Designer microorganisms are transforming the modern chemical industry. Using recombinant DNA technologies, cellular metabolism can be controlled and redirected to assemble small molecules of industrial importance directly from renewable feedstocks (e.g. sugar, CO2, CH4) by fermentation. This includes the use of industrial ‘waste’ as carbon feedstocks (e.g. lignin, PET) to enable the creation of circular economies. In my talk I will discuss our recent work on the use of unmodified laboratory bacteria for asymmetric C=C bond reduction using novel enzymes in E. coli. I will also present our most recent research into the use of bacterial hydrogen gas for non-enzymatic alkene and metabolite hydrogenation using biocompatible Pd catalysis in vivo. Together this work highlights the unique chemistry of microorganisms and how native cellular processes can be harnessed for sustainable synthesis.

New enzymes and gasses from living bacteria for sustainable hydrogenation

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.