ABSTRACT
The process economy of food grade 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD) production by GRAS organisms like Lactobacillus reuteri (L. reuteri), is negatively impacted by the low yield and use of expensive feedstocks. In order to improve the process economy, we have developed a multiproduct process involving the production of three commercially important chemicals, namely, 1,3-PD, lactate and 3-Hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), by engineered L. reuteri. The maximum 1,3-PD and lactate titer of 41 g/L and 31 g/L, with a volumetric productivity of 1.69 g/L/h and 0.67 g/L/h were achieved, respectively. The maximum 3-HP titer of 5.2 g/L with a volumetric productivity of 1.3 g/L/h, was obtained by biotransformation using cells recovered from the repeated fed-batch process. The volumetric productivity of 1,3-PD obtained in this study is the highest ever reported for this organism. Further cost reduction can be achieved by using waste feedstocks like milk whey, biomass hydrolysate, and crude glycerol.
Subject(s)
Lactic Acid/analogs & derivatives , Lactic Acid/biosynthesis , Limosilactobacillus reuteri/metabolism , Metabolic Engineering/methods , Propylene Glycols/metabolism , Aldehyde Reductase/genetics , Aldehyde Reductase/metabolism , Batch Cell Culture Techniques , Biotransformation , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism , Fermentation , Glucose/metabolism , Glycerol/metabolism , Industrial Microbiology , Limosilactobacillus reuteri/genetics , TransgenesABSTRACT
Lactobacillus reuteri grown in MRS broth containing 20 mM glycerol exhibits 3.7-fold up-regulation of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP) pathway genes during the stationary phase. Concomitantly, the resting cells prepared from stationary phase show enhancement in bio-conversion of glycerol, and the maximum specific productivity (q p) is found to be 0.17 g 3-HP per g CDW per hour. The regulatory elements such as catabolite repression site in the up-stream of 3-HP pathway genes are presumed for the augmentation of glycerol bio-conversion selectively in stationary phase. However, in the repression mutant, the maximum q p of 3-HP persisted in the stationary phase-derived resting cells indicating the role of further regulatory features. In the production stage, the external 3-HP concentration of 35 mM inhibits 3-HP synthesis. In addition, it has also moderated 1,3-propanediol formation, as it is a redox bio-catalysis involving NAD(+)/NADH ratio of 6.5. Repeated batch bio-transformation has been used to overcome product inhibition, and the total yield (Ypx) of 3-HP from the stationary phase-derived biomass is 3.3 times higher than that from the non-repeated mode. With the use of appropriate gene expression condition and repeated transfer of biomass, 3-HP produced in this study can be used for low-volume, high-value applications.
