Overview
- The Reductive Formate Pathway (ReForm) is an entirely synthetic, cell‑free metabolism that upgrades formate into the central metabolite acetyl‑CoA.
- In a proof-of-concept step, the system converted acetyl‑CoA into malate, a commercially relevant chemical used in foods, cosmetics, and biodegradable plastics.
- Researchers engineered five enzymes executing six reaction steps, after rapidly screening 66 enzymes and more than 3,000 variants in a cell‑free platform.
- Operating outside living cells enabled precise control of enzyme levels, cofactors, and conditions, overcoming limitations of natural formate utilization.
- The study, published in Nature Chemical Engineering, demonstrates an early-stage laboratory result that the team plans to optimize and integrate with hybrid CO2‑to‑formate technologies.