(490f) Microbial Production of 3-Hydroxypropionate from CO2 for Sustainable Biomanufacturing

Conventional chemical production methods significantly contribute to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, underscoring the urgent need for sustainable alternatives to produce high-value chemicals. One such is 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), a key platform chemical with a wide range of industrial applications, including the synthesis of acrylic acid and 1,3-propanediol. A promising approach for sustainable 3-HP production is the biological conversion of CO₂, which not only reduces CO₂ emissions but also enables energy-efficient production under mild conditions.

In this study, we aimed to enhance 3-HP production by engineering the malonyl-CoA pathway in Cupriavidus necator H16, a hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium capable of assimilating CO₂ using H₂ as an energy source. We first addressed the engineered strain’s 3-HP production capacity under lithoautotrophic conditions, where CO₂, H₂, and O₂ support microbial growth and metabolism. Finally, we aim to explore the feasibility of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) for 3-HP production, a system that integrates renewable energy-driven water electrolysis with microbial CO₂ fixation. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing bioprocesses for the sustainable synthesis of value-added chemicals from CO₂, water, and renewable electricity.