{
  "abstract": "Diverse chemicals biosynthesis demand distinct precursor acetyl-CoA and energy inputs, yet strategies balancing carbon atom economy and energy generation for varied products remain scarce. Here, we design an autonomous hybrid energy-carbon balancing apparatus (ATHENA) to establish a paradigm for redox-driven, dynamically adaptive regulation of carbon conservation and energy synthesis in Escherichia coli. ATHENA features modularization of acetyl-CoA and NADH synthesis pathways for carbon conservation and energy generation, paired with NADH-responsive positive and negative genetic circuits constructed using the BsRex sensor and antisense RNA. This system enables intracellular redox state-dependent rational metabolic flux allocation to balance carbon atom economy and energy generation. Ultimately, ATHENA significantly improves yields and titers of five products with differential acetyl-CoA and energy demands. In the 5-L bioreactor, acetate yield markedly exceeds its native theoretical yield, while that of mevalonate nearly approaches this theoretical upper limit. This work provides a universal strategy for constructing high carbon-yield microbial chassis cells.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, Shandong University, Qingdao, China",
    "Research Center of Advanced Biological Manufacture, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, China",
    "CAS Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, China",
    "Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, China"
  ],
  "article_type": "research article",
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 9,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Likun Guo",
      "orcid": "0009-0004-3841-912X"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        1
      ],
      "name": "Xinjun Feng"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Xingyu Zhang",
      "orcid": "0009-0001-4297-0553"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Chao Xu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        3
      ],
      "name": "Wei Liu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Yujia Bi"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Qingsheng Qi",
      "orcid": "0000-0001-9015-4561"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        2
      ],
      "name": "Mo Xian"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Guang Zhao",
      "orcid": "0000-0003-0002-5972"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ac7c88s30zvv9.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41467-026-78191-8",
  "fulltext_url": "https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC13710968/",
  "id": "ac7c88s30zvv9",
  "issns": [
    "2041-1723"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78191-8",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY-NC-ND 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "heading",
      "Article"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "1312|Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7214296599",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-026-78191-8_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": "PMC13710968",
  "pmid": "42934255",
  "published": "2026-09-25",
  "publisher": "Nature Publishing Group",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ac7c88s30zvv9.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-31T12:21:49Z",
      "native_id": "PMC13710968",
      "source": "pmc",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-78191-8"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "biochemistry",
      "origin": "openalex:1312|Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction",
      "subfield": "molecular-biology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "ATHENA: a dynamic metabolic hub balancing carbon economy and energy supply in microbial synthesis",
  "title_text": "ATHENA: a dynamic metabolic hub balancing carbon economy and energy supply in microbial synthesis",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-31T12:21:49Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ac7c88s30zvv9",
  "venue": "Nature Communications",
  "versions": []
}