Characterization of recombinant xylitol dehydrogenase from Galactocandida mastotermitis expressed in Escherichia coli

Biosynthetic strategies to produce xylitol: an economical venture

Xylitol is a natural five-carbon sugar alcohol with potential for use in food and pharmaceutical industries owing to its insulin-independent metabolic regulation, tooth rehardening, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-inflammatory, as well as osteoporosis and ear infections preventing activities. Chemical and biosynthetic routes using D-xylose, glucose, or biomass hydrolysate as raw materials can produce xylitol. Among these methods, microbial production of xylitol has received significant attention due to its wide substrate availability, easy to operate, and eco-friendly nature, in contrast with high-energy consuming and environmental-polluting chemical method. Though great advances have been made in recent years for the biosynthesis of xylitol from xylose, glucose, and biomass hydrolysate, and the yield and productivity of xylitol are substantially improved by metabolic engineering and optimizing key metabolic pathway parameters, it is still far away from industrial-scale biosynthesis of xylitol. In contrary, the chemical synthesis of xylitol from xylose remains the dominant route. Economic and highly efficient xylitol biosynthetic strategies from an abundantly available raw material (i.e., glucose) by engineered microorganisms are on the hard way to forwarding. However, synthetic biology appears as a novel and promising approach to develop a super yeast strain for industrial production of xylitol from glucose. After a brief overview of chemical-based xylitol production, we critically analyzed and comprehensively summarized the major metabolic strategies used for the enhanced biosynthesis of xylitol in this review. Towards the end, the study is wrapped up with current challenges, concluding remarks, and future prospects for designing an industrial yeast strain for xylitol biosynthesis from glucose.

Overcoming NADPH product inhibition improves D-sorbitol conversion to L-sorbose

Gluconobacter oxydans sorbitol dehydrogenase (GoSLDH) exhibits a higher catalytic efficiency than other l-sorbose producing enzymes. During the reaction catalysed by GoSLDH, NADP⁺ is reduced to NADPH and d-sorbitol is oxidized to l-sorbose. However, GoSLDH activity is inhibited by the NADPH (K_i = 100 μM) formed during the enzymatic reaction. Therefore, Escherichia coli_{gosldh-lrenox} producing both GoSLDH for d-sorbitol oxidation and LreNOX (NAD(P)H oxidase from Lactobacillus reuteri) for NADP⁺ regeneration was generated and used for l-sorbose production. Whole cell biocatalysts with the LreNOX cofactor recycling system showed a high conversion rate (92%) of d-sorbitol to l-sorbose in the presence of low concentration of NADP⁺ (0.5 mM). By alleviating NADPH accumulation during the catalytic reactions, E. coli_{gosldh-lrenox} exhibited 23-fold higher conversion rate of d-sorbitol than E. coli_gosldh. l-Sorbose production by E. coli_{gosldh-lrenox} reached 4.1 g/L after 40 min, which was 20.5-fold higher than that of E. coli_gosldh. We also constructed G. oxydans_gosldh and G. oxydans_{gosldh-lrenox} strains, and they exhibited 1.2- and 2.9-fold higher conversion rates than the wild-type G. oxydans KCTC 1091. The results indicate that overcoming NADPH product inhibition using LreNOX improves chemical production in NADP⁺-dependent enzymatic reactions.

Rare sugar production by coupling of NADH oxidase and l-arabinitol dehydrogenase

An efficient biocatalytic cell-free system containing l-arabinitol dehydrogenase (LAD) for l-arabinitol oxidation and NADH oxidase (Nox) for cofactor regeneration was successfully constructed and used for l-rare sugar production.

Identification of novel metabolic interactions controlling carbon flux from xylose to ethanol in natural and recombinant yeasts

BACKGROUND

Unlike xylose-converting natural yeasts, recombinant strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing the same xylose assimilation pathway produce under anaerobic conditions xylitol rather than ethanol from xylose at low specific xylose conversion rates. Despite intense research efforts over the last two decades, differences in these phenotypes cannot be explained by current metabolic and kinetic models. To improve our understanding how metabolic flux of xylose carbon to ethanol is controlled, we developed a novel kinetic model based on enzyme mechanisms and applied quantitative metabolite profiling together with enzyme activity analysis to study xylose-to-ethanol metabolisms of Candida tenuis CBS4435 (q xylose = 0.10 g/gdc/h, 25 °C; Y ethanol = 0.44 g/g; Y xylitol = 0.09 g/g) and the recombinant S. cerevisiae strain BP000 (q xylose = 0.07 g/gdc/h, 30 °C; Y ethanol = 0.24 g/g; Y xylitol = 0.43 g/g), both expressing the same xylose reductase (XR), comprehensively.

