1
|
Ziegler AL, Ullmann L, Boßmann M, Stein KL, Liebal UW, Mitsos A, Blank LM. Itaconic acid production by co-feeding of Ustilago maydis: A combined approach of experimental data, design of experiments, and metabolic modeling. Biotechnol Bioeng 2024; 121:1846-1858. [PMID: 38494797 DOI: 10.1002/bit.28693] [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: 10/11/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Itaconic acid is a platform chemical with a range of applications in polymer synthesis and is also discussed for biofuel production. While produced in industry from glucose or sucrose, co-feeding of glucose and acetate was recently discussed to increase itaconic acid production by the smut fungus Ustilago maydis. In this study, we investigate the optimal co-feeding conditions by interlocking experimental and computational methods. Flux balance analysis indicates that acetate improves the itaconic acid yield up to a share of 40% acetate on a carbon molar basis. A design of experiment results in the maximum yield of 0.14 itaconic acid per carbon source from 100 g L - 1 $\,\text{g L}{}^{-1}$ glucose and 12 g L - 1 $\,\text{g L}{}^{-1}$ acetate. The yield is improved by around 22% when compared to feeding of glucose as sole carbon source. To further improve the yield, gene deletion targets are discussed that were identified using the metabolic optimization tool OptKnock. The study contributes ideas to reduce land use for biotechnology by incorporating acetate as co-substrate, a C2-carbon source that is potentially derived from carbon dioxide.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anita L Ziegler
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lena Ullmann
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Manuel Boßmann
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Karla L Stein
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf W Liebal
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Alexander Mitsos
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Process Systems Engineering (AVT.SVT), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- JARA-ENERGY, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research: Energy Systems Engineering (IEK-10), Forschungszentrum Jü lich GmbH, Jü lich, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Atasoy M, Álvarez Ordóñez A, Cenian A, Djukić-Vuković A, Lund PA, Ozogul F, Trček J, Ziv C, De Biase D. Exploitation of microbial activities at low pH to enhance planetary health. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2024; 48:fuad062. [PMID: 37985709 PMCID: PMC10963064 DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuad062] [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: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Awareness is growing that human health cannot be considered in isolation but is inextricably woven with the health of the environment in which we live. It is, however, under-recognized that the sustainability of human activities strongly relies on preserving the equilibrium of the microbial communities living in/on/around us. Microbial metabolic activities are instrumental for production, functionalization, processing, and preservation of food. For circular economy, microbial metabolism would be exploited to produce building blocks for the chemical industry, to achieve effective crop protection, agri-food waste revalorization, or biofuel production, as well as in bioremediation and bioaugmentation of contaminated areas. Low pH is undoubtedly a key physical-chemical parameter that needs to be considered for exploiting the powerful microbial metabolic arsenal. Deviation from optimal pH conditions has profound effects on shaping the microbial communities responsible for carrying out essential processes. Furthermore, novel strategies to combat contaminations and infections by pathogens rely on microbial-derived acidic molecules that suppress/inhibit their growth. Herein, we present the state-of-the-art of the knowledge on the impact of acidic pH in many applied areas and how this knowledge can guide us to use the immense arsenal of microbial metabolic activities for their more impactful exploitation in a Planetary Health perspective.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Merve Atasoy
- UNLOCK, Wageningen University & Research and Technical University Delft, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB,Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Avelino Álvarez Ordóñez
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology and Institute of Food Science and Technology, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Adam Cenian
- Institute of Fluid Flow Machinery, Polish Academy of Sciences, Department of Physical Aspects of Ecoenergy, 14 Fiszera St., 80-231 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Djukić-Vuković
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, Karnegijeva 4, 11120 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Peter A Lund
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection,School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Fatih Ozogul
- Department of Seafood Processing and Technology, Faculty of Fisheries, Cukurova University, Balcali, 01330, Adana, Turkey
- Biotechnology Research and Application Center, Cukurova University, Balcali, 01330 Adana, Turkey
| | - Janja Trček
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Maribor, Koroška cesta 160, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Carmit Ziv
- Department of Postharvest Science, Agricultural Research Organization – Volcani Center, 68 HaMaccabim Road , P.O.B 15159 Rishon LeZion 7505101, Israel
| | - Daniela De Biase
- Department of Medico-Surgical Sciences and Biotechnologies, Sapienza University of Rome, Corso della Repubblica 79, 04100 Latina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Helm T, Niehoff PJ, Gätgens J, Stausberg T, Pichler B, Häßler T, Wiechert W, Büchs J, Wierckx N, Noack S. Introducing molasses as an alternative feedstock into itaconate production using Ustilago sp. N Biotechnol 2023; 77:30-39. [PMID: 37336283 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2023.06.003] [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: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
In this work, we established an efficient process for the production of itaconate from the regionally sourced industrial side-stream molasses using Ustilago cynodontis and Ustilago maydis. While being relatively cheap and more environmentally friendly than refined sugars, there are some major challenges to overcome when working with molasses. Some of those challenges are a high nitrogen load, unknown impurities in the feedstock, and high amounts of ill-favoured carbon sources, such as sucrose or lactate. We could show that the activity of the sucrose-hydrolysing enzyme invertase plays a crucial role in the efficiency of the process and that the fructose utilisation differs between the two strains used in this work. Thus, with a higher invertase activity, the ability to convert fructose into the desired product itaconate, and an overall higher tolerance towards undesired substances in molasses, U. maydis is better equipped for the process on the alternative feedstock molasses than U. cynodontis. The established process with U. maydis reached competitive yields of up to 0.38 g g-1 and a titre of more than 37 g L-1. This shows that an efficient and cost-effective itaconate production process is generally feasible using U. maydis, which has the potential to greatly increase the sustainability of industrial itaconate production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabea Helm
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Paul-Joachim Niehoff
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Biochemical Engineering (AVT.BioVT), RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochem Gätgens
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Thilo Stausberg
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Bernadette Pichler
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Thomas Häßler
- Biotechnology & process development, Pfeifer & Langen GmbH & Co. KG, D-50189 Elsdorf, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Wiechert
