Engineering Corynebacterium glutamicum for the de novo biosynthesis of tailored poly-γ-glutamic acid

γ-Polyglutamic acid (γ-PGA) is a biodegradable polymer naturally produced by Bacillus spp. that has wide applications. Fermentation of γ-PGA using Bacillus species often requires the supplementation of L-glutamic acid, which greatly increases the overall cost. Here, we report a metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum capable of producing γ-PGA from glucose. The genes encoding γ-PGA synthase complex from B. subtilis (pgsB, C, and A) or B. licheniformis (capB, C, and A) were expressed under inducible promoter P_tac in a L-glutamic acid producer C. glutamicum ATCC 13032, which led to low levels of γ-PGA production. Subsequently, C. glutamicum F343 with a strong L-glutamic acid production capability was tested. C. glutamicum F343 carrying capBCA produced γ-PGA up to 11.4 g/L, showing a higher titer compared with C. glutamicum F343 expressing pgsBCA. By introducing B. subtilis glutamate racemase gene racE under P_tac promoter mutants with different expression strength, the percentage of L-glutamic acid units in γ-PGA could be adjusted from 97.1% to 36.9%, and stayed constant during the fermentation process, while the γ-PGA titer reached 21.3 g/L under optimal initial glucose concentrations. The molecular weight (M_w) of γ-PGA in the engineered strains ranged from 2000 to 4000 kDa. This work provides a foundation for the development of sustainable and cost-effective de novo production of γ-PGA from glucose with customized ratios of L-glutamic acid in C. glutamicum.

Structural characterization, catalytic, kinetic and thermodynamic properties of Keratinase from Bacillus pumilus FH9

Bacillus pumilus FH9 keratinase was purified to homogeneity with a 59.9% yield through a series of three steps. The purified enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass around 50kDa and containing 7.3% carbohydrates. The pure B. pumilus FH9 keratinase was optimally active at pH 9.0 and 60°C. The calculated activation energy for keratin hydrolysis was 24.52kJmol^-1 and its temperature quotient (Q₁₀) was 1.19. The calculated values of thermodynamic parameters for keratin hydrolysis were as follows: ΔH*=21.75kJmol^-1, ΔG*=65.86kJmol^-1 ΔS*=-132.46Jmol^-1K^-1, (ΔG*_E-S)=4.74kJmol^-1 and ΔG*_E-T=-11.254kJmol^-1. The pure keratinase exhibited K_m, V_max, k_cat and k_cat/K_m of 5.55mg/ml keratin, 5882Umgprotein^-1 323.54s^-1 and 58.28 (s^-1/mgml^-1). The calculated half-life time at 50, 60, 70 and 80°C was 90.69, 59.1, 16.62 and 9.48min, respectively. Similarly, the thermodynamic parameters for irreversible thermal inactivation at temperature ranging from 50 to 80°C were determined. The pure enzyme was stimulated by Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺. However, Zn²⁺, EDTA, Co²⁺ and Hg²⁺ significantly inhibited the enzyme activity. The purified enzyme was able to hydrolyze different substrates showing its higher proteolytic activity on casein, bovine serum albumin, and collagen, followed by feather, horn and wool.

Chelatococcus thermostellatus sp. nov., a new thermophile for bioplastic synthesis: comparative phylogenetic and physiological study

