bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.06.425572; this version posted January 6, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. Harnessing Escherichia coli for bio‐based production of formate under pressurized H2 and CO2 gases. Magali Roger1,2, Tom C. Reed2 and Frank Sargent2* 1 Aix Marseille University, CNRS, Bioenergetics and Protein Engineering (BIP UMR7281), 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, CS70071, 13042 Marseille Cedex 09, France. 2 School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, England, UK *For Correspondence: Prof Frank Sargent FRSE, Division of Plant & Microbial Biology, School of Natural & Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Devonshire Building, Kensington Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BF, England, United Kingdom. T: +44 191 20 85138. E:
[email protected] 1 bioRxiv preprint doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.01.06.425572; this version posted January 6, 2021. The copyright holder for this preprint (which was not certified by peer review) is the author/funder, who has granted bioRxiv a license to display the preprint in perpetuity. It is made available under aCC-BY 4.0 International license. ABSRACT Escherichia coli is gram‐negative bacterium that is a workhorse of the biotechnology industry. The organism has a flexible metabolism and can perform a mixed‐acid fermentation under anaerobic conditions. Under these conditions E. coli synthesises a formate hydrogenlyase isoenzyme (FHL‐1) that can generate molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide from formic acid.