于涛团队：转化丙酮电&生物催化合成香豆酸、脂肪酸、番茄红素等高值天然产物 | Nature Sustainability

Core Viewpoint - The research group led by Yu Tao focuses on utilizing synthetic biology to address major issues such as sustainable manufacturing, green energy, and food security through innovative methods of converting CO2 into valuable compounds [1][2]. Group 1: CO2 Conversion and Sustainable Production - Significant progress has been made in converting CO2 into simple low-carbon compounds (C1-3) through various methods, but producing complex compounds remains challenging [1]. - The research group successfully demonstrated the conversion of CO2 into glucose and fatty acids using an electrochemical-coupled microbial cell factory, providing a viable method for sustainable production of sugar-derived food and chemicals [1]. - This achievement was recognized as one of the "Top Ten Scientific Advances in China" in 2022 [1]. Group 2: Synthetic Energy Systems - The research team constructed a synthetic energy system within yeast cells, supporting cell growth and efficient fatty acid synthesis [2]. - Low-carbon compounds such as methanol and ethanol were converted into sugars and sugar derivatives, including glucose and starch, through synthetic biology and metabolic engineering techniques [2]. Group 3: Upcycling Chemical Byproducts - The research group collaborated with other institutions to address the challenge of surplus byproducts in the chemical industry, specifically converting excess acetone into high-value natural products using a tandem electro-biosystem [3]. - The results of this work were published in Nature Sustainability, showcasing a novel approach to upcycling surplus acetone into long-chain chemicals [3][6]. Group 4: Electrochemical and Biological Catalysis - A synergistic strategy combining electrochemical and synthetic biology was proposed, where acetone is first converted into high-purity isopropanol (IPA) through electrochemical hydrogenation, followed by fermentation to produce high-value natural products [6][8]. - The research demonstrated a maximum IPA Faradaic efficiency of 95.6% and a current density of -240 mA cm-2 using a specially designed catalyst [8][10]. Group 5: Future Directions - Future research will focus on optimizing the bipolar membrane electrode reactor design, regulating metabolic pathways for fermentation, and expanding the application of electro-biosynthetic coupling systems [15].