Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate homopolymers by Pseudomonas putida

Pseudomonas putida KT2442 has been a well-studied producer of medium-chain-length (mcl) polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) copolymers containing C6 ~ C14 monomer units. A mutant was constructed from P. putida KT2442 by deleting its phaG gene encoding R-3-hydroxyacyl-ACP-CoA transacylase and several other β-oxidation related genes including fadB, fadA, fadB2x, and fadAx. This mutant termed P. putida KTHH03 synthesized mcl homopolymers including poly(3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHHx) and poly(3-hydroxyheptanoate) (PHHp), together with a near homopolymer poly(3-hydroxyoctanoate-co-2 mol% 3-hydroxyhexanoate) (PHO*) in presence of hexanoate, heptanoate, and octanoate, respectively. When deleted with its mcl PHA synthase genes phaC1 and phaC2, the recombinant mutant termed P. putida KTHH08 harboring pZWJ4-31 containing PHA synthesis operon phaPCJ from Aeromonas hydrophila 4AK4 accumulated homopolymer poly(3-hydroxyvalerate) (PHV) when valerate was used as carbon source. The phaC deleted recombinant mutant termed P. putida KTHH06 harboring pBHH01 holding PHA synthase PhbC from Ralstonia eutropha produced homopolymers poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) and poly(4-hydroxybutyrate) using γ-butyrolactone was added as precursor. All the homopolymers were physically characterized. Their weight average molecular weights ranged from 1.8 × 10⁵ to 1.6 × 10⁶, their thermal stability changed with side chain lengths. The derivatives of P. putida KT2442 have been developed into a platform for production of various PHA homopolymers.     

Microbial production of polyhydroxyalkanoate block copolymer by recombinant Pseudomonas putida

Polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) synthesis genes phaPCJ _Ac cloned from Aeromonas caviae were transformed into Pseudomonas putida KTOY06ΔC, a mutant of P. putida KT2442, resulting in the ability of the recombinant P. putida KTOY06ΔC (phaPCJ _A.c ) to produce a short-chain-length and medium-chain-length PHA block copolymer consisting of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) as one block and random copolymer of 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) and 3-hydroxyheptanoate (3HHp) as another block. The novel block polymer was studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), nuclear magnetic resonance, and rheology measurements. DSC studies showed the polymer to possess two glass transition temperatures (T _g), one melting temperature (T _m) and one cool crystallization temperature (T _c). Rheology studies clearly indicated a polymer chain re-arrangement in the copolymer; these studies confirmed the polymer to be a block copolymer, with over 70 mol% homopolymer (PHB) of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) as one block and around 30 mol% random copolymers of 3HV and 3HHp as the second block. The block copolymer was shown to have the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus compared with a random copolymer with similar ratio and a blend of homopolymers PHB and PHVHHp with similar ratio. Compared with other commercially available PHA including PHB, PHBV, PHBHHx, and P3HB4HB, the short-chain- and medium-chain-length block copolymer PHB-b-PHVHHp showed differences in terms of mechanical properties and should draw more attentions from the PHA research community.     

Toluene bioconversion to p-hydroxybenzoate by fed-batch cultures of recombinant Pseudomonas putida.

A microbial oxidation process for the production of p-hydroxybenzoate (HBA) from toluene is reported. The oxidation reaction was studied in fed-batch fermentations using a recombinant Pseudomonas putida grown on glutamate as the sole carbon and energy source with salicylate and IPTG induction of tmoABCDE, and pchCF and phbz pathway genes, respectively. An average volumetric HBA productivity of 13.4 mg HBA x L(-1) x h(-1) was obtained under rapid growth conditions (glutamate excess), giving an HBA titer of 132 mg x L(-1) after 9.8 h of fermentation. This corresponded to an average specific HBA productivity of 7.2 microg HBA (mg total protein)(-1) x h(-1). In contrast, maximum HBA titers of 35 mg HBA x L(-1) were achieved in 27 h in comparative studies employing glutumate limited fed-batch cultures. A specific productivity of 4.1 microg HBA (mg total protein)(-1) x h(-1) and volumetric productivity of 1.3 mg HBA x L(-1) x h(-1) were calculated for the growth-rate restricted cultures. The differences in HBA production between the two cultures could be correlated to the levels of specific toluene-4-monooxygenase (T4MO) polypeptides. T4MO catalyzes the rate-limiting step in the pathway. Using experimental data, the half-life value of TmoA was calculated to be approximately 28 h. Assuming linear, monomolecular decay of TmoA, a specific degradation constant of 0.025 x h(-1) was calculated, which placed the stability of recombinant TmoA in the range of relatively stable proteins, even in the absence of co-expression of tmoF, the terminal oxidoreductase subunit of T4MO.     

