Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically-engineered <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Objectives

To engineer Escherichia coli for the heterologous production of di-rhamnolipids, which are important biosurfactants but mainly produced by opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Results

The codon-optimized rhlAB and rhlC genes originating from P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia pseudomallei were combinatorially expressed in E. coli to produce di-rhamnolipids with varied congeners compositions. Genes involved in endogenous upstream pathways (rhamnose and fatty acids synthesis) were co-overexpressed with rhlAB–rhlC, resulting in variations of rhamnolipids production and congeners compositions. Under the shake-flask condition, co-overexpression of rfbD with rhlAB–rhlC increased rhamnolipids production (0.64 ± 0.02 g l^?1) than that in strain only expressing rhlAB–rhlC (0.446 ± 0.009 g l^?1), which was mainly composed of di-rhamnolipids congeners Rha–Rha–C₁₀–C₁₀.

Conclusion

Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically engineered E. coli strains were achieved via combiniations of mono-/di-rhamnolipids synthesis modules and endogenous upstream modules.

     

Rapid and efficient degradation of bisphenol A by chloroperoxidase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Caldariomyces fumago</Emphasis>: product analysis and ecotoxicity evaluation of the degraded solution

Objectives

To degrade enzymatically bisphenol A (BPA) that causes serious environmental concerns and is difficult to be degraded by chemical or physical methods.

Results

BPA (150 mg l^?1) was completely degraded by chloroperoxidase (CPO)/H₂O₂ within 7 min at room temperature, atmospheric pressure with the enzyme at 6 μg CPO ml^?1. The degradation products were identified by HPLC–MS, which suggested involvement of multiple steps. Enzymatic treatment followed by existing bioremediation technologies (activated sludge) enhanced removal of COD from 9 to 54 %. Using an ecotoxicity evaluation with Chlorella pyrenoidosa, the degradation products had a lower toxicity than BPA.

Conclusion

BPA can be degraded rapidly and efficiently under mild conditions with chloroperoxidase at 6 μg ml^?1. The degradation products had a lower toxicity than BPA.

     

Characterization of a flavin-containing monooxygenase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Corynebacterium glutamicum</Emphasis> and its application to production of indigo and indirubin

Objective

To examine the role of a gene encoding flavin-containing monooxygenase (cFMO) from Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC13032 when cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli for the production of indigo pigments.

Results

The blue pigments produced by recombinant E. coli were identified as indigo and indirubin. The cFMO was purified as a fused form with maltose-binding protein (MBP). The enzyme was optimal at 25 °C and pH 8. From absorption spectrum analysis, the cFMO was classified as a flavoprotein. FMO activity was strongly inhibited by 1 mM Cu²⁺ and recovered by adding 1–10 mM EDTA. The enzyme catalyzed the oxidation of TMA, thiourea, and cysteamine, but not glutathione or cysteine. MBP-cFMO had an indole oxygenase activity through oxygenation of indole to indoxyl. The recombinant E. coli produced 685 mg indigo l^?1 and 103 mg indirubin l^?1 from 2.5 g l-tryptophan l^?1.

Conclusion

The results suggest the cFMO can be used for the microbial production of both indigo and indirubin.

     

Conversion of glycerol to 1,3-dihydroxyacetone by glycerol dehydrogenase co-expressed with an NADH oxidase for cofactor regeneration

Objectives

To investigate the efficiency of a cofactor regeneration enzyme co-expressed with a glycerol dehydrogenase for the production of 1,3-dihydroxyacetone (DHA).

Results

In vitro biotransformation of glycerol was achieved with the cell-free extracts containing recombinant GlyDH (glycerol dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli), LDH (lactate dehydrogenase form Bacillus subtilis) or LpNox1 (NADH oxidase from Lactobacillus pentosus), giving DHA at 1.3 g l^?1 (GlyDH/LDH) and 2.2 g l^?1 (GlyDH/LpNox1) with total turnover number (TTN) of NAD⁺ recycling of 6039 and 11100, respectively. Whole cells of E. coli (GlyDH–LpNox1) co-expressing both GlyDH and LpNox1 were constructed and converted 10 g glycerol l^?1 to DHA at 0.2–0.5 g l^?1 in the presence of zero to 2 mM exogenous NAD⁺. The cell free extract of E. coli (GlyDH–LpNox) converted glycerol (2–50 g l^?1) to DHA from 0.5 to 4.0 g l^?1 (8–25 % conversion) without exogenous NAD⁺.

