Biosynthesis articles from across Nature Portfolio

Carbon-negative biomanufacturing is typically hampered by narrow product scope and light-induced decomposition. Now, an integrated photosynthetic carbon sequestration and cellular catalysis strategy for CO₂ valorization are reported. Multiple gene editing and a high-throughput workflow have facilitated its application to the biocatalytic production of styrene, intracellular unstable aldehydes and photosensitive molecules from CO₂.

Cyclic peptides are important bioactive compounds and drugs, synthesised by enzymatic side-chain macrocyclization of ribosomal peptides, which rarely involves histidine residues. Here, the authors report the discovery and biosynthesis of tricyclic lanthipeptide noursin, constrained by a tri amino acid labionin crosslink and histidine-to-butyrine crosslink, which is important for copper binding of noursin.

Prussian blue has been used as a photothermal agent for cancer therapy. Here the authors describe the production of Prussian blue nanoparticles from S. oneidensis MR-1 bacteria and show that a Prussian blue-based mitochondria-targeting nanoplatform potentiates response to immune checkpoint blockade.

Production of highly modified sterols, such as cholesterol, is essential to eukaryotic physiology but has not been yet reported for bacteria. Here, Lee et al. show that a marine myxobacterium produces cholesterol, and provide evidence for further downstream modifications in this and other bacterial species.