Harnessing the biomolecular mechanisms of marine biomineralisation for carbon sequestration

Abstract

Anthropogenic activities, primarily fossil fuel combustion, have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) levels and climate change effects. Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is now widely accepted as essential in all pathways to limit global warming in line with the Paris Agreement. Biomineralisation offers compelling and promising natural pathways for durable carbon sequestration by converting CO₂ into stable carbonate minerals, a process driven by a suite of biomolecules within bio-calcifying organisms. These processes are orchestrated by biomolecules such as proteins (e.g., carbonic anhydrase, urease, bicarbonate and calcium ion transporters, templating proteins) and polysaccharides, which regulate nucleation, crystal growth, and stabilisation within specialised microenvironments. This review provides an in-depth exploration of how diverse marine bio-calcifying organisms including corals, molluscs, foraminifera, and microbial mats leverage their unique biochemistry and physiology to regulate intra/extra cellular ion concentrations and pH, thereby enabling precise control over calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) precipitation. This review highlights the intricate molecular mechanisms that underpin natural carbon biomineralisation and examines how tools from engineering biology such as engineered enzymes, photosynthetic and ureolytic microbial consortia, and cell-free systems can be leveraged to mimic and amplify these processes for enhanced carbon capture. Bridging a deep understanding of natural calcification with advanced biotechnological tools has the potential to drive the innovation and development of powerful carbon removal technologies urgently needed to reach net zero and beyond.