Generation of a Gluconobacter oxydans knockout collection for improved extraction of rare earth elements

• Published in: Nature communications 2021-11, Vol.12 (1), p.6693-6693, Article 6693
• Main Authors: Schmitz, Alexa M., Pian, Brooke, Medin, Sean, Reid, Matthew C., Wu, Mingming, Gazel, Esteban, Barstow, Buz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 45; 45/47; 49; 631/208/325/1506; 631/326/2522; 631/326/41/2530; 631/92/1643; Bacterial leaching; Bacterial Proteins - genetics; Bacterial Proteins - metabolism; Collection; Disruption; Gene Knockout Techniques - methods; Genes; Genetic Engineering - methods; Genome, Bacterial - genetics; Genomes; Gluconobacter oxydans; Gluconobacter oxydans - genetics; Gluconobacter oxydans - metabolism; Glucose dehydrogenase; Glucose Dehydrogenases - genetics; Glucose Dehydrogenases - metabolism; Humanities and Social Sciences; Industrial Microbiology - methods; Leaching; Metals, Rare Earth - metabolism; Microorganisms; multidisciplinary; Mutants; PQQ Cofactor - genetics; PQQ Cofactor - metabolism; Pyrroloquinoline quinone; Quinones; Rare earth elements; Reproducibility of Results; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Trace elements; Transportation systems
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-27047-4

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 a whole-genome knockout collection of single-gene transposon disruption mutants for G. oxydans B58, to identify genes affecting the efficacy of REE bioleaching. We find 304 genes whose disruption alters the production of acidic biolixiviant. Disruption of genes underlying synthesis of the cofactor pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ) and the PQQ-dependent membrane-bound glucose dehydrogenase nearly eliminates bioleaching. Disruption of phosphate-specific transport system genes enhances bioleaching by up to 18%. Our results provide a comprehensive roadmap for engineering the genome of G. oxydans to further increase its bioleaching efficiency. Bioleaching of rare earth elements using microorganisms offers an environmentally friendly alternative to thermochemical extraction. Here, Schmitz et al. generate a whole-genome knockout collection of mutants for one such microorganism, Gluconobacter oxydans , and identify genes affecting the production of acidic biolixiviant and thus bioleaching efficacy.