Conclusions

The disadvantage of the expensive consumption of NAD⁺ for the production of DHA has been overcome.

     

Regular enzyme recovery enhances cellulase production by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Trichoderma reesei</Emphasis> in fed-batch culture

Objective

To protect the enzymes during fed-batch cellulase production by means of partial enzyme recovery at regular intervals.

Results

Extracellular enzymes were partially recovered at the intervals of 1, 2, or 3 days. Mycelia were also removed to avoid contamination. Increases in the total harvested cellulase (24–62%) and β-glucosidase (22–76%) were achieved. In fermentor cultivation when the enzymes were recovered every day with 15% culture broth. The total harvested cellulase and β-glucosidase activity increased by 43 and 58%, respectively, with fungal cell concentration maintained at 3.5–4.5 g l^?1.

Conclusion

Enzyme recovery at regular intervals during fed-batch cellulase cultivation could protect the enzyme in the culture broth and enhance the enzyme production when the fungal cell concentration is maintained in a reasonable range.

     

Production of δ-decalactone from linoleic acid via 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid intermediate by one-pot reaction using linoleate 13-hydratase and whole <Emphasis Type="Italic">Yarrowia lipolytica</Emphasis> cells

Objective

To produce δ-decalactone from linoleic acid by one-pot reaction using linoleate 13-hydratase with supplementation with whole Yarrowia lipolytica cells.

Results

Whole Y. lipolytica cells at 25 g l^?1 produced1.9 g l^?1 δ-decalactone from 7.5 g 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid l^?1 at pH 7.5 and 30 °C for 21 h. Linoleate 13-hydratase from Lactobacillus acidophilus at 3.5 g l^?1 with supplementation with 25 g Y. lipolytica cells l^?1 in one pot at 3 h produced 1.9 g l^?1 δ-decalactone from 10 g linoleic acid l^?1 via 13-hydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid intermediate at pH 7.5 and 30°C after 18 h, with a molar conversion yield of 31 % and productivity of 106 mg l^?1 h^?1.

Conclusion

To the best of our knowledge, this is the first production of δ-decalactone using unsaturated fatty acid.

     

Uptake and biotransformation of pure commercial microcystin-LR versus microcystin-LR from a natural cyanobacterial bloom extract in the aquatic fungus <Emphasis Type="Italic">Mucor hiemalis</Emphasis>

Objectives

To evaluate the remediation efficiency of Mucor hiemalis by comparing media elimination, uptake, and biotransformation of microcystin-LR with exposure to pure toxin versus a crude bloom extract.

Results

With exposure to the extract, the elimination rate of microcystin-LR from the media, which was 0.28 ng MC-LR l^?1 h^?1, was significantly higher compared to that achieved with exposure to the pure toxin (0.16 ng MC-LR l^?1 h^?1) after 24 h. However, intracellular breakdown of microcystin-LR was significantly lower in the extract exposed pellets compared to the pure toxin treated fungal pellets over time. This coincided with reduced intracellular glutathione S-transferase activity with crude extract exposure which could be responsible for the detection of only the glutathione conjugate of microcystin-LR.

Conclusion

This paper signifies the importance of using laboratory exposure scenarios which resemble conditions in nature to fully understand and evaluate remediation efficiency. There is merit in using M. hiemalis for mycoremediation of cyanotoxins in surface waters.

     

CaCO<Subscript>3</Subscript> supplementation alleviates the inhibition of formic acid on acetone/butanol/ethanol fermentation by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Clostridium acetobutylicum</Emphasis>

Objective

To investigate the inhibiting effect of formic acid on acetone/butanol/ethanol (ABE) fermentation and explain the mechanism of the alleviation in the inhibiting effect under CaCO₃ supplementation condition.

Results

From the medium containing 50 g sugars l^?1 and 0.5 g formic acid l^?1, only 0.75 g ABE l^?1 was produced when pH was adjusted by KOH and fermentation ended prematurely before the transformation from acidogenesis to solventogenesis. In contrast, 11.4 g ABE l^?1 was produced when pH was adjusted by 4 g CaCO₃ l^?1. The beneficial effect can be ascribed to the buffering capacity of CaCO₃. Comparative analysis results showed that the undissociated formic acid concentration and acid production coupled with ATP and NADH was affected by the pH buffering capacity of CaCO₃. Four millimole undissociated formic acid was the threshold at which the transformation to solventogenesis occurred.

