The in vivo hydrocarbon formation by vanadium nitrogenase follows a secondary metabolic pathway

Johannes G. Rebelein, Chi Chung Lee, Yilin Hu () and Markus W. Ribbe ()
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Johannes G. Rebelein: University of California
Chi Chung Lee: University of California
Yilin Hu: University of California
Markus W. Ribbe: University of California

Nature Communications, 2016, vol. 7, issue 1, 1-6

Abstract: Abstract The vanadium (V)-nitrogenase of Azotobacter vinelandii catalyses the in vitro conversion of carbon monoxide (CO) to hydrocarbons. Here we show that an A. vinelandii strain expressing the V-nitrogenase is capable of in vivo reduction of CO to ethylene (C2H4), ethane (C2H6) and propane (C3H8). Moreover, we demonstrate that CO is not used as a carbon source for cell growth, being instead reduced to hydrocarbons in a secondary metabolic pathway. These findings suggest a possible role of the ancient nitrogenase as an evolutionary link between the carbon and nitrogen cycles on Earth and establish a solid foundation for biotechnological adaptation of a whole-cell approach to recycling carbon wastes into hydrocarbon products. Thus, this study has several repercussions for evolution-, environment- and energy-related areas.

Date: 2016
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13641

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