RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Microbial Cells Harboring a Mitochondrial Gene Are Capable of CO2 Capture
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 411090
DO 10.1101/411090
A1 Yanchao Zhou
A1 Lan Ouyang
A1 Xiao Yi
A1 Tao Gan
A1 Jinhuan Qi
A1 Yulin Wan
A1 Yuchuan Wang
A1 Shanshan An
A1 Yunfan Shi
A1 Wei Yang
A1 Wenze Chen
A1 Zhiyao Luo
A1 Jing Li
A1 Jun Luo
A1 Xiren Nuertai
A1 Xiang Zhu
A1 Fan Yang
A1 Beibei Zhao
A1 Weiwei Zhang
A1 Zi-Wei Ye
A1 Xiaoxiao Zhang
A1 Shaoping Weng
A1 Qiuyun Liu
A1 Weiguo Cao
A1 Jianguo He
YR 2018
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2018/10/29/411090.abstract
AB Global warming is escalating with increased temperatures reported worldwide. Given the enormous land mass on the planet, biological capture of CO2 remains a viable approach to mitigate the crisis as it is economical and easy to implement. In this study, a gene capable of CO2 capture was identified via selection in minimal media. This mitochondrial gene named as OG1 encodes the OK/SW-CL.16 protein and shares homology with cytochrome oxidase subunit III of various species and PII uridylyl-transferase from Loktanella vestfoldensis SKA53. CO2 capture experiments indicate that δ13C was substantially higher in the cells harboring the gene OG1 than the control in the nutrition-poor media. This study suggests that CO2 capture using engineered microorganisms in barren land can be exploited to address the soaring CO2 level in the atmosphere, opening up vast land resources to cope with global warming.IMPORTANCE Global warming crisis is deteriorating with increased CO2 levels in the atmosphere each year. Action must be taken before catastrophic consequences occur in the not-so-distant future. Biological capture of CO2 is a feasible approach to alleviate the current crisis. We have identified a mitochondrial gene which demonstrated CO2 utilization capability. Data presented in this study suggest that CO2 capture using engineered microorganisms can be harnessed to address the ever-rising CO2 level in the atmosphere.