Novel biocatalysts for a sustainable bioeconomy – enzyme structures enabling carbon dioxide valorization at electrodes

The objective of the project “Novel biocatalysts for a sustainable bioeconomy – enzyme structures enabling carbon dioxide valorization at electrodes” is to gain insights into the molecular interactions that form the basis of enzymatic electrosynthesis. This type of synthesis facilitates the use of electric energy for the reduction of carbon dioxide to useful organic compounds. In this project, the molecular basis of electrosynthesis will be investigated through the construction of structural models of existing electrosynthetic enzyme complexes and engineering of novel electrosynthetic complexes that are designed to catalyze the CO₂ reduction to methanol using electricity. In combination with classic methylotrophic microorganism fermentations these novel complexes can make use of CO₂ and replace the currently used approaches that compete with nutritional uses of biomass and arable land.