https://www.unibas.ch/en/News-Events/News/Uni-Research/New-discovery-reveals-how-diatoms-capture-CO2-so-effectively-.html Jump to: * Content * Mainnavigation * Search * Footer * Prospective Students Prospective Students Prospective Students Further information * Students Students Students Further information * PhD Candidates PhD Candidates PhD Candidates Further information * Staff Staff Staff Further information * Donors & Alumni Donors & Alumni Donors & Alumni Further information * Lecturers Lecturers Lecturers Further information Loading x Loading + - * Deutsch * Organizational units * Documents * Information for... * Locations of the University of Basel * Search open * Persons open Find content in corporate website and institute websites [ ] Start search [Start search] University of Basel * Menu * Search * Persons Search for: [ ] Start search [Search...] * News & Events + News + Uni News Weekly + University in the News + Public Events Calendar + Social Media + Media Service + Ukraine + UNI NOVA + Awards & Honors * Studies + Degree Programs + Course Directory + Dates + Application & Admission + My Studies + Mobility + Advice + Student Life + Campus Stories + FAQ Studies + Events + Eucor-EPICUR * Research + Research in Basel + Academic Careers + Values & Ethics + Project Funding + Individual Funding + Core Facilities, Collections & Editions + Technology Transfer + Quality Management in Research + Advice & FAQ * Innovation + Entrepreneurship + Technology & Knowledge Transfer + The Propelling Grant + Meet the Innovation Office * Continuing Education + News from the Continuing Education + Programs + Course Types and Degrees + Continuing-Education Office: Team, info & downloads + Career and Continuing Education + Magazine Advanced Studies + For Study Programs + For students * University + About the University + Management & Organization + Administration & Services + Networks & Partnerships + University & Society + Working at the University of Basel + Legal Regulations + Organizational units + Merchandise + Fundraising + Real-Estate + Emergency & Support + Contact & Directions + AI Initiative of the University of Basel * * News & Events * News * You are here: New discovery reveals how diatoms capture CO2 so effectively Start of page content Listen New discovery reveals how diatoms capture CO2 so effectively Diatoms frozen on an electron microscopy grid (copper) Diatoms (blue/ white/yellow) frozen on an electron microscopy grid (copper) during a sample preparation step for cryo-electron tomography. (Image: Benoit Gallet and Martin Oeggerli, Micronaut) Tiny diatoms in the ocean are masters at capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the environment. They fix up to 20 percent of the Earth's CO2. A research team at the University of Basel has now discovered a protein shell in these algae that is necessary for efficient CO2 fixation. This groundbreaking discovery can provide ideas for bioengineering approaches to reduce CO2 in the atmosphere. 17 October 2024 | Heike Sacher Diatoms frozen on an electron microscopy grid (copper) Diatoms (blue/ white/yellow) frozen on an electron microscopy grid (copper) during a sample preparation step for cryo-electron tomography. (Image: Benoit Gallet and Martin Oeggerli, Micronaut) Diatoms are too small to see with the naked eye, yet they are one of the most productive algae species in the ocean and play an important role in the global carbon cycle. Using photosynthesis, they absorb large amounts of CO[2] from the environment and convert it into nutrients that feed much of the life in the ocean. Despite their importance, it has remained largely unknown how diatoms carry out this process so efficiently. Researchers led by Professor Ben Engel at the Biozentrum of the University of Basel together with researchers at the University of York, UK, and the Kwansei-Gakuin University in Japan have now discovered a protein shell that plays a key role in the diatoms' CO [2] fixation. Using cutting-edge imaging technologies such as cryo-electron tomography (cryo-ET), the researchers were able to reveal the molecular architecture of the so-called PyShell protein sheath and decipher its function. The results of the studies have now been published in two articles in "Cell". PyShell crucial for efficient CO[2] fixation In plants and algae, photosynthesis takes place in chloroplasts. Inside these chloroplasts, energy from sunlight is harvested by thylakoid membranes and then used to help the enzyme Rubisco fix CO [2]. Illustration of a diatom with the structure of a chloroplast Cryo-electron tomography reveals the molecular architecture of the diatom pyrenoid, showing how Rubisco is surrounded by the PyShell, increasing the efficiency of CO2 fixation. (Image: Groger et al. / Manon Demulder, Biozentrum, Universitat Basel) However, algae have an advantage: they pack all their Rubisco into small compartments called pyrenoids, where CO[2] can be captured more efficiently. "We have now discovered that diatom pyrenoids are encased in a lattice-like protein shell," says Dr. Manon Demulder, author on both studies. "The PyShell not only gives the pyrenoid its shape, but it helps create a high CO[2] concentration in this compartment. This enables Rubisco to efficiently fix CO[2] from the ocean and convert it into nutrients." Further information * Research group Prof. Dr. Ben Engel * Portrait of Ben Engel in UNI NOVA When the researchers removed the PyShell from the algae, their ability to fix CO[2] was significantly impaired. Photosynthesis and cell growth were reduced. "This showed us how important the PyShell is for efficient carbon capture - a process that is crucial for ocean life and the global climate," says Manon Demulder. Bioengineering for CO[2] reduction? The discovery of the PyShell could also open promising avenues for biotechnological research aimed at combatting climate change - one of the most pressing challenges of our time. "First of all, we humans must reduce our CO[2] emissions to slow the pace of climate change. This requires immediate action," says Ben Engel. "The CO[2] that we emit now will remain in our atmosphere for thousands of years. We hope that discoveries such as the PyShell can help inspire new biotechnology applications that improve photosynthesis and capture more CO[2] from the atmosphere. These are long-term goals, but given the irreversibility of CO[2] emissions, it is important that we perform basic research now to create more opportunities for future carbon-capture innovations." Further information * Research group Prof. Dr. Ben Engel * Portrait of Ben Engel in UNI NOVA --------------------------------------------------------------------- Original publications Ginga Shimakawa, Manon Demulder, Serena Flori, Akihiro Kawamoto, Yoshinori Tsuji, Hermanus Nawaly, Atsuko Tanaka, Rei Tohda, Tadayoshi Ota, Hiroaki Matsui, Natsumi Morishima, Ryosuke Okubo, Wojciech Wietrzynski, Lorenz Lamm, Ricardo D. Righetto, Clarisse Uwizeye, Benoit Gallet, Pierre-Henri Jouneau, Christoph Gerle, Genji Kurisu, Giovanni Finazzi, Benjamin D. Engel, Yusuke Matsuda Diatom pyrenoids are encased in a protein shell that enables efficient CO2 fixation. Cell (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.09.013 Onyou Nam, Sabina Musial, Manon Demulder, Caroline McKenzie, Adam Dowle, Matthew Dowson, James Barrett, James N. Blaza, Benjamin D. Engel, Luke C. M. Mackinder A Protein Blueprint of the Diatom CO2-Fixing Organelle. Cell (2024), doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.09.025 Further information * Newsletter News * Vice President Thomas Grob confirmed in office Uni Info / 18 Oct 2024 Vice President Thomas Grob confirmed in office * Organized sports keep young people active Uni Research / 17 Oct 2024 Organized sports keep young people active All news To top * Share page * Print page [matomo] Quick Links * IT-Services (ITS) * Current Vacancies * Email login * Emergency & Support * Online Services * Dates & Deadlines * University Library * Course directory * University Sports * Intranet * Unimarkt * Persons (login) UNI NOVA Research Magazine UNINOVA 143 (01/2024) Read online Social Media * Instagram * Twitter * LinkedIn * Youtube * (c) University of Basel * Legal notice * Data protection * Sitemap * Newsletter * Contact (c) University of Basel Logo Swiss Universities Footer