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Remodeling of the Photosynthetic Chain Promotes Direct CO 2 Conversion into Valuable Aromatic Compounds
Author(s) -
Ni Jun,
Liu HongYu,
Tao Fei,
Wu YuTong,
Xu Ping
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
angewandte chemie
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1521-3757
pISSN - 0044-8249
DOI - 10.1002/ange.201808402
Subject(s) - photosynthesis , carbon fixation , chemistry , shikimate pathway , photosynthetic efficiency , metabolic pathway , petrochemical , electron transport chain , biophysics , combinatorial chemistry , biochemistry , aromatic amino acids , metabolism , organic chemistry , biology , amino acid
Abstract Directing CO 2 conversion using photosynthetic microorganisms offers a promising route to couple CO 2 sequestration with petrochemical replacement. However, the low‐flux shikimate pathway remains largely unexploited for the synthesis of valuable aromatics. In addition, it is unclear how an enhanced low‐flux pathway would influence the photosynthetic chain. We created a powerful metabolic sink by introducing the 2‐phenylethanol pathway and an artificial feedback‐inhibition‐resistant cassette to Synechococcus elongatus . More than 30 % of the fixed carbon was redirected to the shikimate pathway for aromatic synthesis, and carbon fixation and O 2 evolution increased significantly. A “self‐remodeling” mechanism of the photosynthetic chain was discovered, which accelerates electron transport and reduces energy waste. This study represents a significant step toward the industrial viability of CO 2 conversion into aromatic compounds and provides design guidance for improving photosynthetic efficiency.