RESULTS

Results from strain-to-strain metabolic control analysis indicated that activity levels of XR and the maximal flux capacity of the upper glycolysis (UG; both ≥ tenfold higher in CBS4435) contributed predominantly to phenotype differentiation while reactions from the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway played minor roles. Intracellular metabolite profiles supported results obtained from kinetic modeling and indicated a positive correlation between pool sizes of UG metabolites and carbon flux through the UG. For CBS4435, fast carbon flux through the UG could be associated with an allosteric control of 6-phosphofructokinase (PFK) activity by fructose 6-phosphate. The ability of CBS4435 to keep UG metabolites at high levels could be explained by low glycerol 3-phosphate phosphatase (GPP, 17-fold lower in CBS4435) and high XR activities.

CONCLUSIONS

By applying a systems biology approach in which we combined results obtained from metabolic control analysis based on kinetic modeling with data obtained from quantitative metabolite profiling and enzyme activity analyses, we could provide new insights into metabolic and kinetic interactions contributing to the control of carbon flux from xylose to ethanol. Supported by evidences presented two new targets, PFK and GPP, could be identified that aside from XR play pivotal roles in phenotype differentiation. Design of efficient and fast microbial ethanol producers in the future can certainly benefit from results presented in this study.

Stepwise metabolic adaption from pure metabolization to balanced anaerobic growth on xylose explored for recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae

BACKGROUND

To effectively convert lignocellulosic feedstocks to bio-ethanol anaerobic growth on xylose constitutes an essential trait that Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains normally do not adopt through the selective integration of a xylose assimilation route as the rate of ATP-formation is below energy requirements for cell maintenance (mATP). To enable cell growth extensive evolutionary and/or elaborate rational engineering is required. However the number of available strains meeting demands for process integration are limited. In this work evolutionary engineering in just two stages coupled to strain selection under strict anaerobic conditions was carried out with BP10001 as progenitor. BP10001 is an efficient (Yethanol = 0.35 g/g) but slow (qethanol = 0.05 ± 0.01 g/gBM/h) xylose-metabolizing recombinant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that expresses an optimized yeast-type xylose assimilation pathway.

RESULTS

BP10001 was adapted in 5 generations to anaerobic growth on xylose by prolonged incubation for 91 days in sealed flasks. Resultant strain IBB10A02 displayed a specific growth rate μ of 0.025 ± 0.002 h-1 but produced large amounts of glycerol and xylitol. In addition growth was strongly impaired at pH below 6.0 and in the presence of weak acids. Using sequential batch selection and IBB10A02 as basis, IBB10B05 was evolved (56 generations). IBB10B05 was capable of fast (μ = 0.056 ± 0.003 h-1; qethanol = 0.28 ± 0.04 g/gBM/h), efficient (Yethanol = 0.35 ± 0.02 g/g), robust and balanced fermentation of xylose. Importantly, IBB10A02 and IBB10B05 displayed a stable phenotype. Unlike BP10001 both strains displayed an unprecedented biphasic formation of glycerol and xylitol along the fermentation time. Transition from a glycerol- to a xylitol-dominated growth phase, probably controlled by CO2/HCO3-, was accompanied by a 2.3-fold increase of mATP while YATP (= 87 ± 7 mmolATP/gBM) remained unaffected. As long as glycerol constituted the main by-product energetics of anaerobic growth on xylose and glucose were almost identical.

CONCLUSIONS

In just 61 generation IBB10B05, displaying ~530% improved strain fitness, was evolved from BP10001. Its excellent xylose fermentation properties under industrial relevant conditions were proven and rendered it competitive. Based on detailed analysis of growth energetics we showed that mATP was predominantly determined by the type of polyol formed rather than, as previously assumed, substrate-specific.

