Design and optimization of bioreactor to boost carbon dioxide assimilation in RuBisCo-equipped Escherichia coli

Global warming is a surging issue that has provoked the demand of green process to mitigate carbon dioxide. In this context, RuBisCo-equipped Escherichia coli has first developed and evaluated the CO2-assimiliable capability based on the mass balance in three devices: Flask-based in CO2 incubator (FIC), two-layered device (TLD) and CO2 bubbling device (CBD) systematically. With the forced diffusion of 5% CO2 in CBD, which confers an efficient attack of CO2 to RuBisCo, the CO2 assimilation increased from -5.03 to -2.63 g-CO2/g-DCW. Furthermore, boosted CO2 ( )assimilation ability was observed by co-expression of GroELS chaperone with 71% reduction on CO2 release. By DNA sequencing and tandem MS/MS analysis, the toxicity of RuBisCo and PRK was identified to interfere the sugar metabolism and energy producing, while the cell morphology was changed and observed in RuBisCo-equipped E. coli. Our study provides a new perspective of higher CO2 assimilation for sustainable to eco-friendly green bioprocess.