Exploring historical chemical reactions as a source of inspiration for modern applications
Scientists at MIT are delving into Earth's ancient past to find solutions for the current climate crisis, as Associate Professor Daniel Suess seeks to harness the chemical principles underlying life's early reactions.
Early forms of life developed the capability to perform redox reactions, facilitated by specialized enzymes containing metal atoms. These reactions aid in building essential compounds like carbon- or nitrogen-based structures. By exploring the mechanisms of these enzymes, Suess hopes to develop novel methods for carbon capture and the production of alternative fuels.
"The reliance on fossil fuels for energy must be diminished," says Suess. "We are examining processes that existed before oxygen and photosynthesis, seeking those chemical principles that are unaffected by burning carbon."
Moreover, Suess's research could shed light on other important cellular reactions, such as the conversion of nitrogen gas to ammonia, crucial for synthetic fertilizer production.
Born in Spokane, Washington, Suess nurtured an early interest in mathematics but eventually majored in chemistry and English at Williams College. The liberal arts model at Williams College caught his attention due to its diverse course offerings.
At the university, Suess found all aspects of chemistry fascinating. "Organic chemistry appealed to me due to its focus on synthesis, and physical chemistry intrigued me because it attempts to offer a semiquantitative understanding of the world," Suess explains.
After graduating, Suess pursued his graduate studies at MIT under the guidance of chemistry professor Jonas Peters. Following Peters' move to Caltech, Suess transferred to continue his research on new inorganic molecule synthesis.
Suess's work focused on metal-ligand complexes that prompt metal atoms to give up their electrons to the ligand. These molecules can accelerate challenging reactions, such as breaking the nitrogen-nitrogen triple bond in N.
During a postdoc at the University of California at Davis, Suess shifted his focus to biomolecules, specifically metalloproteins. Primarily interested in the enzyme iron-iron hydrogenase, Suess studied how cells synthesize the metal-containing active sites in these proteins.
Iron-iron hydrogenase, found predominantly in anaerobic bacteria, facilitates reactions involving proton and electron transfer. According to Suess, understanding this enzyme is crucial as it plays a significant role in balancing cellular metabolic processes which generate or require excess electrons.
Since joining the MIT faculty in 2017, Suess has continued his investigations of metalloproteins and the reactions they catalyze, aiming to uncover their role in global-scale chemical reactions that have shaped the planet. By harnessing nature's natural catalysts, Suess believes we can discover new, efficient ways to address the climate crisis.
Sources:[1] Williams College[3] National Center for Biotechnology Information[5] Nature Reviews Chemistry
- Suess's research at MIT delves into ancient Earth's chemistry, aiming to develop novel methods for carbon capture and alternative fuel production.
- The professor investigates the mechanisms of enzymes that performed redox reactions before oxygen and photosynthesis, unaffected by burning carbon.
- Suess's work could lead to advancements in carbon capture, energy production, and even synthetic fertilizer production, addressing the current climate crisis.
- With a background in chemistry and English, Suess attended Williams College, attracted by its diverse course offerings in the liberal arts model.
- After graduating, Suess pursued his graduate studies at MIT, focusing on new inorganic molecule synthesis under the guidance of chemistry professor Jonas Peters.
- Suess's postdoc at the University of California at Davis saw a shift in focus from metal-ligand complexes to biomolecules, specifically metalloproteins like iron-iron hydrogenase.
- Iron-iron hydrogenase, found in anaerobic bacteria, plays a crucial role in balancing cellular metabolic processes and is integral to understanding cells' natural catalysts.
- By harnessing the power of nature's natural catalysts, Suess believes we can discover new, efficient ways to address the climate crisis, merging data-and-cloud-computing technology with environmental-science and quantum-learning to drive research and innovation.
