CO2-Consuming Bacterial Protein Expression System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for reducing CO2 emissions, such as afforestation and carbon capture and storage, are either land-intensive or economically prohibitive, highlighting the need for sustainable, cost-effective biotechnological processes that consume CO2 and produce valuable products.
Innovation Solution
A genetically modified chemolithoautotrophic bacterium of the genus Hydrogenovibrio, specifically Hydrogenovibrio marinus, is developed to consume CO2 and produce heterologous proteins, including human proteins like somatotropin, utilizing hydrogen as an energy source and CO2 as a carbon source.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If afforestation is used to remove CO2 from the atmosphere, then CO2 binding capacity is improved, but land area requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the fundamental parameter of CO2 utilization from passive absorption (afforestation) to active biological conversion. By modifying chemolithoautotrophic bacteria to overproduce heterologous proteins, the system transforms CO2 into valuable protein products, thereby increasing CO2 binding capacity without requiring extensive land areas for crop cultivation or afforestation.
2Quantity of substance
If carbon capture and storage (CCS) is used to remove CO2, then CO2 removal efficiency is improved, but cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the harmful CO2 emission into a beneficial resource by using chemolithoautotrophic bacteria to transform CO2 into heterologous proteins. This biological conversion process eliminates the need for expensive CCS infrastructure and storage facilities, while producing valuable proteins for pharmaceutical or industrial applications, thereby simultaneously achieving CO2 removal and economic benefit.
3Quantity of substance
If photoautotrophic bacteria are used to consume CO2, then CO2 utilization efficiency is improved, but growth rate decreases due to light energy input difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the light energy input mechanism (photosynthesis) with a chemical energy input mechanism (chemolithoautotrophy). By using chemolithoautotrophic bacteria that oxidize inorganic compounds like hydrogen or sulfur to generate energy, the system eliminates the need for light energy input, thereby achieving both high CO2 utilization efficiency and rapid growth rates suitable for industrial-scale protein production.
4Quantity of substance
If methanogenic archaea are used to convert CO2, then CO2 consumption capability is improved, but product value decreases due to methane production
Solution Approach 1:
The invention creates a multi-functional biotechnological system where chemolithoautotrophic bacteria simultaneously perform CO2 consumption and heterologous protein production. By introducing foreign genes encoding desired proteins (such as therapeutic proteins or industrial enzymes) into the bacterial host, the system achieves both CO2 fixation and high-value product synthesis, eliminating the limitation of producing only methane while maintaining strong CO2 consumption capability.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention generally relates to the field of heterologous protein production in host cells. In particular, the invention relates to a chemolithoautotrophic bacterium which has been genetically modified to produce one or more heterologous proteins. The invention also relates to a method for heterologous protein expression which makes use of the genetically modified chemolithoautotrophic bacterium of the invention. The invention further relates to the use of the genetically modified chemolithoautotrophic bacterium of the invention for heterologous protein expression. The invention also provides a kit which comprises the genetically modified chemolithoautotrophic bacterium of the invention. Finally, the invention relates to a method of introducing an exogenous nucleic acid molecule into a chemolithoautotrophic bacterium.