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DOE OSTI · 2565360

Optimizing Cupriavidus necator H16 as a host for aerobic C1 conversion

Donati, Stefano [Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)]·Johnson, Christopher W. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000229794751)
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Abstract

Biological systems capable of converting CO 2 or CO 2 -derived, single-carbon (C1) compounds can be used to reduce or reverse carbon emissions while establishing a circular bioeconomy to provide sustainable sources of the fuels, foods, and materials humanity relies on. A robust bioeconomy will rely upon a variety of microorganisms capable of assimilating C1 compounds and converting them to valuable products at industrial scale. While anaerobic microbes are ideal hosts for production of short-chain acids and alcohols, microbes capable of aerobic respiration are well suited for biosynthesis of higher molecular weight products. One such organism is the gram-negative soil bacterium Cupriavidus necator, which has been utilized in commercial production of biopolymers for decades. More recently, its capability of robust, aerobic growth on CO 2 has inspired research efforts that have advanced it toward becoming one of the leading bacterial hosts for C1-based biomanufacturing. This review highlights those efforts in the context of the characteristics that have historically made C. necator an excellent host for industrial bioconversion processes: its metabolic versatility, ability to grow rapidly to high cell densities, and genetic amenability.

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37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCESC. necatorCO2Cupriavidus necatorPHBbiological C1 conversioncarbon dioxideformic acid

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Donati, Stefano [Technical Univ. of Denmark, Lyngby (Denmark)], Johnson, Christopher W. [National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)] (ORCID:0000000229794751). 2025-04-24. Optimizing Cupriavidus necator H16 as a host for aerobic C1 conversion. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copbio.2025.103306

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