BioFlex Flexible Bioproduction with Cupriavidus necator

This project deals with the production of terpenes from different carbon sources (organic compounds, gasses) with the versatile microorganism Cupriavidus necator. Terpenes have a broad range of applications from aroma and pharma compounds to biofuels, which can be used with combustion engines. The bacterium C. necator functions as a whole-cell catalyst, engineered to express different heterologous terpene pathways. Since C. necator is able to grow on CO₂ and H₂, the different methods of production for terpenes (on CO₂ and H₂, CO₂ with an electrode, and on carbon sources like fructose) will be compared. The focus of the project, however, is on the production of terpenes from CO₂ as carbon source and electrical power as energy source to develop sustainable concepts of production.

The project is performed in cooperation with industrial (Phytowelt) and academic project partners (Fraunhofer IFAM Dresden). Phytowelt characterizes plant enzymes for production of terpenes and the IFAM Dresden characterizes electrode materials, which can be applied in the microbial electrosynthesis with C. necator.