Enhanced Incorporation of Gaseous CO2 to Succinate by a Recombinant Escherichia coli W3110

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are related to global warming. However, CO2 can be used as an abundant and cheap carbon source for production of valuable chemicals using carbon capture and storage technology. Here, the genes related to carbon flux toward pyruvate biosynthesis in E. coli were deleted to enhance the incorporation of CO2 for succinate production. The codonoptimized carbonic anhydrase gene (SP(-)HCCA) derived from Hahella chejuensis KCTC 2396 and the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase gene (ppc) of E. coli W3110 were co-overexpressed to enhance carbon flux toward oxaloacetate synthesis in E. coli. Finally, we constructed SGJS134, which shows the highest production of succinate derived from CO2 compared with other strains. SGJS134 produced approximately 6.5 mM succinate from CO2 and yielded approximately 13.0 mM succinate per dry cell weight. These results may be useful for enhancing the incorporation of CO2 for succinate production in E. coli. Additionally, the metabolic engineering method used in this study will propose the potential of E. coli to convert CO2 to valuable chemicals.