Overexpression of the gene encoding the carbonic anhydrase enzyme by transformation of a Clostridium beijerinckii strain

• Grant number: 24/04309-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 30, 2024
• End date: September 29, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biochemistry - Biochemistry of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Valeria Reginatto Spiller
• Grantee: Maria Eduarda Monzani Gomes
• Supervisor: Frank Robert Bengelsdorf
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Ulm University, Germany
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/10957-2 - Investigation of CO2 capture by Clostridium beijerinckii employing bicarbonate as an inorganic carbon source, BP.IC

Abstract

The increase in CO2 emissions due to industrial progress raises concerns about global warming, so the development of new technologies capable of capturing and utilizing excess atmospheric CO2 is essential. Acetogenic microorganisms, such as Clostridium, are promising in this field, using different CO2 assimilation pathways. Specifically, Clostridium beijerinckii Br21, a butyric acid producer, has been studied for its mixotrophic potential, it means it assimilates inorganic carbon in the presence of an organic carbon source. Thus, this strain could have its C-1 assimilation potentially increased through genetic transformation. This project aims to overexpress the genes that encode the enzyme carbonic anhydrase, which catalyzes reversible reactions converting CO2 to bicarbonate ions, in the C. beijerinckii Br21 strain. This enzyme plays an important role in facilitating the transport of CO2 into the cell. Bicarbonate will be used as an inorganic carbon source with an organic carbon. Fermentation assays by measuring substrates and products will help to verify if the transformation succeeded.