Expression of recombinant Pseudomonas stutzeri di-heme cytochrome c4 by high-cell-density fed-batch cultivation of Pseudomonas putida

The gene of the di-heme protein cytochrome c(4) from Pseudomonas stutzeri was expressed in Pseudomonas putida. High-yield expression of the protein was achieved by high-cell-density fed-batch cultivation using an exponential glucose feeding strategy. The recombinant cytochrome c(4) protein was purified to apparent homogeneity and analyzed by electronic absorption spectroscopy, nanoflow electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, and electrochemistry. Cyclic voltammograms and UV-vis electronic absorption spectra were indistinguishable from the equivalent data of native P. stutzeri cytochrome c(4). Furthermore, the calculated and experimentally determined molecular masses of recombinant cytochrome c(4) were identical. Biochemical characterization of both wild-type and mutant derivatives of the protein will be greatly enhanced and facilitated by the described high-yield fermentation and rapid isolation procedure.     

Survival in soils of an herbicide-resistant Pseudomonas putida strain bearing a recombinant TOL plasmid

Pseudomonas putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) is a phosphinothricin (PPT)-resistant strain with a recombinant TOL plasmid which allows the strain to grow on p-ethylbenzoate. The survival of this strain in sterile agricultural soils depends on the physicochemical properties of the soil. The recombinant pWW0-EB62 plasmid and its catabolic functions were stable for periods of up to 1 month in bacteria introduced in unamended soils and only conferred selective advantage to the host bacteria without the plasmid or with the natural pWW0 plasmid when the soils were amended with low amounts of p-ethylbenzoate. The addition to soils of aromatics that are cometabolized by P. putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) had a detrimental effect on the survival of the bacteria, whereas low amounts of aromatics that are not metabolized by this bacterium had no effect on their survival. Survival of P. putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) was better at 4 and 25 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. The host bacterium carrying the recombinant pWW0-EB62 plasmid was established in unsterile soils.     

Chromium reduction in Pseudomonas putida

Reduction of hexavalent chromium (chromate) to less-toxic trivalent chromium was studied by using cell suspensions and cell-free supernatant fluids from Pseudomonas putida PRS2000. Chromate reductase activity was associated with soluble protein and not with the membrane fraction. The crude enzyme activity was heat labile and showed a Km of 40 microM CrO4(2-). Neither sulfate nor nitrate affected chromate reduction either in vitro or with intact cells.     

Biosynthesis of Novel Aromatic Copolyesters from Insoluble 11-Phenoxyundecanoic Acid by Pseudomonas putida BM01

Two types of novel aromatic copolyesters were synthesized from 11-phenoxyundecanoic acid (11-POU) as the sole carbon source and the cosubstrates 11-POU and octanoate, respectively, by isolated Pseudomonas putida BM01 that is known to accumulate high concentrations of medium-chain-length polyesters. Insoluble 11-POU was recrystallized in situ in buffer by alkaline treatment and pH adjustment, followed by autoclaving. The resulting microcrystals, whose structure was different from that of the commercially available crystalline powder, suspended in media were rapidly consumed by the bacterium. Synthesized polymers were characterized by gas chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and differential scanning calorimetry. The aromatic copolyesters synthesized from 11-POU were composed of two monomer units consisting of 3-hydroxy-5-phenoxyvalerate (5POHV) as the major component (72 to 85 mol%) and 3-hydroxy-7-phenoxyheptanoate (7POHH) as the minor component (15 to 28 mol%). The aromatic copolyesters showed a crystalline melting transition at 70(deg)C. When the bacterium was grown on the cosubstrates 11-POU and octanoate, the bacterium synthesized the copolyesters composed of aromatic and aliphatic monomers poly(5POHV-co-7POHH-co-3-hydroxy-9-phenoxynonanoate-co-3-hydroxyalkanoates) . The addition of octanoate in the feed shifted the major monomer unit in the polymer from 5POHV to 7POHH. A further-fragmented metabolite, 3-phenoxypropionate, whose concentration reached a steady state at the time of greatest polyester accumulation, was detected in the medium. The metabolic pathway of 11-POU is suggested.     

