Title: Photosynthetic production of the nitrogen-rich compound guanidine

Abstract

The development of an sustainable economy calls for improved energy utilization and storage technologies. Although battery- and carbon-based routes have gained tremendous attention, nitrogen-based routes have rarely been exploited so far. Guanidine (CH₅N₃) which contains 71.1% nitrogen by mass is an exemplary chemical to explore the nitrogen-based routes of energy utilization and storage. Guanidine has a variety of applications including its use as a slow-release fertilizer, a propellant, or as a precursor to pharmaceuticals and antimicrobial polymers. The conventional chemical synthesis of guanidine through the Frank–Caro process is energy-intensive, consumes fossil fuels, and is detrimental to the environment. Herein, a de novo guanidine biosynthesis (GUB) cycle is proposed with CO₂ and nitrate/ammonium as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The ATP and NAD(P)H needed to drive the GUB cycle are generated via photosynthesis in an engineered cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 expressing an ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE). Up to 586.5 mg L^-1 (9.9 mM) guanidine was produced after seven days of photoautotrophic cultivation, with an average productivity of 83.8 mg L^-1 day^-1. In addition, guanidine was directly biosynthesized from CO₂, N₂ and H₂O in an engineered N₂-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 expressing the EFE. This work demonstrates the first biologicalmore » conversion of renewable solar energy into chemical energy stored in the nitrogen-rich compound guanidine, which could shed light on harnessing the biological nitrogen metabolism for energy utilization and storage.« less

Authors:

Wang, Bo  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6047-1221"

Dong, Tao  ^[1];

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Dong, Tao"
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-4961-7576"

Myrlie, Aldon ^[2]; Gu, Liping ^[2]; Zhu, Huilan ^[2]; Xiong, Wei  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-7046-4172"

Maness, PinChing  ^[1];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2131-5354"

Zhou, Ruanbao  ^[2];

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-9073-999X"

Yu, Jianping  ^[1]

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0466-3197"

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Biosciences Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, USA
2. Department of Biology & Microbiology, South Dakota State University, Brookings, USA

Publication Date:

Tue Jun 04 00:00:00 EDT 2019

Research Org.:

National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)

OSTI Identifier:

1528658

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1513042; OSTI ID: 1515762

Report Number(s):

NREL/JA-2700-73223
Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9262; GRCHFJ

Grant/Contract Number:  

AC36-08GO28308

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Green Chemistry

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Green Chemistry Journal Volume: 21 Journal Issue: 11; Journal ID: ISSN 1463-9262

Publisher:

Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; guanidine; cyanobacterium; nitrogen fixation; synechocystis; Anabaena