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- Aachener Verfahrenstechnik - Biochemical Engineering (AVT.BioVT), RWTH Aachen University, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Noack
- Institute of Bio, and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, D-52425 Jülich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Niehoff PJ, Müller W, Pastoors J, Miebach K, Ernst P, Hemmerich J, Noack S, Wierckx N, Büchs J. Development of an itaconic acid production process with Ustilaginaceae on alternative feedstocks. BMC Biotechnol 2023; 23:34. [PMID: 37661280 PMCID: PMC10476437 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-023-00802-9] [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: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Currently, Aspergillus terreus is used for the industrial production of itaconic acid. Although, alternative feedstock use in fermentations is crucial for cost-efficient and sustainable itaconic acid production, their utilisation with A. terreus most often requires expensive pretreatment. Ustilaginacea are robust alternatives for itaconic acid production, evading the challenges, including the pretreatment of crude feedstocks regarding reduction of manganese concentration, that A. terreus poses. RESULTS In this study, five different Ustilago strains were screened for their growth and production of itaconic acid on defined media. The most promising strains were then used to find a suitable alternative feedstock, based on the local food industry. U. cynodontis ITA Max pH, a highly engineered production strain, was selected to determine the biologically available nitrogen concentration in thick juice and molasses. Based on these findings, thick juice was chosen as feedstock to ensure the necessary nitrogen limitation for itaconic acid production. U. cynodontis ITA Max pH was further characterised regarding osmotolerance and product inhibition and a successful scale-up to a 2 L stirred tank reactor was accomplished. A titer of 106.4 gitaconic acid/L with a theoretical yield of 0.50 gitaconic acid/gsucrose and a space-time yield of 0.72 gitaconic acid/L/h was reached. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the utilisation of alternative feedstocks to produce ITA with Ustilaginaceae, without drawbacks in either titer or yield, compared to glucose fermentations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul-Joachim Niehoff
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Waldemar Müller
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Johannes Pastoors
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Miebach
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Ernst
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Johannes Hemmerich
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Stephan Noack
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT - Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Forckenbeckstraße 51, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Elkasaby T, Hanh DD, Kawaguchi H, Kondo A, Ogino C. Effect of different metabolic pathways on itaconic acid production in engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum. J Biosci Bioeng 2023:S1389-1723(23)00139-1. [PMID: 37328405 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2023.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Itaconic acid (IA), a C5-dicarboxylic acid, is a potential bio-based building block for the polymer industry. There are three pathways for IA production from natural IA producers; however, most of the engineered strains were used for IA production by heterologous expression of cis-aconitate decarboxylase gene (cadA) from Aspergillus terreus. In this study, IA was produced by an engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC 13032 expressing two different types of genes from two distinct pathways. The first involves the mammalian immunoresponsive gene1 (Irg1) derived from Mus musculus. The second (termed here the trans-pathway) involves two genes from the natural IA producer Ustilago maydis which are aconitate-delta-isomerase (Adi1) and trans-aconitate decarboxylase (Tad1) genes. The constructed strains developing the two distinct IA production pathways: C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 pCH-Irg1opt and C. glutamicum ATCC 13032 pCH-Tad1optadi1opt were used for production of IA from different carbon sources. The results reflect the possibility for IA production from C. glutamicum expressing the trans-pathway (Adi1/Tad1 genes) and cis-pathway (Irg1 gene) other than the well-known cis-pathway that depends mainly on cadA gene from A. terreus. The developed strain expressing trans-pathway from U. maydis; however, proved to be better at IA production with high titers of 12.25, 11.34, and 11.02 g/L, and a molar yield of 0.22, 0.42, and 0.43 mol/mol from glucose, maltose, and sucrose, respectively, via fed-batch fermentation. The present study suggests that trans-pathway is better than cis-pathway for IA production in engineered C. glutamicum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taghreed Elkasaby
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 60 Elgomhoria St, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Dao Duy Hanh
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Hideo Kawaguchi
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Chiaki Ogino
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Diankristanti PA, Ng IS. Microbial itaconic acid bioproduction towards sustainable development: Insights, challenges, and prospects. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023:129280. [PMID: 37290713 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Microbial biomanufacturing is a promising approach to produce high-value compounds with low-carbon footprint and significant economic benefits. Among twelve "Top Value-Added Chemicals from Biomass", itaconic acid (IA) stands out as a versatile platform chemical with numerous applications. IA is naturally produced by Aspergillus and Ustilago species through a cascade enzymatic reaction between aconitase (EC 4.2.1.3) and cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.6). Recently, non-native hosts such as Escherichia coli, Corynebacterium glutamicum, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Yarrowia lipolytica have been genetically engineered to produce IA through the introduction of key enzymes. This review provides an up-to-date summary of the progress made in IA bioproduction, from native to engineered hosts, covers in vivo and in vitro approaches, and highlights the prospects of combination tactics. Current challenges and recent endeavors are also addressed to envision comprehensive strategies for renewable IA production in the future towards sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - I-Son Ng
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Diankristanti PA, Effendi SSW, Hsiang CC, Ng IS. High-level itaconic acid (IA) production using engineered Escherichia coli Lemo21(DE3) toward sustainable biorefinery. Enzyme Microb Technol 2023; 167:110231. [PMID: 37003250 DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2023.110231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
Itaconic acid (IA) serves as a prominent building block for polyamides as sustainable material. In vivo IA production is facing the competing side reactions, byproducts accumulation, and long cultivation time. Therefore, the utilization of whole-cell biocatalysts to carry out production from citrate is an alternative approach to sidestep the current limitations. In this study, in vitro reaction of IA was obtained 72.44 g/L by using engineered E. coli Lemo21(DE3) harboring the aconitase (Acn, EC 4.2.1.3) and cis-aconitate decarboxylase (CadA, EC 4.1.1.6) which was cultured in glycerol-based minimal medium. IA productivity enhancement was observed after cold-treating the biocatalysts in - 80 °C for 24 h prior to the reaction, reaching 81.6 g/L. On the other hand, a new seeding strategy in Terrific Broth (TB) as a nutritionally rich medium was employed to maintain the biocatalysts stability up to 30 days. Finally, the highest IA titer of 98.17 g/L was attained using L21::7G chassis, that has a pLemo plasmid and integration of GroELS to the chromosome. The high-level of IA production along with the biocatalyst reutilization enables the economic viability toward a sustainable biorefinery.