Pseudomonas putida Tryptophan Synthetase

The two protein components of Pseudomonas putida tryptophan synthetase have been purified to homogeneity. Although there is general similarity between the Pseudomonas enzyme and that of the enteric bacteria, many differences were found. Components from Escherichia coli and P. putida do not stimulate each other enzymatically, and the enzymes differ in their response to monovalent cations. Serine deamination occurs best with the intact enzyme of P. putida, not with the beta(2) subunit alone as in E. coli. The amino acid compositions of the alpha subunits differ appreciably. These findings extend earlier studies showing differences between enteric organisms and pseudomonads in the regulation and genetic organization of the enzymes of the tryptophan pathway.     

Regioselective aromatic hydroxylation of quinaldine by water using quinaldine 4-oxidase in recombinant Pseudomonas putida

Biocatalytic hydrocarbon oxyfunctionalizations are typically accomplished using oxygenases in living bacteria as biocatalysts. These processes are often limited by either oxygen mass transfer, cofactor regeneration, and/or enzyme instabilities due to the formation of reactive oxygen species. Here, we discuss an alternative approach based on molybdenum (Mo)-containing dehydrogenases, which produce, rather than consume, reducing equivalents in the course of substrate hydroxylation and use water as the oxygen donor. Mo-containing dehydrogenases have a high potential for overcoming limitations encountered with oxygenases. In order to evaluate the suitability and efficiency of a Mo-containing dehydrogenase-based biocatalyst, we investigated quinaldine 4-oxidase (Qox)-containing Pseudomonas strains and the conversion of quinaldine to 4-hydroxyquinaldine. Host strain and carbon source selection proved to be crucial factors influencing biocatalyst efficiency. Resting P. putida KT2440 (pKP1) cells, grown on and induced with benzoate, showed the highest Qox activity and were used for process development. To circumvent substrate and product toxicity/inhibition, a two-liquid phase approach was chosen. Without active aeration and with 1-dodecanol as organic carrier solvent a productivity of 0.4 g l (tot) (-1) h(-1) was achieved, leading to the accumulation of 2.1 g l (tot) (-1) 4-hydroxyquinaldine in 6 h. The process efficiency compares well with values reported for academic and industrially applied biocatalytic oxyfunctionalization processes emphasizing the potential and feasibility of the Qox-containing recombinant cells for heteroaromatic carbon oxyfunctionalizations without the necessity for active aeration.     

Survival in soils of an herbicide-resistant Pseudomonas putida strain bearing a recombinant TOL plasmid.

Pseudomonas putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) is a phosphinothricin (PPT)-resistant strain with a recombinant TOL plasmid which allows the strain to grow on p-ethylbenzoate. The survival of this strain in sterile agricultural soils depends on the physicochemical properties of the soil. The recombinant pWW0-EB62 plasmid and its catabolic functions were stable for periods of up to 1 month in bacteria introduced in unamended soils and only conferred selective advantage to the host bacteria without the plasmid or with the natural pWW0 plasmid when the soils were amended with low amounts of p-ethylbenzoate. The addition to soils of aromatics that are cometabolized by P. putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) had a detrimental effect on the survival of the bacteria, whereas low amounts of aromatics that are not metabolized by this bacterium had no effect on their survival. Survival of P. putida EEZ15(pWW0-EB62) was better at 4 and 25 degrees C than at 37 degrees C. The host bacterium carrying the recombinant pWW0-EB62 plasmid was established in unsterile soils.     

Alpha-hydroxyglutarate oxidoreductase of Pseudomonas putida

Oxidation of d-alpha-hydroxyglutarate to alpha-ketoglutarate is catalyzed by d-alpha-hydroxyglutarate oxidoreductase, an inducible membrane-bound enzyme of the electron transport particle [ETP; a comminuted cytoplasmic membrane preparation with enzymic properties and chemical composition resembling beef heart mitochondrial ETP (1)] of Pseudomonas putida P2 (P2-ETP). Treatment of P2-ETP with a nonionic detergent yields a preparation with the sedimentation characteristics of a soluble enzyme, but which retains an intact electron transport chain. Oxygen acts solely as a terminal electron acceptor and may be replaced by ferricyanide, 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol, or mammalian cytochrome c. The oxidoreductase is specific for the d-isomer (K(m) = 4.0 x 10(-4)m for dl-alpha-hydroxyglutarate) and is distinct both from l- and d-malate dehydrogenases. Spectral studies suggest that the carrier sequence is substrate --> flavine or nonheme iron --> cyt b --> [cyt c] --> oxygen.     