Conclusion

The inhibiting effect of formic acid on ABE fermentation can be alleviated by CaCO₃ supplementation due to its buffering capacity.

     

Phosphoenolpyruvate-supply module in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> improves <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-acetyl-<Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">d</Emphasis>-neuraminic acid biocatalysis

Objectives

N-Acetyl-d-neuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) is often synthesized from exogenous N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) and excess pyruvate. We have previously constructed a recombinant Escherichia coli strain for Neu5Ac production using GlcNAc and intracellular phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) as substrates (Zhu et al. Biotechnol Lett 38:1–9, 2016).

Results

PEP synthesis-related genes, pck and ppsA, were overexpressed within different modes to construct PEP-supply modules, and their effects on Neu5Ac production were investigated. All the PEP-supply modules enhanced Neu5Ac production. For the best module, pCDF-pck-ppsA increased Neu5Ac production to 8.6 ± 0.15 g l^?1, compared with 3.6 ± 0.15 g l^?1 of the original strain. Neu5Ac production was further increased to 15 ± 0.33 g l^?1 in a 1 l fermenter.

Conclusions

The PEP-supply module can improve the intracellular PEP supply and enhance Neu5Ac production, which benefited industrial Neu5Ac production.

     

4-Vinylphenol production from glucose using recombinant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Streptomyces mobaraense</Emphasis> expressing a tyrosine ammonia lyase from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhodobacter sphaeroides</Emphasis>

Objectives

To find a novel host for the production of 4-vinylphenol (4VPh) by screening Streptomyces species.

Results

The conversion of p-coumaric acid (pHCA) to 4VPh in Streptomyces mobaraense was evaluated using a medium containing pHCA. S. mobaraense readily assimilated pHCA after 24 h of cultivation to produce 4VPh. A phenolic acid decarboxylase, derived from S. mobaraense (SmPAD), was purified following heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. SmPAD was evaluated under various conditions, and the enzyme’s k_cat/K_m value was 0.54 mM ^?1 s^?1. Using intergenetic conjugation, a gene from Rhodobacter sphaeroides encoding a tyrosine ammonia lyase, which catalyzes the conversion of l-tyrosine to p-coumaric acid, was introduced into S. mobaraense. The resulting S. mobaraense transformant produced 273 mg 4VPh l^?1 from 10 g glucose l^?1.

Conclusion

A novel strain suitable for the production of 4VPh and potentially other aromatic compounds was isolated.

     

Co-expression of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-glutamate oxidase and catalase in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> to produce α-ketoglutaric acid by whole-cell biocatalyst

Objectives

To improve the production of α-ketoglutaric acid (α-KG) from l-glutamate by whole-cell biocatalysis.

Results

A novel and highly active l-glutamate oxidase, SmlGOX, from Streptomyces mobaraensis was overexpressed and purified. The recombinant SmlGOX was approx. 64 kDa by SDS-PAGE. SmlGOX had a maximal activity of 125 ± 2.7 U mg^?1 at pH 6.0, 35 ^oC. The apparent K_m and V_max values of SmlGOX were 9.3 ± 0.5 mM and 159 ± 3 U mg^?1, respectively. Subsequently, a co-expression plasmid containing the SmlGOX and KatE genes was constructed to remove H₂O₂, and the protein levels of SmlGOX were improved by codon optimization. Finally, by optimizing the whole-cell transformation conditions, the production of α-KG reached 77.4 g l^?1 with a conversion rate from l-glutamate of 98.5% after 12 h.

Conclusions

An efficient method for the production of α-KG was established in the recombinant Escherichia coli, and it has a potential prospect in industrial application.

     

Increased production of plumbagin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Plumbago indica</Emphasis> root cultures by biotic and abiotic elicitors

Objectives

To evaluate the effects of 12 biotic and abiotic elicitors for increasing the production of plumbagin in Plumbago indica root cultures.

