TECHNOLOGY

Weizmann Institute of Science - Carbon fixation pathways in E. coli

Lab

Carbon fixation pathways in E. coli

Technology Owner: Weizmann Institute

About: E. coli bacteria have been gradually trained to use carbon dioxide as food, rather than sugar, building their biomass from the air. Researchers converted the common lab, sugar-eating (heterotrophic) E. coli bacterium to produce all of its biomass from CO2 (autotrophic), using metabolic engineering combined with lab evolution. The new bacterium uses the compound formate as a form of chemical energy to drive CO2 fixation by a synthetic metabolic pathway. The bacterium may provide the infrastructure for the future renewable production of food and green fuels.

Application: Atmospheric Capture

Type: Direct Air Capture

Utilization: Bacterium to food and green fuels

Location: Israel

Partners: Zuckerman STEM Leadership Program; the Larson Charitable Foundation New Scientist Fund; the Ullmann Family Foundation; Dana and Yossie Hollander; and the European Research Council

Categories: Atmospheric Capture, BECCS, Food and beverage, Technology, Synthetic hydrocarbons, Short-term Recycling, Lab, ALL