Protein biochemistry and engineering drive the development of a carbonic anhydrase-based carbon dioxide sequestration strategy.

The sequestration of carbon dioxide using carbonic anhydrase (CA) is one of the most effective methods for mitigating global warming. The burning of fossil fuels releases large quantities of flue gas; because of its high temperature and of the alkaline conditions required for CaCO3 precipitation in the mineralization process, thermo-alkali-stable CAs are needed. In this context, Manyumwa et al. conducted a biochemical characterization of three CAs derived from thermophilic bacteria. They then employed a rational design approach to enhance the specific activity and stability of the enzyme from the hydrothermal vent species Persephonella sp. KM09-Lau-8.