Results

Most elicitors showed minimal effects on the root dry weight, except for 250 mg chitosan l^?1 and 10 mM l-alanine that markedly decreased root biomass by about 40 % compared to the untreated root cultures (5 g l^?1). Treatments with 100 µM AgNO₃ significantly increased intracellular plumbagin production by up to 7.6 mg g^?1 DW that was 4-fold more than the untreated root cultures (1.9 mg g^?1 DW). In contrast, treatments with 150 mg chitosan l^?1, 5 mM l-alanine, and 50 µM 1-naphthol significantly enhanced the extracellular secretion of plumbagin by up to 10.6, 6.9, and 5.7 mg g^?1 DW, respectively, and increased the overall production of plumbagin by up to 12.5, 12.5, and 9.4 mg g^?1 DW, respectively.

Conclusions

Chitosan (150 mg l^?1), l-alanine (5 mM), and 1-naphthol (50 µM) were the best elicitors to enhance plumbagin production in P. indica root cultures.

     

Combinatorial analysis of enzymatic bottlenecks of <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">l</Emphasis>-tyrosine pathway by <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-coumaric acid production in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis>

Objective

To identify new enzymatic bottlenecks of l-tyrosine pathway for further improving the production of l-tyrosine and its derivatives.

Result

When ARO4 and ARO7 were deregulated by their feedback resistant derivatives in the host strains, the ARO2 and TYR1 genes, coding for chorismate synthase and prephenate dehydrogenase were further identified as new important rate-limiting steps. The yield of p-coumaric acid in the feedback-resistant strain overexpressing ARO2 or TYR1, was significantly increased from 6.4 to 16.2 and 15.3 mg l^?1, respectively. Subsequently, we improved the strain by combinatorial engineering of pathway genes increasing the yield of p-coumaric acid by 12.5-fold (from 1.7 to 21.3 mg l^?1) compared with the wild-type strain. Batch cultivations revealed that p-coumaric acid production was correlated with cell growth, and the formation of by-product acetate of the best producer NK-M6 increased to 31.1 mM whereas only 19.1 mM acetate was accumulated by the wild-type strain.

Conclusion

Combinatorial metabolic engineering provides a new strategy for further improvement of l-tyrosine or other metabolic biosynthesis pathways in S. cerevisiae.

     

Engineering the intracellular metabolism of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> to produce gamma-aminobutyric acid by co-localization of GABA shunt enzymes

Objectives

To direct the carbon flux from Krebs cycle into the gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt pathway for the production of GABA by protein scaffold introduction in Escherichia coli.

Results

Escherichia coli was engineered to produce GABA from glucose by the co-localization of enzymes succinate semialdehyde dehydrogenase (GadD), GABA aminotransferase (PuuE) and GABA transporter (GadC) by protein scaffold. 0.7 g GABA l^?1 was produced from 10 g glucose l^?1 while no GABA was produced in wild type E. coli. pH 6 and 30 °C were optimum for GABA production, and GABA concentration increased to 1.12 g GABA l^?1 when 20 g glucose l^?1 was used. When competing metabolic networks were inactivated, GABA increased by 24 % (0.87 g GABA l^?1).

Conclusions

The novel GABA production system was constructed by co-localization of GABA shunt enzymes.

     

Improving EGSB reactor performance for simultaneous bioenergy and organic acid production from cheese whey via continuous biological H<Subscript>2</Subscript> production

Objectives

To evaluate the influence of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and cheese whey (CW) substrate concentration (15 and 25 g lactose l^?1) on the performance of EGSB reactors (R15 and R25, respectively) for H₂ production.

Results

A decrease in the HRT from 8 to 4 h favored the H₂ yield and H₂ production rate (HPR) in R15, with maximum values of 0.86 ± 0.11 mmol H₂ g COD^?1 and 0.23 ± 0.024 l H₂ h^?1 l^?1, respectively. H₂ production in R25 was also favored at a HRT of 4 h, with maximum yield and HPR values of 0.64 ± 0.023 mmol H₂ g COD^?1 and 0.31 ± 0.032 l H₂ h^?1 l^?1, respectively. The main metabolites produced were butyric, acetic and lactic acids.

Conclusions

The EGSB reactor was evaluated as a viable acidogenic step in the two-stage anaerobic treatment of CW for the increase of COD removal efficiency and biomethane production.

     

Metabolic engineering of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Saccharomyces cerevisiae</Emphasis> for linalool production

Objectives

To engineer the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae for the heterologous production of linalool.