Identification of a xylitol dehydrogenase gene from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC1777

Xylitol dehydrogenase (XDH) (EC 1.1.1.9) is one of the key enzymes in the xylose fermentation pathway in yeast and fungi. A xylitol dehydrogenase gene (XYL2) encoding a XDH was cloned from Kluyveromyces marxianus NBRC 1777, and the in vivo function was validated by disruption and complementation analysis. The highest activity of KmXDH could be observed at pH 9.5 during 55°C. The values of k(cat)/K(m) indicate that KmXDH prefers NAD(+) to NADP(+) (k(cat)/K(m NAD)(+) 3681/min mM and k(cat)/K(m NADP)(+) 1361/min mM). The different coenzyme preference between KmXR and KmXDH caused an accumulation of NADH in the xylose utilization pathway. The redox imbalance may be one of the reasons to cause the poor xylose fermentation under oxygen-limited conditions in K. marxianus NBRC1777.

Limitations in xylose-fermenting Saccharomyces cerevisiae, made evident through comprehensive metabolite profiling and thermodynamic analysis

Little is known about how the general lack of efficiency with which recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains utilize xylose affects the yeast metabolome. Quantitative metabolomics was therefore performed for two xylose-fermenting S. cerevisiae strains, BP000 and BP10001, both engineered to produce xylose reductase (XR), NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase and xylulose kinase, and the corresponding wild-type strain CEN.PK 113-7D, which is not able to metabolize xylose. Contrary to BP000 expressing an NADPH-preferring XR, BP10001 expresses an NADH-preferring XR. An updated protocol of liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry that was validated by applying internal (13)C-labeled metabolite standards was used to quantitatively determine intracellular pools of metabolites from the central carbon, energy, and redox metabolism and of eight amino acids. Metabolomic responses to different substrates, glucose (growth) or xylose (no growth), were analyzed for each strain. In BP000 and BP10001, flux through glycolysis was similarly reduced (∼27-fold) when xylose instead of glucose was metabolized. As a consequence, (i) most glycolytic metabolites were dramatically (≤ 120-fold) diluted and (ii) energy and anabolic reduction charges were affected due to decreased ATP/AMP ratios (3- to 4-fold) and reduced NADP(+) levels (∼3-fold), respectively. Contrary to that in BP000, the catabolic reduction charge was not altered in BP10001. This was due mainly to different utilization of NADH by XRs in BP000 (44%) and BP10001 (97%). Thermodynamic analysis complemented by enzyme kinetic considerations suggested that activities of pentose phosphate pathway enzymes and the pool of fructose-6-phosphate are potential factors limiting xylose utilization. Coenzyme and ATP pools did not rate limit flux through xylose pathway enzymes.

Cloning and characterization of a thermostable xylitol dehydrogenase from Rhizobium etli CFN42

An NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase from Rhizobium etli CFN42 (ReXDH) was cloned and overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The DNA sequence analysis revealed an open reading frame of 1,044 bp, capable of encoding a polypeptide of 347 amino acid residues with a calculated molecular mass of 35,858 Da. The ReXDH protein was purified as an active soluble form using GST affinity chromatography. The molecular mass of the purified enzyme was estimated to be approximately 34 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel and approximately 135 kDa with gel filtration chromatography, suggesting that the enzyme is a homotetramer. Among various polyols, xylitol was the preferred substrate of ReXDH with a K (m) = 17.9 mM and k(cat) /K (m) = 0.5 mM(-1) s(-1) for xylitol. The enzyme had an optimal pH and temperature of 9.5 and 70 degrees C, respectively. Heat inactivation studies revealed a half life of the ReXDH at 40 degrees C of 120 min and a half denaturation temperature (T (1/2)) of 53.1 degrees C. ReXDH showed the highest optimum temperature and thermal stability among the known XDHs. Homology modeling and sequence analysis of ReXDH shed light on the factors contributing to the high thermostability of ReXDH. Although XDHs have been characterized from several other sources, ReXDH is distinguished from other XDHs by its high thermostability.

