Introduction

Light-driven nitrogen fixation system by whole-cell Our team Nanjing-China 2018 intends to establish a sound and ideal whole-cell photocatalytic nitrogen fixation system using E. coli cells engineered with certain proteins and inorganic materials. Thus, the engineered microorganisms that express nitrogenase as well as have the capability of in situ biosynthesis of CdS nanocrystals for the existence of the surface-displayed heavy lead-specific binding proteins is developed. Such system is able to reduce N₂ to NH₃ driven by light instead of ATP-hydrolysis with considerably high efficiency. The accomplishment of this shall ease the heavy burden of the environment and contribute to the further and better utilization of clean solar energy.