[【Frontiers in HaiChuan Chemical Technology】Project for the artificial de novo synthesis of proteins from carbon dioxide launched]

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Recently, the project aimed at the artificial de novo synthesis of proteins from carbon dioxide, which is part of the **Key Research and Development Program on “Synthetic Biology” – a key initiative under this program – was launched in Tianjin, led by the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. This project is of great significance for promoting green and low-carbon development in our country and achieving the **strategic goals of carbon neutrality and food security**. 　　This project is a typical interdisciplinary effort in the field of synthetic biology, aimed at creating a new approach for the efficient synthesis of proteins from carbon dioxide and ammonium salts. This project integrates chemistry and biotechnology; by understanding the principles of carbon-nitrogen fixation and designing artificial hybrid systems, it aims to increase the rate of protein synthesis by more than several dozen times. This will lay the foundation for the industrial production of proteins, providing a \"Tianjin solution\" for the global utilization of carbon resources and the sustainable supply of food. 　　In 2021, the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology made breakthrough progress in the artificial synthesis of starch, achieving for the first time in the world the de novo synthesis of starch from carbon dioxide in a laboratory setting. “We have leading experience in synthesizing polymer carbon compounds from carbon dioxide. The launch of this project on the artificial de novo synthesis of proteins from carbon dioxide is also expected to make a significant contribution to the **\"dual carbon\" strategy and the needs related to \"food security\". ”A responsible person from the Tianjin Institute of Industrial Biotechnology said. 　　It is reported that the biomanufacturing industry is a key area for fostering new forms of productive capacity in the Tianjin Port Free Trade Zone. Currently, the zone hosts a number of high-level platforms and institutions, such as those focused on low-carbon synthetic engineering as well as innovation platforms related to food nutrition, health, and safety in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region. An integrated development model featuring technology research and development in the airport areas and large-scale production near the ports has been established, giving rise to a number of notable biomanufacturing projects.