Some bacteria survive nutrient deprivation by oxidizing trace gases (H₂, CO, CH₄) from ambient air. Using a bottom-up approach in synthetic vesicles, we demonstrate that three enzymes are sufficient to drive ATP synthesis from atmospheric hydrogen (0.55 ppm), producing the universal cellular energy currency ATP.
With oxygen as the electron acceptor, the process produces water as the sole by-product.

This work was carried out in the group of Prof. Dr. Christoph von Ballmoos.

References:

• S. Soom, S.U. Moning, G.M. Cook, J.P. Lingford, A. Kropp, S. Tran, R. Grinter, C. Greening, C. von Ballmoos;
  "ATP synthesis driven by atmospheric hydrogen concentrations"
  Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A., 2025, 122(30), e2506353122/1-9;
  doi:10.1073/pnas.2506353122.
• University of Bern;
  "Organisms can produce energy from air"
  Media release, 2025/07/28.