New cyanobacteria naturally captures carbon dioxide

Newly discovered cyanobacteria is nicknamed "Chonkus" which consumes carbon dioxide at a rapid rate.

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In a collaboration, the researchers at the Wyss Institute at Harvard University and the University of Palermo have discovered a new strain of cyanobacteria. This strain, nicknamed “Chonkus,” is adept at multiplying rapidly in the presence of carbon dioxide.

In a new paper published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology, the lead authors describe the UTEX 3222 (Chonkus) as a strain with biotechnologically relevant growth and biomass characteristics. Chonkus were first collected from the samples of shallow volcanic seeps near the island of Vulcano, Italy.

Since Carbon is a limiting factor for photosynthetic organisms, researchers decided to investigate places with plenty of carbon. Deep oceanic vents could’ve been a prime candidate, but the absence of sunlight would not harbor these organisms.

Unlike the deep oceanic vents, the shallow volcanic seeps have abundant light and CO2. Scientists hypothesized that the life here would be rich in biotechnologically relevant cyanobacteria.

“By isolating organisms from this unique environment, we can expect to discover unique organisms valuable for research and capable of sequestering carbon with high efficiency,” says the study.

After isolating the cyanobacteria from its environment, researchers discovered two strains; UTEX 3221 and UTEX 3222. Both the genomes were in a unique marine environment with naturally elevated CO2. Since UTEX 3222 is a single-cell and easy to compare with the existing cyanobacteria strains, the team decided to focus on it.

UTEX 3222 Sampling
Isolation and sequencing. (a) Samples were obtained from Baia di Levante, Vulcano, Italy. (b) Micrographs of UTEX 3221 and UTEX 3222, displaying planktonic vs. aggregate growth. (c) Axenic isolate UTEX 3222 grow alongside UTEX 2973 and UTEX 3154 (a derivative of PCC 11901) after 3 days at 37°C, 200 µE, and 0.5% CO2. BG11 medium supplemented with vitamin B-12.

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During their observation, the researchers found the outpaced growth speed of UTEX 3222, which doubles every 2.35 hours in a liquid medium. Chonkus appears to boast carbon-containing storage granules in its cells. Researchers hint at applications like carbon sequestration and bioproduction.

Unlike other strains, Chonkus grows rapidly even in high density at higher temperatures. It sinks more rapidly than its companions, making it a compelling choice for marine carbon dioxide removal.

Max Schubert says, “This naturally occurring strain of cyanobacteria has several traits that could be useful to humans, including highly dense growth and a natural tendency to sink in water, making Chonkus a particularly interesting organism for future work on decarbonization and biomanufacturing.”

Inspired by the success of these experiments, the author Braden T. Tierney has co-founded a non-profit organization to study how life thrives in extreme environments. The samples of UTEX 3222 and UTEX 3221 are cryopreserved and publicly available for other researchers.

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Journal Reference

  1. Schubert MG, Tang T, Goodchild-Michelman IM, Ryon KA, Henriksen JR, Chavkin T, Wu Y, Miettinen TP, Van Wychen S, Dahlin LR, Spatafora D, Turco G, Guarnieri MT, Manalis SR, Kowitz J, Hann EC, Dhir R, Quatrini P, Mason CE, Church GM, Milazzo M, Tierney BT. 0. Cyanobacteria newly isolated from marine volcanic seeps display rapid sinking and robust, high-density growth. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. DOI: 10.1128/aem.00841-24
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