Acetate inhibition of Pseudomonas putida

To study the effect of acetate inhibition on the parameters of yield and maintenance for bacterial growth, Pseudomonas putida ATCC 23467 was grown in a minimal salts medium with acetate as the sole carbon source with limiting and with excess quantities of urea in the feed medium. The behavior of the chemostat cultures under sole acetate limitation results in low residual acetate present in the fermentation broth. These cultures can be described satisfactorily using the equation q(s) = D/Y(g) + m, i.e., the acetate is consumed only for growth and maintenance,. Those cultures in which urea was limiting or where urea was present in large excess contained significant amounts of residual acetate in the broth. For these cultures it was necessary to add a third term for acetate inhibition to the above expression.     

Lipoate metabolism in Pseudomonas putida LP

dl-[1,6-¹⁴C]Lipoate was used to support the growth of Pseudomonas putida LP, which was found to grow on d- or l-lipoate as sole source of carbon and sulfur. The major radioactive catabolite in the benzene extract from acidified aerobic cultures was identified to be bisnorlipoate. The principal acidic ¹⁴C-catabolites in the aqueous phase have now been isolated and identified as β-hydroxybisnorlipoate, as well as bisnorlipoate; the existence of lesser amounts of tetranorlipoate is also indicated by Chromatographic evidence. Although the microorganism can grow on 8-methyllipoate (6,8-dithiononanoate), the bisnor- and tetranor-compounds, as well as 6,9-dithiononanoate (a dithiane derivative), do not support growth. Hence, the bacterium can derive most of the needed carbon by β-oxidation of the acid side chain of a 3-substituted dithiolane to yield the two-carbon-shorter bisnor-compound. Less extensive degradation of bisnorlipoate results in the formation of β-hydroxybisnorlipoate, which may be further metabolized to tetranorlipoate.     

Creatinine Decomposing Enzymes in Pseudomonas putida

Creatinine was found to be rapidly decomposed by several strains belonging to Pseudomonas, one of which was assigned to P. putida. Analyses of the metabolites indicated that creatinine was converted to sarcosine via creatine and further to glycine. The enzymes involving in a metabolic pathway of creatinine, i.e. creatinine amidohydrolase (EC 3.5.2), creatine amidinohydrolase (EC 3.5.3.3) and sarcosine dehydrogenase (EC 1.5.99.1), were found to be inducibly formed and accumulated in the bacterial cells. A novel assay method for sarcosine dehydrogenase activity was also described.     

Chromium reduction in Pseudomonas putida.

Reduction of hexavalent chromium (chromate) to less-toxic trivalent chromium was studied by using cell suspensions and cell-free supernatant fluids from Pseudomonas putida PRS2000. Chromate reductase activity was associated with soluble protein and not with the membrane fraction. The crude enzyme activity was heat labile and showed a Km of 40 microM CrO4(2-). Neither sulfate nor nitrate affected chromate reduction either in vitro or with intact cells.     

Identification of Pseudomonas alcaligenes chromosomal DNA in the plasmid DNA of the chlorobenzene-degrading recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9

The recombinant Pseudomonas putida strain CB1-9, which acquired the ability to grow on chlorobenzenes, contains a 33-kilobase (kb) plasmid (pKFL3) which lacked homology to an indigenous 15-kb plasmid (pKFL1) in Pseudomonas alcaligenes C-0 parent but was homologous to a 55-kb plasmid (pKFL2) from the P. putida R5-3 parent. Chromosomal DNA of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to probes prepared from pKFL3 but not to probes prepared from pKFL2. A single clone from a genomic library of P. alcaligenes C-0 hybridized to EcoRI-digested pKFL3. Southern blot hybridization with the insert DNA from that clone identified homology with specific restriction enzyme fragments in pKFL3. The ability of the recombinant to utilize 3-chlorobenzoate, chlorobenzene, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene as well as its loss of utilization of xylenes and methylbenzoates appears to be associated with the transfer and integration of chromosomal DNA from P. alcaligenes into a Tol-like plasmid of P. putida R5-3.