Elucidation of new autotrophic CO2 fixation pathways in bacteria

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Autotrophy is the use of carbon dioxide (CO2) as sole source of cell carbon, and autotrophic CO2-fixation into organic compounds is the quantitatively most important life process. This capability is found not only in plants but also in most major groups of bacteria. Three autotrophic pathways have been established, the Calvin cycle, the reductive citric acid cycle, and the reductive acetyl-CoA pathway. This project aims at studying new CO2-fixation pathways in bacteria. The first goal is the elucidation of the proposed 3-hydroxypropionate cycle which functions as autotrophic pathway in the phototrophic eubacterium Chloroflexus aurantiacus. The genome of this model organism has been sequenced. The second aim is the study of similar but modified cycle in thermophilic Crenarchaeota. This group of archaebacteria may harbor other autotrophic pathways which will be studied. This project is expected to provide new insights into the physiology and metabolism of various bacteria. Furthermore, the discovery of new enzymes and pathways will have an impact on biochemistry and evolutionary biology. Finally, some applications can be envisaged.