The development of cellular systems in which the enzyme hydrogenase is efficiently coupled to the oxygenic photosynthesis apparatus represents an attractive avenue to produce H(2) sustainably from light and water. Here we describe the molecular design of the individual components required for the direct coupling of the O(2)-tolerant membrane-bound hydrogenase (MBH) from Ralstonia eutropha H16 t...

Expression of multiple heterologous genes in a dedicated host is a prerequisite for approaches in synthetic biology, spanning from the production of recombinant multiprotein complexes to the transfer of tailor-made metabolic pathways. Such attempts are often exacerbated, due in most cases to a lack of proper directional, robust and readily accessible genetic tools. Here, we introduce an innovat...

Fatty acids produced by H2-metabolizing bacteria are sometimes observed to be more D-depleted than those of photoautotrophic organisms, a trait that has been suggested as diagnostic for chemoautotrophic bacteria. The biochemical reasons for such a depletion are not known, but are often assumed to involve the strong D-depletion of H2. Here, we cultivated the bacterium Cupriavidus necator H16 (fo...

although the application of biodegradative genetically engineered micro organisms (gems) for bioremediation is very promising, the risks of their release should be assessed before their introduction into the environment. lux-marked ralstonia eutropha h850lr (formerly alcaligenes eutrophus h850lr) was introduced into sterile and non-sterile soil microcosms at matric potentials ?2.11, ?30, ?750, ...

The glyoxylate bypass genes aceA1 (isocitrate lyase 1, ICL1), aceA2 (isocitrate lyase 2, ICL2) and aceB1 (malate synthase, MS1) of Ralstonia eutropha HF39 were cloned, sequenced and functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. Interposon-mutants of all three genes (DeltaaceA1, DeltaaceA2 and DeltaaceB1) were constructed, and the phenotypes of the respective mutants were investigated. Whereas R. ...

BACKGROUND Fermentative hydrogen production is an attractive means for the sustainable production of this future energy carrier but is hampered by low yields. One possible solution is to create, using metabolic engineering, strains which can bypass the normal metabolic limits to substrate conversion to hydrogen. Escherichia coli can degrade a variety of sugars to hydrogen but can only convert e...

Although the application of biodegradative genetically engineered micro organisms (GEMs) for bioremediation is very promising, the risks of their release should be assessed before their introduction into the environment. Lux-marked Ralstonia eutropha H850Lr (formerly Alcaligenes eutrophus H850Lr) was introduced into sterile and non-sterile soil microcosms at matric potentials ?2.11, ?30, ?750, ...