Strukturelle und mechanistische Grundlagen der Acetogenese

Acetogenic bacteria are a specialized group of strictly anaerobic bacteria producing acetate from hydrogen and carbon dioxide in the ancient Wood-Ljungdahl pathway (WLP). We have shown that enzymatic decorated nanowires accompanied by redox-induced conformational changes as occurring in a novel bifurcation mechanism are key adaptations for this kind of extreme lifestyle. Explored by the development of redox-controlled cryoEM, this new understanding may lead to new approaches in biotechnology and synthetic biology able to combat current challenges such as human induced climate change.