Engineered Microbes Turn CO2 Into Valuable Pharmaceutical Building Blocks

Scientists have engineered a microbe, Cupriavidus necator H16, to help reduce greenhouse gases by converting carbon dioxide (CO2) into mevalonate, a crucial ingredient for making pharmaceuticals. This innovative approach could become a powerful tool in combating climate change.

Turning CO2 Into Useful Compounds

The increasing levels of CO2 in our atmosphere contribute significantly to global warming. Researchers are developing new ways to capture and utilize this excess CO2. One promising method involves using genetically modified microbes that act like tiny factories.

Cupriavidus necator H16, a bacterium that thrives on CO2 and hydrogen gas, is one such microbe. Scientists can rewire its DNA to produce specific compounds, but the bacterium often struggles to retain these modifications.

Stabilizing Genetic Instructions

To solve this issue, Katalin Kovacs and her team enhanced the microbe’s ability to retain its new DNA instructions. They linked the genetic changes to an enzyme called RubisCo, which is essential for CO2 absorption. If a microbe forgets its new instructions, it also loses the ability to produce RubisCo, leading to its demise. This method ensures that only the most efficient microbes survive and multiply.

A Step Forward in CO2 Conversion

The modified C. necator produced significantly higher levels of mevalonate than any previous attempts using CO2. Mevalonate is essential in producing cholesterol and other steroids, making this method not only effective in reducing CO2 but also economically viable for pharmaceutical production.

Potential for Broader Applications

This breakthrough could lead to more cost-effective carbon capture methods and be applied to other microbial strains, paving the way for new strategies in both environmental and pharmaceutical industries.