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhang Y, Chen S, Yang L, Zhang Q. Application progress of CRISPR/Cas9 genome-editing technology in edible fungi. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1169884. [PMID: 37303782 PMCID: PMC10248459 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1169884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Edible fungi are not only delicious but are also rich in nutritional and medicinal value, which is highly sought after by consumers. As the edible fungi industry continues to rapidly advance worldwide, particularly in China, the cultivation of superior and innovative edible fungi strains has become increasingly pivotal. Nevertheless, conventional breeding techniques for edible fungi can be arduous and time-consuming. CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9) is a powerful tool for molecular breeding due to its ability to mediate high-efficiency and high-precision genome modification, which has been successfully applied to many kinds of edible fungi. In this review, we briefly summarized the working mechanism of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and highlighted the application progress of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome-editing technology in edible fungi, including Agaricus bisporus, Ganoderma lucidum, Flammulina filiformis, Ustilago maydis, Pleurotus eryngii, Pleurotus ostreatus, Coprinopsis cinerea, Schizophyllum commune, Cordyceps militaris, and Shiraia bambusicola. Additionally, we discussed the limitations and challenges encountered using CRISPR/Cas9 technology in edible fungi and provided potential solutions. Finally, the applications of CRISPR/Cas9 system for molecular breeding of edible fungi in the future are explored.
Collapse
|
9
|
Genetic design of co-expressing a novel aconitase with cis-aconitate decarboxylase and chaperone GroELS for high-level itaconic acid production. Process Biochem 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2023.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
|
10
|
Becker J, Liebal UW, Phan AN, Ullmann L, Blank LM. Renewable carbon sources to biochemicals and -fuels: contributions of the smut fungi Ustilaginaceae. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102849. [PMID: 36446145 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The global demand for food, fuels, and chemicals increases annually. Using renewable C-sources (i.e. biomass, CO2, and organic waste) is a prerequisite for a future free of fossil carbon. The smut fungi Ustilaginaceae naturally produce a versatile spectrum of valuable products, such as organic acids, polyols, and glycolipids, applicable in the food, energy, chemistry, and pharmaceutical sector. Combined with the use of alternative (co-)substrates (e.g. acetate, butanediol, formate, and glycerol), these microorganisms offer excellent potential for industrial biotechnology, thereby overcoming central challenges humankind faces, including CO2 release and land use. Here, we provide insight into fundamental production capacities, present genetic modifications that improve the biotechnical application, and review recent high-performance engineering of Ustilaginaceae toward relevant platform chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Ulf W Liebal
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - An Nt Phan
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lena Ullmann
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Ploessl D, Zhao Y, Shao Z. Engineering of non-model eukaryotes for bioenergy and biochemical production. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2023; 79:102869. [PMID: 36584447 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The prospect of leveraging naturally occurring phenotypes to overcome bottlenecks constraining the bioeconomy has marshalled increased exploration of nonconventional organisms. This review discusses the status of non-model eukaryotic species in bioproduction, the evaluation criteria for effectively matching a candidate host to a biosynthetic process, and the genetic engineering tools needed for host domestication. We present breakthroughs in genome editing and heterologous pathway design, delving into innovative spatiotemporal modulation strategies that potentiate more refined engineering capabilities. We cover current understanding of genetic instability and its ramifications for industrial scale-up, highlighting key factors and possible remedies. Finally, we propose future opportunities to expand the current collection of available hosts and provide guidance to benefit the broader bioeconomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Deon Ploessl
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Yuxin Zhao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Zengyi Shao
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; NSF Engineering Research Center for Biorenewable Chemicals, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Interdepartmental Microbiology Program, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; Bioeconomy Institute, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA; The Ames Laboratory, Ames, IA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Recent Advances on the Production of Itaconic Acid via the Fermentation and Metabolic Engineering. FERMENTATION 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation9010071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Itaconic acid (ITA) is one of the top 12 platform chemicals. The global ITA market is expanding due to the rising demand for bio-based unsaturated polyester resin and its non-toxic qualities. Although bioconversion using microbes is the main approach in the current industrial production of ITA, ecological production of bio-based ITA faces several issues due to: low production efficiency, the difficulty to employ inexpensive raw materials, and high manufacturing costs. As metabolic engineering advances, the engineering of microorganisms offers a novel strategy for the promotion of ITA bio-production. In this review, the most recent developments in the production of ITA through fermentation and metabolic engineering are compiled from a variety of perspectives, including the identification of the ITA synthesis pathway, the metabolic engineering of natural ITA producers, the design and construction of the ITA synthesis pathway in model chassis, and the creation, as well as application, of new metabolic engineering strategies in ITA production. The challenges encountered in the bio-production of ITA in microbial cell factories are discussed, and some suggestions for future study are also proposed, which it is hoped offers insightful views to promote the cost-efficient and sustainable industrial production of ITA.