Structural enzymological studies of 2-enoyl thioester reductase of the human mitochondrial FAS II pathway: new insights into its substrate recognition properties

Structural and kinetic properties of the human 2-enoyl thioester reductase [mitochondrial enoyl-coenzyme A reductase (MECR)/ETR1] of the mitochondrial fatty acid synthesis (FAS) II pathway have been determined. The crystal structure of this dimeric enzyme (at 2.4 A resolution) suggests that the binding site for the recognition helix of the acyl carrier protein is in a groove between the two adjacent monomers. This groove is connected via the pantetheine binding cleft to the active site. The modeled mode of NADPH binding, using molecular dynamics calculations, suggests that Tyr94 and Trp311 are critical for catalysis, which is supported by enzyme kinetic data. A deep, water-filled pocket, shaped by hydrophobic and polar residues and extending away from the catalytic site, was recognized. This pocket can accommodate a fatty acyl tail of up to 16 carbons. Mutagenesis of the residues near the end of this pocket confirms the importance of this region for the binding of substrate molecules with long fatty acyl tails. Furthermore, the kinetic analysis of the wild-type MECR/ETR1 shows a bimodal distribution of catalytic efficiencies, in agreement with the notion that two major products are generated by the mitochondrial FAS II pathway.

Genetic improvement of Saccharomyces cerevisiae for xylose fermentation

There is considerable interest in recent years in the bioconversion of forestry and agricultural residues into ethanol and value-added chemicals. High ethanol yields from lignocellulosic residues are dependent on efficient use of all the available sugars including glucose and xylose. The well-known fermentative yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the preferred microorganism for ethanol production, but unfortunately, this yeast is unable to ferment xylose. Over the last 15 years, this yeast has been the subject of various research efforts aimed at improving its ability to utilize xylose and ferment it to ethanol. This review examines the research on S. cerevisiae strains that have been genetically modified or adapted to ferment xylose to ethanol. The current state of these efforts and areas where further research is required are identified and discussed.

Catalytic mechanism of Zn2+-dependent polyol dehydrogenases: kinetic comparison of sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase with wild-type and Glu154-->Cys forms of yeast xylitol dehydrogenase

Co-ordination of catalytic Zn2+ in sorbitol/xylitol dehydrogenases of the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase superfamily involves direct or water-mediated interactions from a glutamic acid residue, which substitutes a homologous cysteine ligand in alcohol dehydrogenases of the yeast and liver type. Glu154 of xylitol dehydrogenase from the yeast Galactocandida mastotermitis (termed GmXDH) was mutated to a cysteine residue (E154C) to revert this replacement. In spite of their variable Zn2+ content (0.10-0.40 atom/subunit), purified preparations of E154C exhibited a constant catalytic Zn2+ centre activity (kcat) of 1.19+/-0.03 s(-1) and did not require exogenous Zn2+ for activity or stability. E154C retained 0.019+/-0.003% and 0.74+/-0.03% of wild-type catalytic efficiency (kcat/K(sorbitol)=7800+/-700 M(-1) x s(-1)) and kcat (=161+/-4 s(-1)) for NAD+-dependent oxidation of sorbitol at 25 degrees C respectively. The pH profile of kcat/K(sorbitol) for E154C decreased below an apparent pK of 9.1+/-0.3, reflecting a shift in pK by about +1.7-1.9 pH units compared with the corresponding pH profiles for GmXDH and sheep liver sorbitol dehydrogenase (termed slSDH). The difference in pK for profiles determined in 1H2O and 2H2O solvent was similar and unusually small for all three enzymes (approximately +0.2 log units), suggesting that the observed pK in the binary enzyme-NAD+ complexes could be due to Zn2+-bound water. Under conditions eliminating their different pH-dependences, wild-type and mutant GmXDH displayed similar primary and solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects of 1.7+/-0.2 (E154C, 1.7+/-0.1) and 1.9+/-0.3 (E154C, 2.4+/-0.2) on kcat/K(sorbitol) respectively. Transient kinetic studies of NAD+ reduction and proton release during sorbitol oxidation by slSDH at pH 8.2 show that two protons are lost with a rate constant of 687+/-12 s(-1) in the pre-steady state, which features a turnover of 0.9+/-0.1 enzyme equivalents as NADH was produced with a rate constant of 409+/-3 s(-1). The results support an auxiliary participation of Glu154 in catalysis, and possible mechanisms of proton transfer in sorbitol/xylitol dehydrogenases are discussed.

