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Shimizu T, Suzuki K, Inui M. A mycofactocin-associated dehydrogenase is essential for ethylene glycol metabolism by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:58. [PMID: 38175243 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12966-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Ethylene glycol is an industrially important diol in many manufacturing processes and a building block of polymers, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate). In this study, we found that a mycolic acid-containing bacterium Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 can grow with ethylene glycol as a sole source of carbon and energy. Deletion of a putative glycolate dehydrogenase gene (RHA1_ro03227) abolished growth with ethylene glycol, indicating that ethylene glycol is assimilated via glycolate in R. jostii RHA1. Transcriptome sequencing and gene deletion analyses revealed that a gene homologous to mycofactocin (MFT)-associated dehydrogenase (RHA1_ro06057), hereafter referred to as EgaA, is essential for ethylene glycol assimilation. Furthermore, egaA deletion also negatively affected the utilization of ethanol, 1-propanol, propylene glycol, and 1-butanol, suggesting that EgaA is involved in the utilization of various alcohols in R. jostii RHA1. Deletion of MFT biosynthetic genes abolished growth with ethylene glycol, indicating that MFT is the physiological electron acceptor of EgaA. Further genetic studies revealed that a putative aldehyde dehydrogenase (RHA1_ro06081) is a major aldehyde dehydrogenase in ethylene glycol metabolism by R. jostii RHA1. KEY POINTS: • Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 can assimilate ethylene glycol via glycolate • A mycofactocin-associated dehydrogenase is involved in the oxidation of ethylene glycol • An aldehyde dehydrogenase gene is important for the ethylene glycol assimilation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsu Shimizu
- Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2, Kizugawadai, Kizugawa-Shi, Kyoto, 619-0292, Japan
| | - Kai Suzuki
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Masayuki Inui
- Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2, Kizugawadai, Kizugawa-Shi, Kyoto, 619-0292, Japan.
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5, Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan.
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Shimizu T, Inui M. Novel aspects of ethylene glycol catabolism. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:369. [PMID: 38861200 PMCID: PMC11166783 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-024-13179-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
Ethylene glycol (EG) is an industrially important two-carbon diol used as a solvent, antifreeze agent, and building block of polymers such as poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET). Recently, the use of EG as a starting material for the production of bio-fuels or bio-chemicals is gaining attention as a sustainable process since EG can be derived from materials not competing with human food stocks including CO2, syngas, lignocellulolytic biomass, and PET waste. In order to design and construct microbial process for the conversion of EG to value-added chemicals, microbes capable of catabolizing EG such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Rhodococcus jostii, Ideonella sakaiensis, Paracoccus denitrificans, and Acetobacterium woodii are candidates of chassis for the construction of synthetic pathways. In this mini-review, we describe EG catabolic pathways and catabolic enzymes in these microbes, and further review recent advances in microbial conversion of EG to value-added chemicals by means of metabolic engineering. KEY POINTS: • Ethylene glycol is a potential next-generation feedstock for sustainable industry. • Microbial conversion of ethylene glycol to value-added chemicals is gaining attention. • Ethylene glycol-utilizing microbes are useful as chassis for synthetic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsu Shimizu
- Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2, Kizugawadai, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto, 619-0292, Japan
| | - Masayuki Inui
- Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2, Kizugawadai, Kizugawa-shi, Kyoto, 619-0292, Japan.
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, 630-0192, Japan.
