A novel lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase from enrichment microbiota and its application for shrimp shell powder biodegradation.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMO) are expected to change the current status of chitin resource utilization. This study reports that targeted enrichment of the microbiota was performed with chitin by the selective gradient culture technique, and a novel LPMO (M2822) was identified from the enrichment microbiota metagenome. First, soil samples were screened based on soil bacterial species and chitinase biodiversity. Then gradient enrichment culture with different chitin concentrations was carried out. The efficiency of chitin powder degradation was increased by 10.67 times through enrichment, and chitin degradation species Chitiniphilus and Chitinolyticbacter were enriched significantly. A novel LPMO (M2822) was found in the metagenome of the enriched microbiota. Phylogenetic analysis showed that M2822 had a unique phylogenetic position in auxiliary activity (AA) 10 family. The analysis of enzymatic hydrolysate showed that M2822 had chitin activity. When M2822 synergized with commercial chitinase to degrade chitin, the yield of N-acetyl glycosamine was 83.6% higher than chitinase alone. The optimum temperature and pH for M2822 activity were 35°C and 6.0. The synergistic action of M2822 and chitin-degrading enzymes secreted by Chitiniphilus sp. LZ32 could efficiently hydrolyze shrimp shell powder. After 12 h of enzymatic hydrolysis, chitin oligosaccharides (COS) yield reached 4,724 µg/mL. To our knowledge, this work is the first study to mine chitin activity LPMO in the metagenome of enriched microbiota. The obtained M2822 showed application prospects in the efficient production of COS.

New Insights into the Modification of the Non-Core Metabolic Pathway of Steroids in Mycolicibacterium and the Application of Fermentation Biotechnology in C-19 Steroid Production.

Androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD), androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), and 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD), which belong to C-19 steroids, are critical steroid-based drug intermediates. The biotransformation of phytosterols into C-19 steroids by Mycolicibacterium cell factories is the core step in the synthesis of steroid-based drugs. The production performance of engineered mycolicibacterial strains has been effectively enhanced by sterol core metabolic modification. In recent years, research on the non-core metabolic pathway of steroids (NCMS) in mycolicibacterial strains has made significant progress. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms and metabolic modifications of NCMS for accelerating sterol uptake, regulating coenzyme I balance, promoting propionyl-CoA metabolism, reducing reactive oxygen species, and regulating energy metabolism. In addition, the recent applications of biotechnology in steroid intermediate production are summarized and compared, and the future development trend of NCMS research is discussed. This review provides powerful theoretical support for metabolic regulation in the biotransformation of phytosterols.

Heavy metals passivation driven by the interaction of organic fractions and functional bacteria during biochar/montmorillonite-amended composting.

The aim of this study was to identify critical driving factors and pathways of mitigating heavy metals (HM) bioavailability during biochar/montmorillonite-amended composting: emphasize on the interaction effect between organic constituents and functional bacteria. Organic components, such as humus (HS), humic (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC), exhibited indivisible links with Cu and Zn speciation, which confirmed their vital roles on deactivating Cu and Zn. Network analysis indicated that biochar/montmorillonite obviously increased the diversity of Cu resistant/actor and Zn actor bacteria, which aided in HM passivation. Although multiple pathways were involved in regulating Cu/Zn passivation, the interaction of bacteria and organic constituents was the most critical driving factor. Given that, promoting potential HM resistant/actor bacteria utilizing and transforming low-humification organic fractions coupling with elevating high-humification constituents were the optimal pathway. This study is helpful to practical application of biochar/montmorillonite to inactivate HM for industrial composting.