A5008906366- Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Enzyme Structure and Function
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Microbial metabolism and enzyme function
- Supercapacitor Materials and Fabrication
- Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- CO2 Reduction Techniques and Catalysts
- Electrochemical sensors and biosensors
- Extraction and Separation Processes
- Geochemistry and Elemental Analysis
- Advanced biosensing and bioanalysis techniques
- Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
- Plant tissue culture and regeneration
- Metalloenzymes and iron-sulfur proteins
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Radioactive element chemistry and processing
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Particle accelerators and beam dynamics
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Bacterial Genetics and Biotechnology
- Algal biology and biofuel production
- Carbohydrate Chemistry and Synthesis
- Particle Accelerators and Free-Electron Lasers
Cornell University
2008-2025
Princeton University
2015-2018
Harvard University
2011-2012
Center for Systems Biology
2011
University of Oregon
2008
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
2008
Abstract Extracellular electron transfer (EET) could enable uptake into microbial metabolism for the synthesis of complex, energy dense organic molecules from CO 2 and renewable electricity 1–6 . Theoretically EET do this with an efficiency comparable to H -oxidation 7,8 but without need a volatile intermediate problems it causes scale up 9 However, significant gaps remain in understanding mechanism genetics uptake. For example, studies electroactive microbes have shown role Mtr complex...
Abstract Bioleaching of rare earth elements (REEs), using microorganisms such as Gluconobacter oxydans , offers a sustainable alternative to environmentally harmful thermochemical extraction, but is currently not very efficient. Here, we generate whole-genome knockout collection single-gene transposon disruption mutants for G. B58, identify genes affecting the efficacy REE bioleaching. We find 304 whose alters production acidic biolixiviant. Disruption underlying synthesis cofactor...
Electromicrobial production aims to combine electricity and microbial metabolism for solar electrical energy storage. We have constructed molecule reactor models of highly engineered electromicrobial systems that use H2 oxidation direct electron transfer (DET). predict electrical-to-biofuel conversion efficiency could rise 52% with in vivo CO2 fixation. diffusion at ambient pressure requires areas 20 2,000 times the photovoltaic (PV) area supplying system. Agitation can reduce this below PV...
Abstract The fast-growing microbe Vibrio natriegens is capable of natural transformation where it draws DNA in from media via an active process under physiological conditions. Using engineered strain with a genomic copy the master competence regulator tfoX cholerae combination new minimal (MCM) that uses acetate as energy source, we demonstrate naturally competent cells which are created, transformed, and recovered entirely same media, without exchange or addition fresh media. Cells to...
Polymorphism of water has been extensively studied, but controversy still exists over the phase transition between high-density amorphous (HDA) and low-density (LDA) ice. We report behavior HDA ice inside high-pressure cryocooled protein crystals. Using X-ray diffraction, we demonstrate that intermediate states in temperature range from 80 to 170 K can be reconstructed as a linear combination LDA ice, suggesting first-order transition. found evidence for liquid state during based on...
A protein molecule is an intricate system whose function highly sensitive to small external perturbations. However, no examples that correlate with progressive subangstrom structural perturbations have thus far been presented. To elucidate this relationship, we investigated a fluorescent protein, citrine, as model under high-pressure perturbation. The has compressed produce deformations of its chromophore by applying cryocooling technique. closely spaced series x-ray crystallographic...
Whole-genome knockout collections are invaluable for connecting gene sequence to function, yet traditionally, their construction has required an extraordinary technical effort. Here we report a method the and purification of curated whole-genome collection single-gene transposon disruption mutants termed Knockout Sudoku. Using simple combinatorial pooling, highly oversampled is condensed into next-generation sequencing library in single day, 30- 100-fold improvement over prior methods. The...
Using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and tryptophan fluorescence spectroscopy, we have identified multiple compact denatured states of a series T4 lysozyme mutants that are stabilized by high pressures. Recent studies imply the mechanism pressure denaturation is penetration water into protein rather than transfer hydrophobic residues water. To investigate volume change associated with denaturation, studied solution behavior four having different cavity volumes at low neutral pH up to...
Integrating the optoelectronic properties of quantum dots (QDs) with biological enzymatic systems to form microbe-semiconductor biohybrids offers promising prospects for both solar-to-chemical conversion and light-modulated biochemical processes. Developing these nano–bio hybrid necessitates a deep understanding charge-transfer dynamics at interface. Photoexcited carrier transfer from QDs microbes is driven by complex interactions, emerging insights into relevant thermodynamic kinetic...
Abstract The transition to a sustainable energy economy will require an enormous increase in the supply of rare earth elements (REEs). Bioleaching offers promising alternative conventional hydrometallurgical methods for REE extraction from low-grade ores. However, exploiting this potential remains challenging due large gaps our understanding genetics involved, and inadequate biological tools address them. We generated highly non-redundant whole-genome knockout collection bioleaching microbe...
Ultramafic rocks are an abundant source of cations for CO2 mineralization (e.g., Mg) and elements sustainability technologies Ni, Cr, Mn, Co, Al). However, there is no industrially useful process dissolving ultramafic materials to release sequestration or mining them energy-critical elements. Weathering by rainwater, metal cations, subsequent already naturally sequesters from the atmosphere, but this natural will take thousands hundreds years remove excess anthropogenic CO2, far too late...
Rare earth elements (REE) are essential ingredients of sustainable energy technologies, but separation individual REE is one the hardest problems in chemistry today. Biosorption, where molecules adsorb to surface biological materials, offers a alternative environmentally harmful solvent extractions currently used for rare (REE). The REE-biosorption capability some microorganisms allows separations that, under specialized conditions, already competitive with extractions, suggesting that...
FeFe-hydrogenases are the most active class of H2-producing enzymes known in nature and may have important applications clean H2 energy production. Many potential uses currently complicated by a crucial weakness: sites all irreversibly inactivated O2.We developed synthetic metabolic pathway E. coli that links FeFe-hydrogenase activity to production essential amino acid cysteine. Our design includes complementary host strain whose endogenous redox pool is insulated from pathway. Host...
Abstract The global demand for critical rare earth elements (REE) is rising 1 with the increase in sustainable energy technologies like wind turbines 2,3 , electric vehicles and high efficiency lighting 4 . Current processes producing REE require inputs can produce disproportionate amounts of hazardous waste. Biological methods production are a promising solution to this problem. In earlier work we identified most important genetic mechanisms contributing REE-bioleaching capability...
Global consumption of protein is projected to double by the middle 21st century. However, production one most energy intensive and environmentally damaging parts food supply system today. Electromicrobial technologies that combine renewable electricity CO2-fixing microbial metabolism could dramatically increase efficiency commodity chemical production. Here we present a molecular-scale model sets an upper limit on performance any organism performing electromicrobial We show engineered...
Rare Earth Elements (REE) are key to modern technology and industrial processes. They most used in electronics, although their chemistry enables numerous other applications. Oxides that combine REE, sodium, molybdenum can be as catalysts, antibacterial agents, pigments, even components lasers. Although they heavily demand, REE supplies limited part because the separation of from monazite xenotime (REEPO4), some abundant bearing minerals natural rocks requires high energy inputs creates...
Synchrotron light sources based on Energy Recovery Linacs (ERLs) show promise to deliver X-ray beams with both brilliance and pulse duration far superior the values that can be achieved storage ring technology. Cornell University, in collaboration Jefferson Laboratory, has proposed construction of a prototype ERL. This 100MeV, 100mA CW superconducting electron accelerator will used study resolve many physics technology issues this type machine. These studies are essential before ERLs...