Biosynthesis of Glycine from One-Carbon Resources Using an Engineered Escherichia coli Whole-Cell Catalyst

TL;DR

Scientists engineered E. coli to efficiently convert CO2 and formate into glycine, a key amino acid, using a reconstituted metabolic pathway.

Contribution

A novel whole-cell biocatalyst system was developed using an engineered reductive glycine pathway for efficient glycine biosynthesis from CO2.

Findings

The engineered E. coli achieved a glycine space–time productivity of 0.125 mmol/L/h from formate.

A whole-cell electrocatalysis system directly synthesized glycine from CO2 and NH4Cl with a productivity of 0.135 mmol/L/h.

The system integrates a four-plasmid co-expression setup to enhance ATP supply and C1 metabolism.

Abstract

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a cost-effective, abundant, and renewable carbon source, but its utilization technologies face several issues. The reductive glycine pathway (RGP) is recognized as one of the most efficient one-carbon (C1) assimilation routes in nature, with its core component—the glycine cleavage system (GCS: GcvP, GcvH, GcvT, and GcvL)—playing an essential role in C1 metabolism. To develop efficient CO2 conversion and utilization pathways, we identified NhFtfL and AmFchA-MtdA with high catalytic efficiency through gene mining and constructed a four-plasmid co-expression system in E. coli BL21(DE3) using Gibson Assembly. This system integrated GcvP-GcvH, GcvT-GcvL, NhFtfL-AmFchA-MtdA, and RsPPK2, thereby reconstituting the complete RGP while enhancing ATP supply. The engineered strain functioned as an efficient whole-cell biocatalyst, achieving a glycine space–time productivity of 0.125 mmol/L/h via one-pot conversion of formate. Furthermore, we expanded the application scope by developing a whole-cell electrocatalysis system that directly synthesized glycine from CO2 and NH4Cl, achieving a glycine space–time productivity of 0.135 mmol/L/h. This study demonstrates the potential of the engineered RGP system for upgrading C1 resources and supports the transition toward carbon neutrality.

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