Chemoautotroph Cupriavidus necator as a potential game-changer for global warming and plastic waste problem: A review

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2021-11, Vol.340, p.125693-125693, Article 125693
• Main Authors: Sohn, Yu Jung, Son, Jina, Jo, Seo Young, Park, Se Young, Yoo, Jee In, Baritugo, Kei-Anne, Na, Jeong Geol, Choi, Jong-il, Kim, Hee Taek, Joo, Jeong Chan, Park, Si Jae
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomass; C1 gases; Circular economy; Cupriavidus necator; Wastes
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125693

[Display omitted] •Cupriavidus necator shows high potential in managing wastes as alternative feedstocks.•C. necator has been designed to use various renewable biomass and biomass-based wastes.•C1 gases have emerged as promising resources that can be utilized by C. necator.•C. necator has been successfully engineered to produce value-added polymers and chemicals. Cupriavidus necator, a versatile microorganism found in both soil and water, can have both heterotrophic and lithoautotrophic metabolisms depending on environmental conditions. C. necator has been extensively examined for producing Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), the promising polyester alternatives to petroleum-based synthetic polymers because it has a superior ability for accumulating a considerable amount of PHAs from renewable resources. The development of metabolically engineered C. necator strains has led to their application for synthesizing biopolymers, biofuels and biochemicals such as ethanol, isobutanol and higher alcohols. Bio-based processes of recombinant C. necator have made much progress in production of these high-value products from biomass wastes, plastic wastes and even waste gases. In this review, we discuss the potential of C. necator as promising platform host strains that provide a great opportunity for developing a waste-based circular bioeconomy.