Advances in biotransformation of methanol into chemicals / 生物工程学报

Methanol has become an attractive substrate for the biomanufacturing industry due to its abundant supply and low cost. The biotransformation of methanol to value-added chemicals using microbial cell factories has the advantages of green process, mild conditions and diversified products. These advantages may expand the product chain based on methanol and alleviate the current problem of biomanufacturing, which is competing with people for food. Elucidating the pathways involving methanol oxidation, formaldehyde assimilation and dissimilation in different natural methylotrophs is essential for subsequent genetic engineering modification, and is more conducive to the construction of novel non-natural methylotrophs. This review discusses the current status of research on methanol metabolic pathways in methylotrophs, and presents recent advances and challenges in natural and synthetic methylotrophs and their applications in methanol bioconversion.

Bio-based molecules for biosynthesis of nano-metallic materials / 生物工程学报

Nano-metallic materials are playing an important role in the application of medicine, catalysis, antibacterial and anti-toxin due to their obvious advantages, including nanocrystalline strengthening effect, high photo-absorptivity, high surface energy and single magnetic region performance. In recent years, with the increasing consumption of global petrochemical resources and the aggravation of environmental pollution, nanomaterials based on bio-based molecules have aroused great concern. Bio-based molecules refer to small molecules and macromolecules directly or indirectly derived from biomass. They usually have good biocompatibility, low toxicity, degradability, wide source and low price. Besides, most bio-based molecules have unique physical, chemical properties and physiological activity, such as optical activity, acid/alkali amphoteric property, hydrophilic property and easy coordination with metal ions. Thus, the corresponding nano-materials based on bio-based molecules also have unique functions, such as anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, anti-oxidation, antiviral fall blood sugar and blood fat etc. In this paper, we give a comprehensive overview of the preparation and application of nano-metallic materials based on bio-based molecules in recent years.

Influence of expressing IrrE from Deinococcus radiodurans on osmotic stress tolerance of succinate-producing Escherichia coli / 生物工程学报

Hyper-osmotic stress is one of the key factors that decrease the efficiency of biological succinic acid production. To increase the osmotic stress tolerance of succinate-producing Escherichia coli, we studied the influence of IrrE, an exogenous global regulator, on cell osmotic stress resistance. Fermentation results showed that cell growth and succinic acid production by the recombinant increased under different Na+ concentrations. Meanwhile, the maximum dry cell mass, glucose consumption and succinic acid concentration increased 15.6%, 22% and 23%, respectively, when fermented in a 5-L bioreactor. Expressing IrrE improved cell resistance to hyper-osmotic stress. Further comparison of intracellular osmoprotectants (trehalose and glycerol) concentrations showed that trehalose and glycerol concentrations in the recombinant increased. This suggested that introduction of IrrE could enhance intracellular osmoprotectants accumulation which conferred cell with improved resistance to osmotic stress.

Succinic acid production from sucrose and sugarcane molasses by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli / 生物工程学报

Sugarcane molasses containing large amounts of sucrose is an economical substrate for succinic acid production. However, Escherichia coli AFP111 cannot metabolize sucrose although it is a promising candidate for succinic acid production. To achieve sucrose utilizing ability, we cloned and expressed cscBKA genes encoding sucrose permease, fructokinase and invertase of non-PTS sucrose-utilization system from E. coli W in E. coli AFP111 to generate a recombinant strain AFP111/pMD19T-cscBKA. After 72 h of anaerobic fermentation of the recombinant in serum bottles, 20 g/L sucrose was consumed and 12 g/L succinic acid was produced. During dual-phase fermentation comprised of initial aerobic growth phase followed by anaerobic fermentation phase, the concentration of succinic acid from sucrose and sugarcane molasses was 34 g/L and 30 g/L, respectively, at 30 h of anaerobic phase in a 3 L fermentor. The results show that the introduction of non-PTS sucrose-utilization system has sucrose-metabolizing capability for cell growth and succinic acid production, and can use cheap sugarcane molasses to produce succinic acid.

Effect of co-expression of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase and pyruvate carboxylase on succinic acid production in Escherichia coli BA002 / 生物工程学报

Escherichia coli BA002, in which the ldhA and pflB genes are deleted, cannot utilize glucose anaerobically due to the inability to regenerate NAD+. To restore glucose utilization, overexpression of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyltransferase (NAPRTase) encoded by the pncB gene, a rate-limiting enzyme of NAD(H) synthesis pathway, resulted in a significant increase in cell mass and succinate production under anaerobic conditions. However, a high concentration of pyruvate was accumulated. Thus, co-expression of NAPRTase and the heterologous pyruvate carboxylase (PYC) of Lactococcus lactis subsp. cremoris NZ9000 in recombinant E. coli BA016 was investigated. Results in 3 L fermentor showed that OD600 is 4.64 and BA016 consumed 35.00 g/L glucose and produced 25.09 g/L succinate after 112 h under anaerobic conditions. Overexpression of pncB and pyc in BA016, the accumulation of pyruvic acid was further decreased, and the formation of succinic acid was further increased.

