Cupriavidus necator N-1

Ralstonia eutropha strain H16 is a facultatively lithoautotrophic, soil dwelling betaproteobacterium that is used for the production of a biodegradable thermoplastic (Biopol) on an industrial scale. It is able to grow with only H2 and CO2 as its sole sources of energy and carbon. In the absence of O2 it can also grow anaerobically using dentrification as an energy source. It also serves as a model organism for genetics and control of autotrophic carbon dioxide fixation and hydrogen oxidation. Taking advantage of its lithoautotrophic capability when growing on H2, it might be developed as cell factory in a future hydrogen-based biotechnology for the production of diverse, commercially valuable compounds such as metabolites and polymers. (EBI Integr8)