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Yang J, Li Z, Xu Q, Liu W, Gao S, Qin P, Chen Z, Wang A. Towards carbon neutrality: Sustainable recycling and upcycling strategies and mechanisms for polyethylene terephthalate via biotic/abiotic pathways. ECO-ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH 2024; 3:117-130. [PMID: 38638172 PMCID: PMC11021832 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most ubiquitous engineering plastics, presents both environmental challenges and opportunities for carbon neutrality and a circular economy. This review comprehensively addressed the latest developments in biotic and abiotic approaches for PET recycling/upcycling. Biotically, microbial depolymerization of PET, along with the biosynthesis of reclaimed monomers [terephthalic acid (TPA), ethylene glycol (EG)] to value-added products, presents an alternative for managing PET waste and enables CO2 reduction. Abiotically, thermal treatments (i.e., hydrolysis, glycolysis, methanolysis, etc.) and photo/electrocatalysis, enabled by catalysis advances, can depolymerize or convert PET/PET monomers in a more flexible, simple, fast, and controllable manner. Tandem abiotic/biotic catalysis offers great potential for PET upcycling to generate commodity chemicals and alternative materials, ideally at lower energy inputs, greenhouse gas emissions, and costs, compared to virgin polymer fabrication. Remarkably, over 25 types of upgraded PET products (e.g., adipic acid, muconic acid, catechol, vanillin, and glycolic acid, etc.) have been identified, underscoring the potential of PET upcycling in diverse applications. Efforts can be made to develop chemo-catalytic depolymerization of PET, improve microbial depolymerization of PET (e.g., hydrolysis efficiency, enzymatic activity, thermal and pH level stability, etc.), as well as identify new microorganisms or hydrolases capable of degrading PET through computational and machine learning algorithms. Consequently, this review provides a roadmap for advancing PET recycling and upcycling technologies, which hold the potential to shape the future of PET waste management and contribute to the preservation of our ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaqi Yang
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhiling Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Qiongying Xu
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Wenzong Liu
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Shuhong Gao
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Peiwu Qin
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhenglin Chen
- Institute of Biopharmaceutical and Health Engineering, Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Tsinghua-Berkeley Shenzhen Institute, Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Aijie Wang
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen 518055, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resources and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
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Wagner N, Wen L, Frazão CJR, Walther T. Next-generation feedstocks methanol and ethylene glycol and their potential in industrial biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108276. [PMID: 37918546 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fermentation processes are expected to play an important role in reducing dependence on fossil-based raw materials for the production of everyday chemicals. In order to meet the growing demand for biotechnological products in the future, alternative carbon sources that do not compete with human nutrition must be exploited. The chemical conversion of the industrially emitted greenhouse gas CO2 into microbially utilizable platform chemicals such as methanol represents a sustainable strategy for the utilization of an abundant carbon source and has attracted enormous scientific interest in recent years. A relatively new approach is the microbial synthesis of products from the C2-compound ethylene glycol, which can also be synthesized from CO2 and non-edible biomass and, in addition, can be recovered from plastic waste. Here we summarize the main chemical routes for the synthesis of methanol and ethylene glycol from sustainable resources and give an overview of recent metabolic engineering work for establishing natural and synthetic microbial assimilation pathways. The different metabolic routes for C1 and C2 alcohol-dependent bioconversions were compared in terms of their theoretical maximum yields and their oxygen requirements for a wide range of value-added products. Assessment of the process engineering challenges for methanol and ethylene glycol-based fermentations underscores the theoretical advantages of new synthetic metabolic routes and advocates greater consideration of ethylene glycol, a C2 substrate that has received comparatively little attention to date.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Wagner
- TU Dresden, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Bergstraße 120, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Linxuan Wen
- TU Dresden, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Bergstraße 120, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Cláudio J R Frazão
- TU Dresden, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Bergstraße 120, 01062 Dresden, Germany
| | - Thomas Walther
- TU Dresden, Institute of Natural Materials Technology, Bergstraße 120, 01062 Dresden, Germany.
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François JM. Progress advances in the production of bio-sourced methionine and its hydroxyl analogues. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 69:108259. [PMID: 37734648 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
The essential sulphur-containing amino acid, methionine, is becoming a mass-commodity product with an annual production that exceeded 1,500,000 tons in 2018. This amino acid is today almost exclusively produced by chemical process from fossil resources. The environmental problems caused by this industrial process, and the expected scarcity of oil resources in the coming years, have recently accelerated the development of bioprocesses for producing methionine from renewable carbon feedstock. After a brief description of the chemical process and the techno-economic context that still justify the production of methionine by petrochemical processes, this review will present the current state of the art of biobased alternatives aiming at a sustainable production of this amino acid and its hydroxyl analogues from renewable carbon feedstock. In particular, this review will focus on three bio-based processes, namely a purely fermentative process based on the metabolic engineering of the natural methionine pathway, a mixed process combining the production of the O-acetyl/O-succinyl homoserine intermediate of this pathway by fermentation followed by an enzyme-based conversion of this intermediate into L-methionine and lately, a hybrid process in which the non-natural chemical synthon, 2,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, obtained by fermentation of sugars is converted by chemo-catalysis into hydroxyl methionine analogues. The industrial potential of these three bioprocesses, as well as the major technical and economic obstacles that remain to be overcome to reach industrial maturity are discussed. This review concludes by bringing up the assets of these bioprocesses to meet the challenge of the "green transition", with the accomplishment of the objective "zero carbon" by 2050 and how they can be part of a model of Bioeconomy enhancing local resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean Marie François
- Toulouse Biotechnology Institute, UMR INSA -CNRS5504 and UMR INSA-INRAE 792, 135 avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France; Toulouse White Biotechnology, UMS INRAE-INSA-CNRS, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse, France.
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