Results

Expression of linalool synthase gene from Lavandula angustifolia enabled heterologous production of linalool in S. cerevisiae. Downregulation of ERG9 gene, that encodes squalene synthase, by replacing its native promoter with the repressible MET3 promoter in the presence of methionine resulted in accumulation of 78 µg linalool l^?1 in the culture medium. This was more than twice that produced by the control strain. The highest linalool titer was obtained by combined repression of ERG9 and overexpression of tHMG1. The yeast strain harboring both modifications produced 95 μg linalool l^?1.

Conclusions

Although overexpression of tHMG1 and downregulation of ERG9 enhanced linalool titers threefold in the engineered yeast strain, alleviating linalool toxicity is necessary for further improvement of linalool biosynthesis in yeast.

     

Secondary metabolites released into the rhizosphere by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium oxysporum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fusarium</Emphasis> spp. as underestimated component of nonspecific replant disease

Background and aims

A study was performed to investigate the role of fungal metabolites released into the rhizosphere of replanted orchards as a potential biotic component of tree growth decline.

Methods

The phytotoxicity of the gamma ray-sterilized crude culture filtrates of sixteen fungal species originating from replanted apple orchards was tested in a bioassay. Low molecular weight compounds released by Fusarium spp. were analyzed.

Results

The fungal culture filtrates affected seedling growth and health with an activity that varied from growth inhibition to promotion. Three out of the six species of Fusarium tested produced species-specific mycotoxins such as equisetin and enniatin B and D (<1 μg ml^?1 and <6 μg ml^?1, respectively) associated with root-tip necrosis, whereas fusaric acid (80–230 μg ml^?1) was associated with asymptomatic plant growth inhibition. These findings were consistent with those obtained using pure compounds. Moreover, methoxyconidiol, paecilaminol, integrastatin B and other biologically active compounds, whose fungal origin and phytotoxicity have not yet been reported, were found. in all fungal filtrates.

Conclusions

Findings suggest that i) phytopathogenicity of soil borne fungi can be expressed regardless of root infection; ii) a synergistic interaction between co-occurring mycotoxins and other biologically active compounds may explain plant growth inhibition. Iii) fungal metabolites released into soil may represent an underestimated component of nonspecific replant disease.

     

Enhancement of production and activity of alkaline zinc metalloprotease from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salinivibrio proteolyticus</Emphasis> using low intensity direct electric current and zinc nanoparticles

Objectives

To improve the production and activity of an alkaline zinc metalloprotease from Salinivibrio proteolyticus in response to ZnSO₄ (ionic and nanoparticle forms) and low intensity direct electric current (LIDC).

Results

A DC of 50 µA for 10 min increased enzyme production from 35 to 53 U ml^?1 when applied to the stationary phase bacterial cells. Zn²⁺ improved enzyme production better than zinc nanoparticles (52 vs. 43.5 U ml^?1). Zinc nanoparticles (0.5 mM) added to an enzyme reaction mixture containing casein (0.65 %) and 20 mM Tris/HCl buffer (pH 8) improved enzyme activity more than Zn²⁺ (42 vs. 36 U ml^?1).

Conclusion

LIDC exposure (50 µA, 10 min) to the stationary phase bacterial cells increases metalloprotease production in Salinivibrio. A low concentration of zinc nanoparticles (0.5 mM) increases maximum enzyme activity.

     

Enhancement of the thermal and alkaline pH stability of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> lysine decarboxylase for efficient cadaverine production

Objective

To enhance the thermal and alkaline pH stability of the lysine decarboxylase from Escherichia coli (CadA) by engineering the decameric interface and explore its potential for industrial applications.

Results

The mutant T88S was designed for improved structural stability by computational analysis. The optimal pH and temperature of T88S were 7.0 and 55 °C (5.5 and 50 °C for wild-type). T88S showed higher thermostability with a 2.9-fold increase in the half-life at 70 °C (from 11 to 32 min) and increased melting temperature (from 76 to 78 °C). Additionally, the specific activity and pH stability (residual activity after 10 h incubation) of T88S at pH 8.0 were increased to 164 U/mg and 78% (58 U/mg and 57% for wild-type). The productivity of cadaverine with T88S (284 g l-lysine L^?1 and 5 g DCW L^?1) was 40 g L^?1 h^?1, in contrast to 28 g L^?1 h^?1 with wild-type.

Conclusion

The mutant T88S showed high thermostability, pH stability, and activity at alkaline pH, indicating that this mutant is a promising biocatalyst for industrial production of cadaverine.