Low-concentration CO₂ directly captured by glycine-auxotrophic Komagataella phaffii through endogenous reductive glycine pathway

Abstract

The collection and utilization of CO₂ are recognized as the key strategies for mitigating global climate change. Recently, numerous microorganisms capable of utilizing CO₂ as a carbon source for growth have been explored and engineered for biomanufacturing. However, these processes are typically initiated by exposing microorganisms to high concentrations of CO₂, which significantly limits the application of microbial carbon fixation in synthetic biology. Here, we demonstrate that Komagataella phaffii (K. phaffii) can fix CO₂ via the Reductive Glycine Pathway (RGlyP) at a low concentration (0.5% CO₂). We propose that the endogenous RGlyP in glycine auxotroph K. phaffii A01 can effectively operate under growth pressure and utilize CO₂ to synthesize glycine. The molecular mechanisms involved are elucidated at the transcriptional level. This is the most efficient RGlyP reported so far, demonstrating the great potential of the endogenous RGlyP in K. phaffii for CO₂ fixation and utilization research and will further promote the development of synthetic biology, contributing to the mitigation of global climate and food crises.

Keywords

Komagataella phaffii / Reductive Glycine Pathway / Glycine auxotroph / CO₂ fixation

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Funding

the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32370054)

the national first-class discipline program of Light Industry Technology and Engineering(LITE2018-24)

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Jiangnan University