Collapse
|
13
|
Ullmann L, Guntermann N, Kohl P, Schröders G, Müsgens A, Franciò G, Leitner W, Blank LM. Improved Itaconate Production with Ustilago cynodontis via Co-Metabolism of CO 2-Derived Formate. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8121277. [PMID: 36547610 PMCID: PMC9784962 DOI: 10.3390/jof8121277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/07/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, it was shown that itaconic acid can be produced from glucose with Ustilago strains at up to maximum theoretical yield. The use of acetate and formate as co-feedstocks can boost the efficiency of itaconate production with Ustilaginaceae wild-type strains by reducing the glucose amount and thus the agricultural land required for the biotechnological production of this chemical. Metabolically engineered strains (U. cynodontis Δfuz7 Δcyp3 ↑Pria1 and U. cynodontis Δfuz7 Δcyp3 PetefmttA ↑Pria1) were applied in itaconate production, obtaining a titer of 56.1 g L-1 and a yield of 0.55 gitaconate per gsubstrate. Both improved titer and yield (increase of 5.2 g L-1 and 0.04 gitaconate per gsubstrate, respectively) were achieved when using sodium formate as an auxiliary substrate. By applying the design-of-experiments (DoE) methodology, cultivation parameters (glucose, sodium formate and ammonium chloride concentrations) were optimized, resulting in two empirical models predicting itaconate titer and yield for U. cynodontis Δfuz7 Δcyp3 PetefmttA ↑Pria1. Thereby, an almost doubled itaconate titer of 138 g L-1 was obtained and a yield of 0.62 gitaconate per gsubstrate was reached during confirmation experiments corresponding to 86% of the theoretical maximum. In order to close the carbon cycle by production of the co-feed via a "power-to-X" route, the biphasic Ru-catalysed hydrogenation of CO2 to formate could be integrated into the bioprocess directly using the obtained aqueous solution of formates as co-feedstock without any purification steps, demonstrating the (bio)compatibility of the two processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lena Ullmann
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Nils Guntermann
- ITMC—Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Philipp Kohl
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Gereon Schröders
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Müsgens
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Giancarlo Franciò
- ITMC—Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Walter Leitner
- ITMC—Institute for Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 2, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Energy Conversion, Stiftstraße 34-36, 45470 Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Itaconic acid production is regulated by LaeA in Aspergillus pseudoterreus. Metab Eng Commun 2022; 15:e00203. [PMID: 36065328 PMCID: PMC9440423 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2022.e00203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The global regulator LaeA controls secondary metabolism in diverse Aspergillus species. Here we explored its role in regulation of itaconic acid production in Aspergillus pseudoterreus. To understand its role in regulating metabolism, we deleted and overexpressed laeA, and assessed the transcriptome, proteome, and secreted metabolome prior to and during initiation of phosphate limitation induced itaconic acid production. We found that secondary metabolite clusters, including the itaconic acid biosynthetic gene cluster, are regulated by laeA and that laeA is required for high yield production of itaconic acid. Overexpression of LaeA improves itaconic acid yield at the expense of biomass by increasing the expression of key biosynthetic pathway enzymes and attenuating the expression of genes involved in phosphate acquisition and scavenging. Increased yield was observed in optimized conditions as well as conditions containing excess nutrients that may be present in inexpensive sugar containing feedstocks such as excess phosphate or complex nutrient sources. This suggests that global regulators of metabolism may be useful targets for engineering metabolic flux that is robust to environmental heterogeneity. The Itaconic acid biosynthetic gene cluster is regulated by laeA. LaeA is required for production of itaconic acid. Overexpression of laeA attenuates genes involved in phosphate acquisition. Global regulator engineering increases robustness of itaconic acid production.
Collapse
|
15
|
Wu M, Wu G, Lu F, Wang H, Lei A, Wang J. Microalgal photoautotrophic growth induces pH decrease in the aquatic environment by acidic metabolites secretion. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:115. [PMID: 36289523 PMCID: PMC9608927 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02212-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microalgae can absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, which causes the aquatic environmental pH to rise. However, the pH is reduced when microalga Euglena gracilis (EG) is cultivated under photoautotrophic conditions. The mechanism behind this unique phenomenon is not yet elucidated. RESULTS The present study evaluated the growth of EG, compared to Chlorella vulgaris (CV), as the control group; analyzed the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the aquatic environment; finally revealed the mechanism of the decrease in the aquatic environmental pH via comparative metabolomics analysis. Although the CV cell density was 28.3-fold that of EG, the secreted-DOM content from EG cell was 49.8-fold that of CV (p-value < 0.001). The main component of EG's DOM was rich in humic acids, which contained more DOM composed of chemical bonds such as N-H, O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O-C, and C-OH than that of CV. Essentially, the 24 candidate biomarkers metabolites secreted by EG into the aquatic environment were acidic substances, mainly lipids and lipid-like molecules, organoheterocyclic compounds, organic acids, and derivatives. Moreover, six potential critical secreted-metabolic pathways were identified. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that EG secreted acidic metabolites, resulting in decreased aquatic environmental pH. This study provides novel insights into a new understanding of the ecological niche of EG and the rule of pH change in the microalgae aquatic environment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mingcan Wu
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China ,grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Guimei Wu
- grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Feimiao Lu
- grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Hongxia Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Center for Microalgal Biotechnology and Biofuels, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Anping Lei
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
| | - Jiangxin Wang
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Wang Y, Guo Y, Cao W, Liu H. Synergistic effects on itaconic acid production in engineered Aspergillus niger expressing the two distinct biosynthesis clusters from Aspergillus terreus and Ustilago maydis. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:158. [PMID: 35953829 PMCID: PMC9367143 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01881-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Itaconic acid (IA) is a versatile platform chemical widely used for the synthesis of various polymers and current methods for IA production based on Aspergillus terreus fermentation are limited in terms of process efficiency and productivity. To construct more efficient IA production strains, A. niger was used as a chassis for engineering IA production by assembling the key components of IA biosynthesis pathways from both A. terreus and Ustilago maydis. RESULTS Recombinant A. niger S1596 overexpressing the A. terreus IA biosynthesis genes cadA, mttA, mfsA produced IA of 4.32 g/L, while A. niger S2120 overexpressing the U. maydis IA gene cluster adi1, tad1, mtt1, itp1 achieved IA of 3.02 g/L. Integration of the two IA production pathways led to the construction of A. niger S2083 with IA titers of 5.58 g/L. Increasing cadA copy number in strain S2083 created strain S2209 with titers of 7.99 g/L and deleting ictA to block IA degradation in S2209 created strain S2288 with IA titers of 8.70 g/L. Overexpressing acoA to enhance the supply of IA precursor in strain S2288 generated strain S2444 with IA titers of 9.08 g/L in shake flask. CONCLUSION Recombinant A. niger overexpressing the U. maydis IA biosynthesis pathway was capable of IA accumulation. Combined expression of the two IA biosynthesis pathways from A. terreus and U. maydis in A. niger resulted in much higher IA titers. Furthermore, increasing cadA copy number, deleting ictA to block IA degradation and overexpressing acoA to enhance IA precursor supply all showed beneficial effects on IA accumulation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China
| | - Yufei Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Cao
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China.,Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China.,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Liu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China. .,Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, People's Republic of China. .,National Technology Innovation Center of Synthetic Biology, Tianjin, 300308, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Hsiang CC, Diankristanti PA, Tan SI, Ke YC, Chen YC, Effendi SSW, Ng IS. Tailoring key enzymes for renewable and high-level itaconic acid production using genetic Escherichia coli via whole-cell bioconversion. Enzyme Microb Technol 2022; 160:110087. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2022.110087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 05/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
|
18
|
Liebal UW, Ullmann L, Lieven C, Kohl P, Wibberg D, Zambanini T, Blank LM. Ustilago maydis Metabolic Characterization and Growth Quantification with a Genome-Scale Metabolic Model. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050524. [PMID: 35628779 PMCID: PMC9147497 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is an important plant pathogen that causes corn smut disease and serves as an effective biotechnological production host. The lack of a comprehensive metabolic overview hinders a full understanding of the organism’s environmental adaptation and a full use of its metabolic potential. Here, we report the first genome-scale metabolic model (GSMM) of Ustilago maydis (iUma22) for the simulation of metabolic activities. iUma22 was reconstructed from sequencing and annotation using PathwayTools, and the biomass equation was derived from literature values and from the codon composition. The final model contains over 25% annotated genes (6909) in the sequenced genome. Substrate utilization was corrected by BIOLOG phenotype arrays, and exponential batch cultivations were used to test growth predictions. The growth data revealed a decrease in glucose uptake rate with rising glucose concentration. A pangenome of four different U. maydis strains highlighted missing metabolic pathways in iUma22. The new model allows for studies of metabolic adaptations to different environmental niches as well as for biotechnological applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ulf W. Liebal
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.U.); (P.K.); (T.Z.)
