La fotosíntesis artificial convierte el dióxido de carbono en alimento

Los investigadores producen un aminoácido importante a partir del gas de efecto invernadero CO2

• Creciente demanda de alimentos en el mundo
• Proceso biotecnológico que utiliza metanol como producto intermedio
• Se requiere menos tierra para cultivar la planta.

Asegurar que la población mundial en constante crecimiento sea alimentada mientras se protege el medio ambiente son objetivos a menudo contradictorios. Ahora, investigadores de la Universidad Técnica de Munich (TUM) han logrado desarrollar un método para la fabricación sintética de proteínas dietéticas utilizando un tipo de material sintético.[{» attribute=»»>photosynthesis. The animal feed industry is the primary driver of high demand for large volumes of nutritional protein, which is also suitable for use in meat substitute products.

A group led by Prof. Volker Sieber at the TUM Campus Straubing for Biotechnology and Sustainability (TUMCS) has succeeded in producing the amino acid L-alanine, an essential building block in proteins, from the environmentally harmful gas CO₂. Their indirect biotechnological process involves methanol as an intermediate. Until now, protein for animal feed has been typically produced in the southern hemisphere with large-scale agricultural space requirements and negative consequences for biodiversity.

Artificial photosynthesis for environmentally friendly food production, from left: PhD student Vivian Willers und Prof. Volker Sieber. Credit: Otto Zellmer / TUM

The CO₂, which is removed from the atmosphere, is first turned into methanol using green electricity and hydrogen. The new method converts this intermediate into L-alanine in a multi-stage process using synthetic enzymes; the method is extremely effective and generates very high yields. L-alanine is one of the most important components of protein, which is essential to the nutrition of both humans and animals.

Prof. Sieber, of the TUM Professorship for Chemistry of Biogenic Resources, explains: “Compared to growing plants, this method requires far less space to create the same amount of L-alanine, when the energy used comes from solar or wind power sources. The more efficient use of space means a kind of artificial photosynthesis can be used to produce the same amount of foodstuffs on significantly fewer acres. This paves the way for a smaller ecological footprint in agriculture.”

Bioeconomy and hydrogen economy in combination

The manufacture of L-alanine is only the first step for the scientists. “We also want to produce other amino acids from CO₂ using renewable energy and to further increase efficiency in the realization process,” says co-author Vivian Willers, who developed the process as a doctoral candidate at the TUM Campus Straubing. The researchers add that the project is a good example of how bioeconomy and hydrogen economy in combination can make it possible to achieve more sustainability.

Reference: “Cell-free enzymatic L-alanine synthesis from green methanol” by Vivian Pascal Willers, Manuel Döring, Barbara Beer and Volker Sieber, 23 January 2023, Chem Catalysis.
DOI: 10.1016/j.checat.2022.100502