Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks

Abstract Chemicals produced through enzymatic reactions play a key role in the transition from a linear petrol-dependent to a circular bioeconomy. One promising approach is the conversion of single carbon (C1) molecules by biocatalysts to value-added products. Although progress has been made, curren...

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Main Authors: Giovanni Davide Barone, Ina Somvilla, Hannah Pia Franziska Meier, Anna Christina R. Ngo, Thomas Bayer, Fabio Parmeggiani, Viktoria Rehbein, Johann A. Hlina, Pablo Domínguez de María, Uwe T. Bornscheuer, Dirk Tischler, Sandy Schmidt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60777-3
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author Giovanni Davide Barone
Ina Somvilla
Hannah Pia Franziska Meier
Anna Christina R. Ngo
Thomas Bayer
Fabio Parmeggiani
Viktoria Rehbein
Johann A. Hlina
Pablo Domínguez de María
Uwe T. Bornscheuer
Dirk Tischler
Sandy Schmidt
author_facet Giovanni Davide Barone
Ina Somvilla
Hannah Pia Franziska Meier
Anna Christina R. Ngo
Thomas Bayer
Fabio Parmeggiani
Viktoria Rehbein
Johann A. Hlina
Pablo Domínguez de María
Uwe T. Bornscheuer
Dirk Tischler
Sandy Schmidt
author_sort Giovanni Davide Barone
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Chemicals produced through enzymatic reactions play a key role in the transition from a linear petrol-dependent to a circular bioeconomy. One promising approach is the conversion of single carbon (C1) molecules by biocatalysts to value-added products. Although progress has been made, current biological methods remain less cost-competitive than established chemical processes. Here, we review how single and multi-enzyme transformations, natural C1-trophic microorganisms, and organisms with transplanted synthetic C1 assimilation pathways can synergize to strengthen the competitiveness of C1-based biomanufacturing. To explore the current state-of-the-art and assess the potential of C1 biomanufacturing, we highlight the aforementioned bio-based methodologies and evaluate their industrial applicability through an overview of granted patents.
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institution Kabale University
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publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
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spelling doaj-art-53d1e5c0b1e34c1ba80157c0829a69a12025-08-20T03:46:17ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-08-0116111710.1038/s41467-025-60777-3Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocksGiovanni Davide Barone0Ina Somvilla1Hannah Pia Franziska Meier2Anna Christina R. Ngo3Thomas Bayer4Fabio Parmeggiani5Viktoria Rehbein6Johann A. Hlina7Pablo Domínguez de María8Uwe T. Bornscheuer9Dirk Tischler10Sandy Schmidt11Institute of Molecular Biosciences, University of GrazDepartment of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of GreifswaldDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, University of GroningenMicrobial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University BochumDepartment of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of GreifswaldDepartment of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering “Giulio Natta”, Polytechnic of MilanInstitute of Chemistry, University of GrazInstitute of Chemistry, University of GrazSustainable Momentum SLDepartment of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of GreifswaldMicrobial Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Ruhr University BochumDepartment of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, University of GroningenAbstract Chemicals produced through enzymatic reactions play a key role in the transition from a linear petrol-dependent to a circular bioeconomy. One promising approach is the conversion of single carbon (C1) molecules by biocatalysts to value-added products. Although progress has been made, current biological methods remain less cost-competitive than established chemical processes. Here, we review how single and multi-enzyme transformations, natural C1-trophic microorganisms, and organisms with transplanted synthetic C1 assimilation pathways can synergize to strengthen the competitiveness of C1-based biomanufacturing. To explore the current state-of-the-art and assess the potential of C1 biomanufacturing, we highlight the aforementioned bio-based methodologies and evaluate their industrial applicability through an overview of granted patents.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60777-3
spellingShingle Giovanni Davide Barone
Ina Somvilla
Hannah Pia Franziska Meier
Anna Christina R. Ngo
Thomas Bayer
Fabio Parmeggiani
Viktoria Rehbein
Johann A. Hlina
Pablo Domínguez de María
Uwe T. Bornscheuer
Dirk Tischler
Sandy Schmidt
Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
Nature Communications
title Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
title_full Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
title_fullStr Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
title_full_unstemmed Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
title_short Industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole-cell processes for the utilization of C1 building blocks
title_sort industrial applicability of enzymatic and whole cell processes for the utilization of c1 building blocks
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60777-3
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