A rare sugar xylitol. Part I: the biochemistry and biosynthesis of xylitol

The rare sugar xylitol is a five-carbon polyol (pentitol) that has beneficial health effects. Xylitol has global markets and, therefore, it represents an alternative to current dominant sweeteners. The research on microbial reduction of D-xylose to xylitol has been focused on metabolically engineered Saccharomycess cerevisiae and Candida strains. The Candida strains have an advantage over the metabolically engineered S. cerevisiae in terms of D-xylose uptake and maintenance of the intracellular redox balance. Due to the current industrial scale production of xylitol, it has become an inexpensive starting material for the production of other rare sugar. The first part of this mini-review concentrates on the biochemistry of xylitol biosynthesis and the problems related to intracellular redox balance.

Cloning and expression of a NAD+-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase gene (xdhA) of Aspergillus oryzae

XdhA, which encodes a xylitol dehydrogenase gene, was cloned from Aspergillus oryzae genomic DNA. It consists of 1214 bp structural region, which is interrupted by two introns, and encodes 358-amino-acid protein (38,197 Da). It is similar to the known NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.9). The gene was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21-AI using a T7 promoter. The cell-free extract of the transformant showed a 36.5 kDa band upon SDS-PAGE and NAD(+)-dependent xylitol dehydrogenase activity.

Mechanistic investigation of a highly active phosphite dehydrogenase mutant and its application for NADPH regeneration

NAD(P)H regeneration is important for biocatalytic reactions that require these costly cofactors. A mutant phosphite dehydrogenase (PTDH-E175A/A176R) that utilizes both NAD and NADP efficiently is a very promising system for NAD(P)H regeneration. In this work, both the kinetic mechanism and practical application of PTDH-E175A/A176R were investigated for better understanding of the enzyme and to provide a basis for future optimization. Kinetic isotope effect studies with PTDH-E175A/A176R showed that the hydride transfer step is (partially) rate determining with both NAD and NADP giving (D)V values of 2.2 and 1.7, respectively, and (D)V/K(m,phosphite) values of 1.9 and 1.7, respectively. To better comprehend the relaxed cofactor specificity, the cofactor dissociation constants were determined utilizing tryptophan intrinsic fluorescence quenching. The dissociation constants of NAD and NADP with PTDH-E175A/A176R were 53 and 1.9 microm, respectively, while those of the products NADH and NADPH were 17.4 and 1.22 microm, respectively. Using sulfite as a substrate mimic, the binding order was established, with the cofactor binding first and sulfite binding second. The low dissociation constant for the cofactor product NADPH combined with the reduced values for (D)V and k(cat) implies that product release may become partially rate determining. However, product inhibition does not prevent efficient in situ NADPH regeneration by PTDH-E175A/A176R in a model system in which xylose was converted into xylitol by NADP-dependent xylose reductase. The in situ regeneration proceeded at a rate approximately fourfold faster with PTDH-E175A/A176R than with either WT PTDH or a NADP-specific Pseudomonas sp.101 formate dehydrogenase mutant with a total turnover number for NADPH of 2500.

Characterization of the AXDH gene and the encoded xylitol dehydrogenase from the dimorphic yeast Arxula adeninivorans

The xylitol dehydrogenase-encoding Arxula adeninivorans AXDH gene was isolated and characterized. The gene includes a coding sequence of 1107 bp encoding a putative 368 amino acid protein of 40.3 kDa. The identity of the gene was confirmed by a high degree of homology of the derived amino acid sequence to that of xylitol dehydrogenases from different sources. The gene activity was regulated by carbon source. In media supplemented with xylitol, D-sorbitol and D-xylose induction of the AXDH gene and intracellular accumulation of the encoded xylitol dehydrogenase was observed. This activation pattern was confirmed by analysis of AXDH promoter-GFP gene fusions. The enzyme characteristics were analysed from isolates of native strains as well as from those of recombinant strains expressing the AXDH gene under control of the strong A. adeninivorans-derived TEF1 promoter. For both proteins, a molecular mass of ca. 80 kDa was determined corresponding to a dimeric structure, an optimum pH at 7.5 and a temperature optimum at 35 degrees C. The enzyme oxidizes polyols like xylitol and D-sorbitol whereas the reduction reaction is preferred when providing D-xylulose, D-ribulose and L-sorbose as substrates. Enzyme activity exclusively depends on NAD+ or NADH as coenzymes.