The poly(3-hydroxybutyrate), PHB, accumulating thermophilic strain MW9^T, isolated from an aerobic organic waste treatment plant, was characterized by detailed physiological and phylogenetic studies. The strain is a Gram-stain-negative, rod shaped, non-spore forming member of Alphaproteobacteria. It shows optimum growth at 50 °C. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strain together with five very similar isolates, was affiliated to the genus Chelatococcus (Ibrahim et al. in J Appl Microbiol 109:1579–1590, 2010). Rep-PCR genomic fingerprints and partial dnaK gene sequence also revealed that these isolates are very similar, but differ from other Chelatococcus type strains. The major fatty acids were similar to those of other strains of the genus Chelatococcus. DNA–DNA hybridization of strain MW9^T with Chelatococcus species type strains revealed 11.0–47.7 % relatedness. G+C content of DNA was 67.1 mol%, which is comparable with the other strains of Chelatococcus species. The physiological and phenotypic characteristics of the new strain MW9^T are sufficient to differentiate it from previously described species in the genus Chelatococcus. Strain MW9^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Chelatococcus, for which the name Chelatococcus thermostellatus is proposed. The type strain is MW9^T (=LMG 27009^T = DSM 28244^T). Compared to known Chelatococcus strains, strain MW9^T could be a potent candidate for bioplastic production at elevated temperature.

Experimental and computational optimization of an Escherichia coli co-culture for the efficient production of flavonoids

Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have enabled the use of microbial production platforms for the renewable production of many high-value natural products. Titers and yields, however, are often too low to result in commercially viable processes. Microbial co-cultures have the ability to distribute metabolic burden and allow for modular specific optimization in a way that is not possible through traditional monoculture fermentation methods. Here, we present an Escherichia coli co-culture for the efficient production of flavonoids in vivo, resulting in a 970-fold improvement in titer of flavan-3-ols over previously published monoculture production. To accomplish this improvement in titer, factors such as strain compatibility, carbon source, temperature, induction point, and inoculation ratio were initially optimized. The development of an empirical scaled-Gaussian model based on the initial optimization data was then implemented to predict the optimum point for the system. Experimental verification of the model predictions resulted in a 65% improvement in titer, to 40.7±0.1mg/L flavan-3-ols, over the previous optimum. Overall, this study demonstrates the first application of the co-culture production of flavonoids, the most in-depth co-culture optimization to date, and the first application of empirical systems modeling for improvement of titers from a co-culture system.

Efficient poly(3-hydroxypropionate) production from glycerol using Lactobacillus reuteri and recombinant Escherichia coli harboring L. reuteri propionaldehyde dehydrogenase and Chromobacterium sp. PHA synthase genes

Poly(3-hydroxypropionate), P(3HP), is a polymer combining good biodegradability with favorable material properties. In the present study, a production system for P(3HP) was designed, comprising conversion of glycerol to 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3HPA) as equilibrium mixture with 3HPA-hydrate and -dimer in aqueous system (reuterin) using resting cells of native Lactobacillus reuteri in a first stage followed by transformation of the 3HPA to P(3HP) using recombinant Escherichia coli strain co-expressing highly active coenzyme A-acylating propionaldehyde dehydrogenase (PduP) from L. reuteri and polyhydroxyalkanoate synthase (PhaCcs) from Chromobacterium sp. P(3HP) content of up to 40% (w/w) cell dry weight was reached, and the yield with respect to the reuterin consumed by the cells was 78%. Short biotransformation period (4.5h), lack of additives or expensive cofactors, and use of a cheap medium for cultivation of the recombinant strain, provides a new efficient and potentially economical system for P(3HP) production.

Improved propionic acid production from glycerol: combining cyclic batch- and sequential batch fermentations with optimal nutrient composition

Propionic acid was produced from glycerol using Propionibacterium acidipropionici. In this study, the impact of the concentrations of carbon and nitrogen sources, and of different modes of high cell density fermentations on process kinetics and -efficiency was investigated. Three-way ANOVA analysis and batch cultivations at varying C/N ratios at pH 6.5 revealed that propionic acid production rate is significantly influenced by yeast extract concentration. Glycerol to yeast extract ratio (ww(-1)) of 3:1 was required for complete glycerol consumption, while maintaining the volumetric productivity. Using this optimum C/N ratio for propionic acid production in cyclic batch fermentation gave propionate yield up to 93mol% and productivity of 0.53gL(-1)h(-1). Moreover, sequential batch fermentation with cell recycling resulted in production rates exceeding 1gL(-1)h(-1) at initial glycerol up to 120gL(-1), and a maximum of 1.63gL(-1)h(-1) from 90gL(-1) glycerol.