- Correspondence: (U.W.L.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Lena Ullmann
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.U.); (P.K.); (T.Z.)
| | - Christian Lieven
- Unseen Biometrics ApS, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark;
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Philipp Kohl
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.U.); (P.K.); (T.Z.)
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Genome Research of Industrial Microorganisms, CeBiTec, Bielefeld University, 33501 Bielefeld, Germany;
| | - Thiemo Zambanini
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.U.); (P.K.); (T.Z.)
| | - Lars M. Blank
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (L.U.); (P.K.); (T.Z.)
- Correspondence: (U.W.L.); (L.M.B.)
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Rong L, Miao L, Wang S, Wang Y, Liu S, Lu Z, Zhao B, Zhang C, Xiao D, Pushpanathan K, Wong A, Yu A. Engineering Yarrowia lipolytica to Produce Itaconic Acid From Waste Cooking Oil. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:888869. [PMID: 35547171 PMCID: PMC9083544 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.888869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Itaconic acid (IA) is a high-value organic acid with a plethora of industrial applications. In this study, we seek to develop a microbial cell factory that could utilize waste cooking oil (WCO) as raw material for circular and cost-effective production of the abovementioned biochemical. Specifically, we expressed cis-aconitic acid decarboxylase (CAD) gene from Aspergillus terreus in either the cytosol or peroxisome of Yarrowia lipolytica and assayed for production of IA on WCO. To further improve production yield, the 10 genes involved in the production pathway of acetyl-CoA, an intermediate metabolite necessary for the synthesis of cis-aconitic acid, were individually overexpressed and investigated for their impact on IA production. To minimize off-target flux channeling, we had also knocked out genes related to competing pathways in the peroxisome. Impressively, IA titer up to 54.55 g/L was achieved in our engineered Y. lipolytica in a 5 L bioreactor using WCO as the sole carbon source.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lanxin Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Lin Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuhui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Yaping Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Baixiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Cuiying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Dongguang Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
| | - Krithi Pushpanathan
- Food, Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Dover, Singapore
| | - Adison Wong
- Food, Chemical and Biotechnology Cluster, Singapore Institute of Technology, Dover, Singapore
- *Correspondence: Adison Wong, ; Aiqun Yu,
| | - Aiqun Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Nutrition and Safety, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of the Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin, China
- *Correspondence: Adison Wong, ; Aiqun Yu,
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Nascimento MF, Marques N, Correia J, Faria NT, Mira NP, Ferreira FC. Integrated perspective on microbe-based production of itaconic acid: from metabolic and strain engineering to upstream and downstream strategies. Process Biochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2022.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
|
21
|
Liu J, Liu J, Guo L, Liu J, Chen X, Liu L, Gao C. Advances in microbial synthesis of bioplastic monomers. ADVANCES IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY 2022; 119:35-81. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aambs.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
|
22
|
Kawaguchi H, Takada K, Elkasaby T, Pangestu R, Toyoshima M, Kahar P, Ogino C, Kaneko T, Kondo A. Recent advances in lignocellulosic biomass white biotechnology for bioplastics. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 344:126165. [PMID: 34695585 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Lignocellulosic biomass has great potential as an inedible feedstock for bioplastic synthesis, although its use is still limited compared to current edible feedstocks of glucose and starch. This review focuses on recent advances in the production of biopolymers and biomonomers from lignocellulosic feedstocks with downstream processing and chemical polymer syntheses. In microbial production, four routes composed of existing poly (lactic acid) and polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and the emerging biomonomers of itaconic acid and aromatic compounds were presented to review present challenges and future perspectives, focusing on the use of lignocellulosic feedstocks. Recently, advances in purification technologies decreased the number of processes and their environmental burden. Additionally, the unique structures and high-performance of emerging lignocellulose-based bioplastics have expanded the possibilities for the use of bioplastics. The sequence of processes provides insight into the emerging technologies that are needed for the practical use of bioplastics made from lignocellulosic biomass.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hideo Kawaguchi
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Kenji Takada
- Energy and Environmental Area, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | - Taghreed Elkasaby
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, 60 Elgomhoria st, Mansoura 35516, Egypt
| | - Radityo Pangestu
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Research Center for Biotechnology, Indonesian Institute of Sciences, Cibinong, West Java 16911, Indonesia
| | - Masakazu Toyoshima
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Prihardi Kahar
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Chiaki Ogino
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Tatsuo Kaneko
- Energy and Environmental Area, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Technology, Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, 1-1 Asahidai, Nomi, Ishikawa 923-1292, Japan