Succinic acid production with Escherichia coli AFP111 recovered from fermentation / 生物工程学报

During the anaerobic fermentation by Escherichia coli AFP111 for succinic acid production, the viable cell concentration and productivity were decreased with the raising of succinic acid concentration. In order to restore cellular succinic acid productivity and prolong fermentation time, we collected strains and refreshed medium for repetitive succinic acid production. However, productivity is lower than that in the anaerobic fermentation before reusing strains. To enhance the productivity, strains were aerobically cultivated for 3 h in pure water before anaerobic fermentation. The activities of key enzymes were enhanced for better performance in producing succinic acid at anaerobic stage. After three rounds of repetitive fermentations, succinic acid concentration and yield reached to 56.50 g/L and 90% respectively. The succinic acid productivity was 0.81 g/(L x h), which was 13% higher than the repetitive fermentations without aerobic activation of the strains.

Mutating Escherichia coli by atmospheric and room temperature plasmas for succinic acid production from xylose / 生物工程学报

Escherichia coli AFP111 is a spontaneous mutant with mutations in the glucose specific phosphotransferase system (ptsG) in NZN111 (delta pflAB deltaldhA). In AFP111, conversion of xylose to succinic acid generates 1.67 molecule of ATP per xylose. However, the strain needs 2.67 molecule ATP for xylose metabolism. Therefore, AFP111 cannot use xylose due to insufficient ATP under anaerobic condition. Through an atmospheric and room temperature plasma (ARTP) jet, we got a mutant strain named DC111 that could use xylose under anaerobic condition in M9 medium to produce succinic acid. After 72 h, DC111 consumed 10.52 g/L xylose to produce 6.46 g/L succinic acid, and the yield was 0.78 mol/mol. Furthermore, the reaction catalyzed by the ATP-generating PEP-carboxykinase (PCK) was enhanced. The specific activity of PCK was 19.33-fold higher in DC111 than that in AFP111, which made the strain have enough ATP to converse xylose to succinic acid.

Isolation of high osmotic-tolerant mutants of Escherichia coli for succinic acid production by metabolic evolution / 生物工程学报

Succinic acid production was inhibited by high osmotic pressure caused by the accumulation of sodium ions in the process of two-stage fermentation by Escherichia coli using Na2CO3 as the pH regulator. To enhance the resistance of this strain to osmotic stress, the possibility to isolate high NaCl-tolerant mutant strain of Escherichia coli for succinic acid production by metabolic evolution was investigated. The metabolic evolution system was used as a mutant-generating system, allowing the cells to be continuously cultured at the maximum specific growth rate. The mutant strain can grow at maximum rate in the condition of high osmotic by gradually improving the concentration of NaCl in a continuous culture. Then the high osmotic-tolerant mutant strain of E. coli XB4 was selected with NaCl as the osmo-regulator. When using Na2CO3 as the pH regulator, E. coli XB4 was used in a 7.0 L fermenter during two-stage fermentation. After 60 h anaerobic fermentation, the mutant strain XB4 produced 69.5 g/L succinic acid with a productivity of 1.18 g/(L x h), which were increased by 18.6% and 20% compared with that of the parent strain.

Properties of sucrose phosphorylase from recombinant Escherichia coli and enzymatic synthesis of alpha-arbutin / 生物工程学报

Sucrose phosphorylase (EC 2.4.1.7, Sucrose phosphorylase, SPase) can be produced by recombinant strain Escherichia coli Rosetta(DE3)/Pet-SPase. Crude enzyme was obtained from the cells by the high pressure disruption and centrifugation. Sucrose phosphorylase was purified by Ni-NTA affinity column chromatography and desalted by ultrafiltration. The specific enzyme activity was 1.1-fold higher than that of the crude enzyme, and recovery rate was 82.7%. The purified recombinant SPase had a band of 59 kDa on SDS-PAGE. Thermostability of the enzyme was shown at temperatures up to 37 degrees C, and pH stability between pH 6.0 and 6.7. The optimum temperature and pH were 37 degrees C and 6.7, respectively. The K(m) of SPase for sucrose was 7.3 mmol/L, and Vmax was 0.2 micromol/(min x mg). Besides, alpha-arbutin was synthesized from sucrose and hydroquinone by transglucosylation with recombinant SPase. The optimal conditions for synthesis of alpha-arbutin were 200 U/mL of recombinant SPase, 20% of sucrose, and 1.6% hydroquinone at pH 6-6.5 and 25 degrees C for 21 h. Under these conditions, alpha-arbutin was obtained with a 78.3% molar yield with respect to hydroquinone, and the concentration of alpha-arbutin was about 31 g/L.