Zobellella denitrificans strain MW1, a newly isolated bacterium suitable for poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production from glycerol

AIMS

To search for new bacteria for efficient production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) from glycerol.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Samples were taken from different environments in Germany and Egypt, and bacteria capable of growing in mineral salts medium with glycerol as sole carbon source were enriched. From a wastewater sediment sample in Egypt, a Gram-negative bacterium (strain MW1) was isolated that exhibited good growth and that accumulated considerable amounts of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) from glycerol and also from other carbon sources. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this isolate exhibited 98.5% and 96.2% similarity to Zobellella denitrificans strain ZD1 and to Zobellella taiwanensis strain ZT1 respectively. The isolate was therefore affiliated as strain MW1 of Z. denitrificans. Strain MW1 grows optimally on glycerol at 41 degrees C and pH 7.3 and accumulated PHB up to 80.4% (w/w) of cell dry weight. PHB accumulation was growth-associated. Although it was not an absolute requirement, 20 g l(-1) sodium chloride enhanced both growth (5 g cell dry weight per litre) and PHB content (87%, w/w). Zobellella denitrificans strain MW1 is also capable to accumulate the poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) copolymer if sodium propionate was used as cosubstrate in addition to glycerol.

CONCLUSIONS

A new PHB-accumulating strain was isolated and identified. This strain is able to utilize glycerol for growth and PHB accumulation to high content especially in the presence of NaCl that will enable the utilization of waste glycerol from biodiesel industry.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This study is the first report on accumulation of PHA in a member of the new genus Zobellella. Furthermore, utilization of glycerol as the sole carbon source for fast growth and PHB biosynthesis, growth in the presence of NaCl and high PHB contents of the cells will make this newly isolated bacterium a potent candidate for industrial production of PHB from crude glycerol occurring as byproduct during biodiesel production.

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) production from glycerol by Zobellella denitrificans MW1 via high-cell-density fed-batch fermentation and simplified solvent extraction

Industrial production of biodegradable polyesters such as polyhydroxyalkanoates is hampered by high production costs, among which the costs for substrates and for downstream processing represent the main obstacles. Inexpensive fermentable raw materials such as crude glycerol, an abundant by-product of the biodiesel industry, have emerged to be promising carbon sources for industrial fermentations. In this study, Zobellella denitrificans MW1, a recently isolated bacterium, was used for the production of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) from glycerol as the sole carbon source. Pilot-scale fermentations (42-liter scale) were conducted to scale up the high PHB accumulation capability of this strain. By fed-batch cultivation, at first a relatively high cell density (29.9 +/- 1.3 g/liter) was obtained during only a short fermentation period (24 h). However, the PHB content was relatively low (31.0% +/- 4.2% [wt/wt]). Afterwards, much higher concentrations of PHB (up to 54.3 +/- 7.9 g/liter) and higher cell densities (up to 81.2 +/- 2.5 g/liter) were obtained by further fed-batch optimization in the presence of 20 g/liter NaCl, with optimized feeding of glycerol and ammonia to support both cell growth and polymer accumulation over a period of 50 h. A high specific growth rate (0.422/h) and a short doubling time (1.64 h) were attained. The maximum PHB content obtained was 66.9% +/- 7.6% of cell dry weight, and the maximum polymer productivity and substrate yield coefficient were 1.09 +/- 0.16 g/liter/h and 0.25 +/- 0.04 g PHB/g glycerol, respectively. Furthermore, a simple organic solvent extraction process was employed for PHB recovery during downstream processing: self-flotation of cell debris after extraction of PHB with chloroform allowed a convenient separation of a clear PHB-solvent solution from the cells. Maximum PHB recovery (85.0% +/- 0.10% [wt/wt]) was reached after 72 h of extraction with chloroform at 30 degrees C, with a polymer purity of 98.3% +/- 1.3%.