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan; Biomass Engineering Research Division, RIKEN, 1-7-22 Suehiro, Turumi, Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Lu KW, Wang CT, Chang H, Wang RS, Shen CR. Overcoming glutamate auxotrophy in Escherichia coli itaconate overproducer by the Weimberg pathway. Metab Eng Commun 2021; 13:e00190. [PMID: 34934621 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2021.e00190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Biosynthesis of itaconic acid occurs through decarboxylation of the TCA cycle intermediate cis-aconitate. Engineering of efficient itaconate producers often requires elimination of the highly active isocitrate dehydrogenase to conserve cis-aconitate, leading to 2-ketoglutarate auxotrophy in the producing strains. Supplementation of glutamate or complex protein hydrolysate then becomes necessary, often in large quantities, to support the high cell density desired during itaconate fermentation and adds to the production cost. Here, we present an alternative approach to overcome the glutamate auxotrophy in itaconate producers by synthetically introducing the Weimberg pathway from Burkholderia xenovorans for 2-ketoglutarate biosynthesis. Because of its independence from natural carbohydrate assimilation pathways in Escherichia coli, the Weimberg pathway is able to provide 2-ketoglutarate using xylose without compromising the carbon flux toward itaconate. With xylose concentration carefully tuned to minimize excess 2-ketoglutarate flux in the stationary phase, the final strain accumulated 20 g/L of itaconate in minimal medium from 18 g/L of xylose and 45 g/L of glycerol. Necessity of the recombinant Weimberg pathway for growth also allowed us to maintain multi-copy plasmids carrying in operon the itaconate-producing genes without addition of antibiotics. Use of the Weimberg pathway for growth restoration is applicable to other production systems with disrupted 2-ketoglutarate synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ken W Lu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Chris T Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Hengray Chang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Ryan S Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| | - Claire R Shen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, 101, Section 2, Kuang-Fu Road, Hsinchu, 30013, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Tiso T, Winter B, Wei R, Hee J, de Witt J, Wierckx N, Quicker P, Bornscheuer UT, Bardow A, Nogales J, Blank LM. The metabolic potential of plastics as biotechnological carbon sources - Review and targets for the future. Metab Eng 2021; 71:77-98. [PMID: 34952231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The plastic crisis requires drastic measures, especially for the plastics' end-of-life. Mixed plastic fractions are currently difficult to recycle, but microbial metabolism might open new pathways. With new technologies for degradation of plastics to oligo- and monomers, these carbon sources can be used in biotechnology for the upcycling of plastic waste to valuable products, such as bioplastics and biosurfactants. We briefly summarize well-known monomer degradation pathways and computed their theoretical yields for industrially interesting products. With this information in hand, we calculated replacement scenarios of existing fossil-based synthesis routes for the same products. Thereby, we highlight fossil-based products for which plastic monomers might be attractive alternative carbon sources. Notably, not the highest yield of product on substrate of the biochemical route, but rather the (in-)efficiency of the petrochemical routes (i.e., carbon, energy use) determines the potential of biochemical plastic upcycling. Our results might serve as a guide for future metabolic engineering efforts towards a sustainable plastic economy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Till Tiso
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Benedikt Winter
- Energy & Process Systems Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, RWTH Aachen University, Germany
| | - Ren Wei
- Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johann Hee
- Unit of Technology of Fuels, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jan de Witt
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Peter Quicker
- Unit of Technology of Fuels, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Uwe T Bornscheuer
- Department of Biotechnology and Enzyme Catalysis, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - André Bardow
- Energy & Process Systems Engineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Institute of Technical Thermodynamics, RWTH Aachen University, Germany; Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK 10), Research Center Jülich GmbH, Germany
| | - Juan Nogales
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, CSIC, Madrid, Spain; Interdisciplinary Platform for Sustainable Plastics Towards a Circular Economy-Spanish National Research Council (SusPlast-CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Current Progress in Production of Building-Block Organic Acids by Consolidated Bioprocessing of Lignocellulose. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation7040248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Several organic acids have been indicated among the top value chemicals from biomass. Lignocellulose is among the most attractive feedstocks for biorefining processes owing to its high abundance and low cost. However, its highly complex nature and recalcitrance to biodegradation hinder development of cost-competitive fermentation processes. Here, current progress in development of single-pot fermentation (i.e., consolidated bioprocessing, CBP) of lignocellulosic biomass to high value organic acids will be examined, based on the potential of this approach to dramatically reduce process costs. Different strategies for CBP development will be considered such as: (i) design of microbial consortia consisting of (hemi)cellulolytic and valuable-compound producing strains; (ii) engineering of microorganisms that combine biomass-degrading and high-value compound-producing properties in a single strain. The present review will mainly focus on production of organic acids with application as building block chemicals (e.g., adipic, cis,cis-muconic, fumaric, itaconic, lactic, malic, and succinic acid) since polymer synthesis constitutes the largest sector in the chemical industry. Current research advances will be illustrated together with challenges and perspectives for future investigations. In addition, attention will be dedicated to development of acid tolerant microorganisms, an essential feature for improving titer and productivity of fermentative production of acids.
