The International research team from ARC, CSIRO, Clarkson University, and QUT modified proteins to build molecular nanomachines that produce readily observable signals upon selectively binding to Lns. The study was published in Angewandte Chemie International.
From left, Dr. Zhong Guo, Patricia Walden, and Professor Kirill Alexandrov. Inset. Dr. Zhenling Cui. Image Credit: Queensland University of Technology
Batteries, electric motors, and electronics use lanthanides (Lns). However, current extraction techniques are costly and harmful to the environment and cannot satisfy the rising demand.
The international research team included Professor Alexandrov, researchers from the ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, the QUT Centre of Agriculture, the CSIRO Advanced Engineering Biology Future Science Platform, and Clarkson University (USA), as well as Drs. Zhong Guo, Patricia Walden, and Zhenling Cui.
The team reports engineering a hybrid protein, or "chimera," by fusing the antibiotic-degrading enzyme beta-lactamase with the lanthanide-binding protein LanM. This hybrid functions as a "switch" that only activates in the presence of lanthanides. By generating an electrical signal or a noticeable color shift, it can be used to identify and measure Lns in liquids.
Remarkably, bacteria altered with these chimeras were able to endure antibiotics that would normally kill them, but only in the presence of lanthanides. This demonstrates how accurately these rare metals affect proteins.
This work opens up exciting possibilities for using biology to detect and recover rare earth metals.
Kirill Alexandrov, Professor, Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology
“The prototype can also be modified for various biotechnological applications, including construction of living organisms capable of detecting and extracting valuable metals,” said Alexandrov.
The research team's next goal is to improve the molecular switch's specificity so that it can distinguish between closely related rare earth elements. It also looks into the potential for creating switches for additional important components. The group is currently engaged in conversations with possible industry partners who are considering implementing this technology.
We also want to explore using the tool to engineer microbes that can directly extract rare earth minerals from ocean water.
Kirill Alexandrov, Professor, Synthetic Biology, Queensland University of Technology
“This is probably one of the best performing switches made and has given us a lot of insight into the mechanics of protein switches,” said Alexandrov.
Journal Reference:
Guo, Z., et al. (2025) Lanthanide-Controlled Protein Switches: Development and In Vitro and In Vivo Applications. Angewandte Chemie International. doi.org/10.1002/anie.202411584