Effect of overexpression of nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenylyltransferase on succinic acid production in Escherichia coli NZN111 / 生物工程学报

Escherichia coli NZN111 is a promising strain with ldhA and pflB genes inactivated for the production of succinic acid. However, with these mutations, NAD+ could not be regenerated from NADH, and an unbalanced NADH/NAD+ ratio eliminated cell growth and glucose utilization under anaerobic conditions. Nicotinic acid mononucleotide adenylyltransferase (NAMNAT), encoded by the nadD gene, catalyzes the reaction from nicotinic acid mononucleotide (NaMN) to nicotinic acid adenine dinucleotide (NaAD) during the synthetic pathway of NAD(H). Overexpression of the nadD gene could enhance the concentration of NAD(H) and maintain a suitable NADH/NAD+ ratio. In this study, we constructed a recombinant strain E. coli NZN111/pTrc99a-nadD, and overexpressed NAMNAT with 1.0 mmol/L of IPTG under anaerobic conditions in sealed bottles. Compared to E. coli NZN111, the concentrations of NAD+ and NADH in the recombinant strain increased by 3.21-fold and 1.67-fold, respectively. The total concentration of NAD(H) was increased by 2.63-fold, and the ratio of NADH/NAD+ decreased from 0.64 to 0.42. The recombinant strain restored the cell growth and glucose utilization under anaerobic conditions. After 72 h, the recombinant strain could consume 14.0 g/L of glucose to produce 6.23 g/L of succinic acid, and the concentration of succinic acid was 19-fold higher than in E. coli NZN111.

Effect of overexpression of malate dehydrogenase on succinic acid production in Escherichia coli NZN111 / 生物工程学报

Escherichia coli NZN111 is a double mutant with lactate dehydrogenase (ldhA) and pyruvate formate-lyase (pflB) inactivated. Under anaerobic conditions, disequilibrium of coenzyme NADH and NAD+ causes Escherichia coli NZN111 losing the glucose utilizing capability. In this study, we constructed a recombinant strain E. coli NZN111/pTrc99a-mdh and overexpressed the mdh gene with 0.3 mmol/L of IPTG under anaerobic fermentation condition in sealed bottles. The specific malate dehydrogenase (MDH) activity in the recombinant strain was 14.8-fold higher than that in E. coli NZN111. The NADH/ NAD+ ratio decreased from 0.64 to 0.26 and the concentration of NAD+ and NADH increased 1.5-fold and 0.2-fold respectively. Under anaerobic conditions, the recombinant strain possessed the capability of growth and glucose absorption. We took dual-phase fermentation for succinate production. After the dry cell weight (DCW) reached 6.4 g/L under aerobic conditions, the cell culture was changed to anaerobic conditions. After 15 h, 14.75 g/L glucose was consumed and succinic acid reached 15.18 g/L. The yield of succinic acid was 1.03 g/g Glu and the productivity of succinic acid was 1.012 g/(L x h).

Effect of overexpression of nicotinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase on succinic acid production in Escherichia coli NZN111 / 生物工程学报

Escherichia coli strain NZN111 is a promising candidate for the fermentative production of succinate. However, because lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate formate lyase were inactivated in NZN111, this strain had an unbalanced NADH/NAD+ ratio and could not use glucose under anaerobic conditions. In this study, a recombinant strain E. coli NZN111/pTrc99a-pncB was constructed to overexpress the nicotinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase gene (pncB). Under anaerobic conditions with the addition of 0.5 mmol/L nicotinic acid and 0.3 mmol/L isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), the specific nicotinic acid phosphoribosyl transferase (NAPRTase, EC 2.4.2.11) activity in the recombinant strain was 11-fold higher than that in E. coli NZN111, the concentration of NAD(H) was increased by 3.85-fold, especially the concentration of NAD+ was increased by 5.17-fold and NADH/NAD+ was decreased from 0.640 to 0.125. The recombinant strain regained the capability of growth and glucose utilization under anaerobic conditions.

Reuse of recombinant Escherichia coli to produce succinic acid by bioconversion / 生物工程学报

The possibility of reusing Escherichia coli cells from the broth for succinic acid production was investigated. Using succinic acid yield and productivity as criterion, we investigated the effects of cell concentration, initial glucose concentration, different neutralizers on the bioconversion. The results revealed that E. coli could convert glucose to succinic acid in a water solution of glucose and a neutralizer. According to the results, the optimal condition was as follows: the cell concentration was 50 (OD600), glucose concentration was 40 g/L and neutralizer was MgCO3. Under the optimum conditions, we carried out the consecutive batch bioconversion in 7 L fermenter. Succinic acid yield reached 91% with the productivity of 3.22 g/(L x h) for the first conversion. For the second conversion, succinic acid yield reached 86% with productivity of 2.04 g/(L x h). Furthermore, we achieved a high mass yield above 83% with the productivity of 1.82 g/(L x h) for the third bioconversion.