Collapse
|
26
|
Gopaliya D, Kumar V, Khare SK. Recent advances in itaconic acid production from microbial cell factories. BIOCATALYSIS AND AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcab.2021.102130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
|
27
|
Weiermüller J, Akermann A, Laudensack W, Chodorski J, Blank LM, Ulber R. Brewers' spent grain as carbon source for itaconate production with engineered Ustilago maydis. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 336:125262. [PMID: 34044241 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is produced worldwide in millions of tons during the beer brewing process. Due to its high content of structural carbohydrates, BSG is a promising material for being valorised in biorefineries. In this study three process routes for producing itaconate from BSG hydrolysates are presented using the previously engineered smut fungi UstilagomaydisMB215Δcyp3ΔPria1::Petef as whole-cell biocatalyst. Using a fermentation medium based on BSG hydrolysate a yield of 0.38gIta/gSugar and a productivity of 0.11gIta/(L·h) were achieved. The addition of detoxified hydrothermal supernatant to the fermentation medium did not result in improved performance parameters but resulted in a decreased yield (0.29gIta/gSugar) and productivity (0.053 gIta/(L·h)). Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with hydrothermal pretreated BSG is possible, although at lower rate. In summary, the valorisation of BSG in fungal fermentations might complement the end-of-life options of this industrial side product.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jens Weiermüller
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Alexander Akermann
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Laudensack
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jonas Chodorski
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Roland Ulber
- TU Kaiserslautern, Department of Mechanical and Process Engineering, Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Gottlieb-Daimler-Straße 49, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Xu Y, Li Z. Utilization of ethanol for itaconic acid biosynthesis by engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae. FEMS Yeast Res 2021; 21:6329683. [PMID: 34320205 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foab043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, ethanol can serve as both a carbon source and NADH donor for the production of acetyl-CoA derivatives. Here we investigated the metabolic regulation of ethanol utilization for itaconic acid production by S. cerevisiae. To understand the interconnection between the TCA cycle and the glyoxylate pathway, mitochondrial membrane transporter proteins SFC1, YHM2, CTP1, DIC1, and MPC1 were knocked out and results showed that SFC1 functions as an important entrance of the glyoxylate pathway into the TCA cycle, and YHM2 is helpful to IA production but not the primary pathway for citric acid supply. To decrease the accumulation of acetic acid, the major ADP/ATP carrier of the mitochondrial inner membrane, AAC2, was upregulated and determined to accelerate ethanol utilization and itaconic acid production. RNA sequencing results showed that AAC2 overexpression enhanced IA titer by upregulating the ethanol-acetyl-CoA pathway and NADH oxidase in the mitochondrial membrane. RNA-seq analysis also suggested that aconitase ACO1 may be a rate-limiting step of IA production. However, the expression of exogenous aconitase didn't increase IA production but enhanced the rate of ethanol utilization and decreased cell growth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Zhimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Gogin LL, Zhizhina EG, Pai ZP. Production of Methacrylic Acid and Metacrylates. CATALYSIS IN INDUSTRY 2021. [DOI: 10.1134/s2070050421020057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
|
30
|
Perspectives for the application of Ustilaginaceae as biotech cell factories. Essays Biochem 2021; 65:365-379. [PMID: 33860800 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20200141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Basidiomycetes fungi of the family Ustilaginaceae are mainly known as plant pathogens causing smut disease on crops and grasses. However, they are also natural producers of value-added substances like glycolipids, organic acids, polyols, and harbor secretory enzymes with promising hydrolytic activities. These attributes recently evoked increasing interest in their biotechnological exploitation. The corn smut fungus Ustilago maydis is the best characterized member of the Ustilaginaceae. After decades of research in the fields of genetics and plant pathology, a broad method portfolio and detailed knowledge on its biology and biochemistry are available. As a consequence, U. maydis has developed into a versatile model organism not only for fundamental research but also for applied biotechnology. Novel genetic, synthetic biology, and process development approaches have been implemented to engineer yields and product specificity as well as for the expansion of the repertoire of produced substances. Furthermore, research on U. maydis also substantially promoted the interest in other members of the Ustilaginaceae, for which the available tools can be adapted. Here, we review the latest developments in applied research on Ustilaginaceae towards their establishment as future biotech cell factories.
Collapse
|
31
|
Li W, Shen X, Wang J, Sun X, Yuan Q. Engineering microorganisms for the biosynthesis of dicarboxylic acids. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 48:107710. [PMID: 33582180 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) are important commodity chemicals which have been widely applied in polymer, food and pharmaceutical industries. Biosynthesis of DCAs from renewable carbon sources represents a promising alternative to chemical synthesis. Over the years, the recombinant strains have been constructed to produce an increasing number of DCAs. In this review, recent advances on the microbial synthesis of various DCAs have been summarized and categorized into three groups: the tricarboxylic acid cycle-derived, lysine metabolism-related, and aromatic compounds degradation-derived DCAs. We focused mainly on the metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies for improving the production efficiency, including metabolic flux analysis, fine-tuning of gene expression, cofactor balancing, metabolic compartmentalization, dynamic regulation and co-culture to regulate the production at multiple levels. The current challenges and perspectives have also been discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenna Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xiaolin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Xinxiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
| | - Qipeng Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Ullmann L, Phan ANT, Kaplan DKP, Blank LM. Ustilaginaceae Biocatalyst for Co-Metabolism of CO 2-Derived Substrates toward Carbon-Neutral Itaconate Production. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7020098. [PMID: 33573033 PMCID: PMC7911105 DOI: 10.3390/jof7020098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The family Ustilaginaceae (belonging to the smut fungi) are known for their plant pathogenicity. Despite the fact that these plant diseases cause agricultural yield reduction, smut fungi attracted special attention in the field of industrial biotechnology. Ustilaginaceae show a versatile product spectrum such as organic acids (e.g., itaconate, malate, succinate), polyols (e.g., erythritol, mannitol), and extracellular glycolipids, which are considered value-added chemicals with potential applications in the pharmaceutical, food, and chemical industries. This study focused on itaconate as a platform chemical for the production of resins, plastics, adhesives, and biofuels. During this work, 72 different Ustilaginaceae strains from 36 species were investigated for their ability to (co-) consume the CO2-derived substrates acetate and formate, potentially contributing toward a carbon-neutral itaconate production. The fungal growth and product spectrum with special interest in itaconate was characterized. Ustilago maydis MB215 and Ustilago rabenhorstiana NBRC 8995 were identified as promising candidates for acetate metabolization whereas Ustilago cynodontis NBRC 7530 was identified as a potential production host using formate as a co-substrate enhancing the itaconate production. Selected strains with the best itaconate production were characterized in more detail in controlled-batch bioreactor experiments confirming the co-substrate utilization. Thus, a proof-of-principle study was performed resulting in the identification and characterization of three promising Ustilaginaceae biocatalyst candidates for carbon-neutral itaconate production contributing to the biotechnological relevance of Ustilaginaceae.
