A new-to-nature photosynthesis system enhances utilization of one-carbon substrates in Escherichia coli

Tian Tong, Xiulai Chen, Kexin Tang, Wanrong Ma, Cong Gao, Wei Song, Jing Wu, Xiaoling Wang, Gao-Qiang Liu () and Liming Liu ()
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Tian Tong: Central South University of Forestry and Technology
Xiulai Chen: Jiangnan University
Kexin Tang: Jiangnan University
Wanrong Ma: Jiangnan University
Cong Gao: Jiangnan University
Wei Song: Jiangnan University
Jing Wu: Jiangnan University
Xiaoling Wang: Central South University of Forestry and Technology
Gao-Qiang Liu: Central South University of Forestry and Technology
Liming Liu: Jiangnan University

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-17

Abstract: Abstract Photosynthesis harvests solar energy to convert CO2 into chemicals, offering a potential solution to reduce atmospheric CO2. However, integrating photosynthesis into non-photosynthetic microbes to utilize one-carbon substrates is challenging. Here, a photosynthesis system is reconstructed in E. coli, by integrating light and dark reaction to synthesize bioproducts from one-carbon substrates. A light reaction is reconstructed using the photosystem of photosynthetic bacteria, increasing ATP and NADH contents by 337.9% and 383.7%, respectively. A dark reaction is constructed by designing CO2 fixation pathway to synthesize pyruvate. By assembling the light and dark reaction, a photosynthesis system is established and further programmed by installing an energy adapter, enabling the production of acetone, malate, and α-ketoglutarate, with a negative carbon footprint of −0.84 ~ −0.23 kgCO2e/kg product. Furthermore, light-driven one-carbon trophic growth of E. coli is achieved with a doubling time of 19.86 h. This photosynthesis system provides a green and sustainable approach to enhance one-carbon substrates utilization in the future.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-55498-y

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