CAREER: Harnessing the Power of the Phosphate-Binding Protein PstS to Recover Phosphorus

1554511年5月在全球范围内，存在过量的废磷，同时缺乏可商购的磷以供使用。这种矛盾源于磷对所有生物有机体、植物和动物生长的关键作用。作为一种限速营养素，环境中过量的磷是造成富营养化的原因，富营养化是淡水损害的主要原因。相反，磷对全球粮食安全至关重要，因为它维持了高农业生产力。最坏情况的估计表明，迅速减少的可开采磷储量可能在世纪内耗尽，超出经济上可行的开采范围。面对这一迫在眉睫的危机，从废水和环境表面沃茨中回收“废”磷不再是一种奢侈，而是一项紧迫的任务，这是该项目的重点。不幸的是，传统的废水处理无法满足新的可持续性指标，即捕获低水平的磷并将其作为宝贵的资源回收。因此，总体项目目标是阐明磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白的基本原理，并评估磷的去除和回收效率。这与主要研究者（PI）的职业轨迹直接相关，因为它整合了营养恢复，环境微生物学，可持续性和STEM教育。追求相辅相成的研究和教育目标为PI未来的研究发现和教育进步奠定了坚实的基础。这项研究将首次探索磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白在磷吸附和解吸控制磷回收应用的背景下。本研究将阐明磷特异性高亲和性磷酸盐结合蛋白的基本原理，并利用两种蛋白质为基础的系统定量测定磷的去除和回收：1）E。工程化以表面表达磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白的大肠杆菌细菌，和2）固定在合成培养基上的磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白。初步数据表明，磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白可以去除磷，但需要进行基础研究，以提高对磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白结合的基础及其磷回收潜力的理解。通过提高对磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白能力的基本科学认识，该项目将在除磷和回收联合标准的背景下大大推进可持续处理。这项工作是新颖的，因为第一次，在水和废水中使用固定化和表面展示的磷特异性高亲和力磷酸盐结合蛋白系统控制磷的去除和回收的潜力将被调查。拟议的研究将推动更广泛的社会成果，包括提高对可持续技术的理解;增加少数群体对STEM的参与;以及发展多元化、具有全球竞争力的STEM劳动力。研究结果将促进可持续仿生启发的磷回收技术的开发和评估。这一努力对环境水质、废水基础设施、采矿、全球粮食安全以及相关的经济和社会政治影响产生了更广泛的影响。

1554511MayerOn a global scale, there is an overabundance of waste phosphorus with a simultaneous lack of commercially available phosphorus for use. This contradiction stems from the crucial role of phosphorus for the growth of all biological organisms, plants and animals. As a rate-limiting nutrient, excess phosphorus in the environment is responsible for eutrophication, the leading cause of freshwater impairment. Conversely, phosphorus is vital to global food security as it sustains high agricultural productivity. Worst-case estimates suggest that rapidly diminishing mineable phosphorus reserves could be depleted beyond the realm of economically feasible extraction within a century. In the face of this looming crisis, the recovery of "waste" phosphorus from wastewater and environmental surface waters is no longer a luxury, but an urgent imperative that is the focus of this project.Unfortunately, conventional wastewater treatment is incapable of satisfying new sustainability metrics of capturing phosphorus at low levels and recovering it as a valuable resource. Therefore, the overarching project objective is to elucidate the fundamentals of phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein and evaluate phosphorus removal and recovery efficiency. This is directly relevant to the principal investigator's (PI's) career trajectory as it integrates nutrient recovery, environmental microbiology, sustainability, and STEM education. The pursuit of mutually reinforcing research and educational objectives establishes a strong foundation for the PI's future portfolio of research discoveries and educational advancements. The proposed research will provide the first exploration of phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein in the context of phosphorus sorption and desorption for controlled phosphorus recovery applications. The study will elucidate the fundamental basis of phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein and quantify phosphorus removal and recovery using two protein-based systems: 1) E. coli bacteria engineered to surface-express phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein, and 2) phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein immobilized on synthetic media. Preliminary data indicate that phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein can remove phosphorus, but basic research is needed to improve understanding of the basis of phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein binding and its phosphorus recovery potential. By enhancing the fundamental scientific understanding of phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein capabilities, this project will substantially advance sustainable treatment in the context of the joint criteria of phosphorus removal and recovery. This work is novel in that, for the first time, the potential for controlled phosphorus removal and recovery using immobilized and surface-displayed phosphorus-specific high affinity phosphate-binding protein systems in both water and wastewater will be investigated. The proposed research advances broader societal outcomes, including improved understanding of sustainable technologies; increased minority participation in STEM; and development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce. The results will foster development and evaluation of sustainable biomimicry-inspired technologies for phosphorus recovery. This effort has broader implications for environmental water quality, wastewater infrastructure, mining, global food security, and associated economic and sociopolitical implications.