophic bacteria \u00a9 ETH Z\u00fcrich<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>To explore the potential of synthetic methylotrophs for the biotechnological production of industrially relevant bulk chemicals, Vorholt and her team have equipped the bacteria with additional genes for four different biosynthetic pathways. In their study, they now show that the bacteria indeed produced the desired compounds in all cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Versatile production platform<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>For the researchers, this is clear evidence that their engineered bacteria can deliver on what was originally promised: the microbes are a kind of highly versatile production platform into which biosynthesis modules can be inserted according to the \u201cplug-\u200band-play\u201d principle, prompting the bacteria to convert methanol into desired biochemical substances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, the researchers still need to significantly increase the yield and productivity to enable economically viable use of the bacteria. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Vorholt and her team recently received an innovation fund \u201cto further expand plans towards applications and to select products to focus on first,\u201d says <strong>Vorholt<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"592\" src=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-1024x592.png\" alt=\"Cycle for the production of renewable chemicals such as plastics by methanol-\u200butilising bacteria \u00a9 ETH Z\u00fcrich\" class=\"wp-image-143590\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.7297297297297298;width:573px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-1024x592.png 1024w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-300x173.png 300w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-150x87.png 150w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-768x444.png 768w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-1536x887.png 1536w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-2048x1183.png 2048w, https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/media\/2024\/05\/image.imageformat.1286.443948292-400x231.png 400w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Cycle for the production of renewable chemicals such as plastics by methanol-\u200butilising bacteria \u00a9 ETH Z\u00fcrich<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When Reiter talks about how the cultivation of bacteria in bioreactors can be optimised, he is filled with enthusiasm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cGiven the challenges of climate change, it is clear that alternatives to fossil resources are needed,\u201d he says. \u201cWe are developing a technology that does not emit additional CO<sub>2<\/sub> into the atmosphere,\u201d says <strong>Reiter<\/strong>. And since the synthetic methylotrophs, besides green methanol, do not require any additional carbon sources for their growth and products, they allow \u201crenewable chemicals to be produced that do not burden the environment.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Researchers at ETH Zurich have engineered bacteria in the laboratory to efficiently use methanol. The metabolism of these bacteria can now be tapped into to produce valuable products currently made by the chemical industry from fossil fuels. In brief To produce various chemicals such as plastics, dyes or artificial flavours, the chemical industry currently relies [&#8230;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":113,"featured_media":143595,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","nova_meta_subtitle":"The team around Prof. Dr. Julia Vorholt is looking for ways to reduce the chemical industry's dependence on fossil fuels","footnotes":""},"categories":[5572],"tags":[13383,5838,10416,10408,13718],"supplier":[277],"class_list":["post-143594","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bio-based","tag-bacteria","tag-bioeconomy","tag-circulareconomy","tag-greenchemistry","tag-methanol","supplier-eidgenoessische-technische-hochschule-zuerich-eth-zuerich"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143594","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/113"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=143594"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/143594\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/143595"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=143594"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=143594"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=143594"},{"taxonomy":"supplier","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/renewable-carbon.eu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/supplier?post=143594"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}