Researchers have created a special type of bacteria that can produce a useful chemical called 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) more efficiently and sustainably. This chemical is used to make biodegradable plastics and other products. Instead of using traditional chemical factories that require harmful materials and high heat, scientists modified bacteria to produce 3-HP from simple glucose (sugar). The new bacteria strain produced impressive amounts of this chemical without needing an expensive vitamin B12 supplement, making it potentially cheaper and more practical for large-scale manufacturing. This breakthrough could help reduce pollution and create more environmentally friendly plastics.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can scientists create bacteria that makes useful chemicals for plastics without needing expensive vitamin B12?
  • Who participated: This was laboratory research using engineered bacteria strains, not human participants. Scientists tested different versions of Corynebacterium glutamicum bacteria.
  • Key finding: The engineered bacteria produced 126.3 grams per liter of 3-HP chemical in large-scale fermentation tanks, which is a significant amount and shows the process works well at industrial scale.
  • What it means for you: This research could eventually lead to cheaper, greener plastics and materials in products you use. However, this is early-stage laboratory work, and it will take several more years before these bacteria-made chemicals appear in consumer products.

The Research Details

Scientists took a type of bacteria called Corynebacterium glutamicum and modified its genes to create a new pathway for making 3-HP. They started by testing different genes to find the best ones for converting a chemical called beta-alanine into 3-HP. They then inserted these genes into a special strain of bacteria that was already good at making beta-alanine. The researchers made several additional changes: they removed competing pathways that would waste resources, adjusted how the bacteria uses different metabolic routes to maintain proper chemical balance, and identified a new protein that helps transport 3-HP out of the bacterial cells. Finally, they tested the engineered bacteria in large fermentation tanks (similar to brewing beer) to see how much 3-HP it could produce.

This approach is important because it shows we can use living organisms as tiny factories to make chemicals sustainably. The previous methods required vitamin B12, which is expensive and limits how much we can produce. By removing this requirement, the new bacteria can produce chemicals more cheaply and at larger scales, making it practical for real-world manufacturing.

This is published research in a respected scientific journal focused on metabolic engineering. The study demonstrates concrete, measurable results (126.3 g/L production) with clear methodology. However, as laboratory research, it represents proof-of-concept and would need additional testing to confirm it works reliably in industrial settings. The research is recent (2025) and represents cutting-edge biotechnology.

What the Results Show

The engineered bacteria successfully produced 126.3 grams of 3-HP per liter of fermentation broth, which is a substantial amount. The bacteria converted glucose (sugar) into 3-HP with an efficiency of 0.36 grams of product per gram of glucose used. The production rate was 1.75 grams per liter per hour, meaning the bacteria worked at a good pace. These numbers are important because they show the process could work at industrial scale—large factories could potentially use this method to produce significant quantities of 3-HP. The bacteria did this without requiring vitamin B12, which was a major goal of the research.

The researchers discovered several important details about how the bacteria works: removing competing metabolic pathways helped the bacteria focus its energy on making 3-HP instead of wasting resources on other chemicals. Adjusting how the bacteria uses the pentose phosphate pathway (a key metabolic route) helped maintain proper balance of important molecules needed for the process. The identification of a previously unknown protein that transports 3-HP out of bacterial cells was significant because it showed how the bacteria naturally handles the product it makes.

Previous research on 3-HP production relied on pathways that required vitamin B12 as a cofactor (a helper molecule). Vitamin B12 is expensive and difficult to produce at scale, which limited how much 3-HP could be made affordably. This new vitamin B12-independent pathway represents a major improvement over previous methods. The production levels achieved (126.3 g/L) are competitive with or exceed previous reports, but with the added advantage of not needing the expensive cofactor.

This research was conducted in laboratory fermentation tanks, not in full-scale industrial facilities, so real-world performance may differ. The study focused on optimizing the bacteria strain itself but didn’t address all the engineering challenges of scaling up to industrial production. The long-term stability of the engineered bacteria through many generations of growth wasn’t thoroughly tested. Additionally, the economic analysis of whether this method is truly cheaper than current chemical synthesis wasn’t included in this research.

The Bottom Line

This research is promising for future sustainable manufacturing but is not yet ready for consumer application. Scientists and companies interested in green chemistry should monitor this development closely. For the general public, this represents an exciting direction for future products but shouldn’t change current purchasing decisions. Confidence level: Moderate—the laboratory results are strong, but industrial-scale validation is still needed.

Environmental scientists, chemical engineers, and companies making plastics and biodegradable materials should pay attention to this research. People interested in sustainability and reducing plastic pollution may find this encouraging. This does NOT yet apply to consumers making purchasing decisions, as these bacteria-made chemicals are not yet commercially available.

Realistic timeline: 5-10 years before this technology might appear in commercial products. The next steps involve testing in larger facilities, ensuring consistent quality, and proving the economics work at scale. Even then, adoption would be gradual as industries transition from current methods.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your use of biodegradable or eco-friendly plastic products and note when they become available. Set a reminder to check back on this research topic in 2-3 years to see if commercial products using this technology have emerged.
  • While this technology develops, users can reduce plastic consumption by choosing products with minimal packaging, supporting companies developing sustainable materials, and staying informed about green chemistry innovations.
  • Follow scientific news sources and company announcements about sustainable plastic production. Set annual reminders to research whether bacteria-based 3-HP production has moved from laboratory to commercial scale.

This research describes laboratory-scale biotechnology development and is not yet applicable to consumer products or personal health decisions. The engineered bacteria and production methods described have not been tested in full-scale industrial settings. This article is for informational purposes only and should not be used to make purchasing decisions about plastics or materials. Consult with materials scientists or environmental experts for guidance on current sustainable product options. As this is fundamental research, significant additional development and regulatory approval would be required before any commercial application.