Collapse
|
33
|
Fouilloux H, Thomas CM. Production and Polymerization of Biobased Acrylates and Analogs. Macromol Rapid Commun 2021; 42:e2000530. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.202000530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Fouilloux
- PSL University Chimie ParisTech CNRS Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris Paris 75005 France
| | - Christophe M. Thomas
- PSL University Chimie ParisTech CNRS Institut de Recherche de Chimie Paris Paris 75005 France
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Becker J, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Ernst P, Blank LM, Wierckx N. An Optimized Ustilago maydis for Itaconic Acid Production at Maximal Theoretical Yield. J Fungi (Basel) 2020; 7:20. [PMID: 33396473 PMCID: PMC7824378 DOI: 10.3390/jof7010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis, a member of the Ustilaginaceae family, is a promising host for the production of several metabolites including itaconic acid. This dicarboxylate has great potential as a bio-based building block in the polymer industry, and is of special interest for pharmaceutical applications. Several itaconate overproducing Ustilago strains have been generated by metabolic and morphology engineering. This yielded stabilized unicellular morphology through fuz7 deletion, reduction of by-product formation through deletion of genes responsible for itaconate oxidation and (glyco)lipid production, and the overexpression of the regulator of the itaconate cluster ria1 and the mitochondrial tricarboxylate transporter encoded by mttA from Aspergillus terreus. In this study, itaconate production was further optimized by consolidating these different optimizations into one strain. The combined modifications resulted in itaconic acid production at theoretical maximal yield, which was achieved under biotechnologically relevant fed-batch fermentations with continuous feed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Philipp Ernst
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
| | - Lars Mathias Blank
- iAMB—Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt—Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074 Aachen, Germany; (J.B.); (H.H.T.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany;
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Blesken CC, Strümpfler T, Tiso T, Blank LM. Uncoupling Foam Fractionation and Foam Adsorption for Enhanced Biosurfactant Synthesis and Recovery. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8122029. [PMID: 33353027 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8122029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of biosurfactants is often hampered by excessive foaming in the bioreactor, impacting system scale-up and downstream processing. Foam fractionation was proposed to tackle this challenge by combining in situ product removal with a pre-purification step. In previous studies, foam fractionation was coupled to bioreactor operation, hence it was operated at suboptimal parameters. Here, we use an external fractionation column to decouple biosurfactant production from foam fractionation, enabling continuous surfactant separation, which is especially suited for system scale-up. As a subsequent product recovery step, continuous foam adsorption was integrated into the process. The configuration is evaluated for rhamnolipid (RL) or 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acid (HAA, i.e., RL precursor) production by recombinant non-pathogenic Pseudomonas putida KT2440. Surfactant concentrations of 7.5 gRL/L and 2.0 gHAA/L were obtained in the fractionated foam. 4.7 g RLs and 2.8 g HAAs could be separated in the 2-stage recovery process within 36 h from a 2 L culture volume. With a culture volume scale-up to 9 L, 16 g RLs were adsorbed, and the space-time yield (STY) increased by 31% to 0.21 gRL/L·h. We demonstrate a well-performing process design for biosurfactant production and recovery as a contribution to a vital bioeconomy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian C Blesken
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Tessa Strümpfler
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Till Tiso
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Schlembach I, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Blank LM, Büchs J, Wierckx N, Regestein L, Rosenbaum MA. Consolidated bioprocessing of cellulose to itaconic acid by a co-culture of Trichoderma reesei and Ustilago maydis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2020; 13:207. [PMID: 33317635 PMCID: PMC7737373 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-020-01835-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Itaconic acid is a bio-derived platform chemical with uses ranging from polymer synthesis to biofuel production. The efficient conversion of cellulosic waste streams into itaconic acid could thus enable the sustainable production of a variety of substitutes for fossil oil based products. However, the realization of such a process is currently hindered by an expensive conversion of cellulose into fermentable sugars. Here, we present the stepwise development of a fully consolidated bioprocess (CBP), which is capable of directly converting recalcitrant cellulose into itaconic acid without the need for separate cellulose hydrolysis including the application of commercial cellulases. The process is based on a synthetic microbial consortium of the cellulase producer Trichoderma reesei and the itaconic acid producing yeast Ustilago maydis. A method for process monitoring was developed to estimate cellulose consumption, itaconic acid formation as well as the actual itaconic acid production yield online during co-cultivation. RESULTS The efficiency of the process was compared to a simultaneous saccharification and fermentation setup (SSF). Because of the additional substrate consumption of T. reesei in the CBP, the itaconic acid yield was significantly lower in the CBP than in the SSF. In order to increase yield and productivity of itaconic acid in the CBP, the population dynamics was manipulated by varying the inoculation delay between T. reesei and U. maydis. Surprisingly, neither inoculation delay nor inoculation density significantly affected the population development or the CBP performance. Instead, the substrate availability was the most important parameter. U. maydis was only able to grow and to produce itaconic acid when the cellulose concentration and thus, the sugar supply rate, was high. Finally, the metabolic processes during fed-batch CBP were analyzed in depth by online respiration measurements. Thereby, substrate availability was again identified as key factor also controlling itaconic acid yield. In summary, an itaconic acid titer of 34 g/L with a total productivity of up to 0.07 g/L/h and a yield of 0.16 g/g could be reached during fed-batch cultivation. CONCLUSION This study demonstrates the feasibility of consortium-based CBP for itaconic acid production and also lays the fundamentals for the development and improvement of similar microbial consortia for cellulose-based organic acid production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Schlembach
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Jochen Büchs
- AVT‑Biochemical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology - iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology - ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, Germany
| | - Lars Regestein
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Miriam A. Rosenbaum
- Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans-Knöll-Institute, Jena, Germany
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich-Schiller-University, Jena, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Li J, Rong L, Zhao Y, Li S, Zhang C, Xiao D, Foo JL, Yu A. Next-generation metabolic engineering of non-conventional microbial cell factories for carboxylic acid platform chemicals. Biotechnol Adv 2020; 43:107605. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2020.107605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
|
38
|
Blesken CC, Bator I, Eberlein C, Heipieper HJ, Tiso T, Blank LM. Genetic Cell-Surface Modification for Optimized Foam Fractionation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:572892. [PMID: 33195133 PMCID: PMC7658403 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.572892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhamnolipids are among the glycolipids that have been investigated intensively in the last decades, mostly produced by the facultative pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa using plant oils as carbon source and antifoam agent. Simplification of downstream processing is envisaged using hydrophilic carbon sources, such as glucose, employing recombinant non-pathogenic Pseudomonas putida KT2440 for rhamnolipid or 3-(3-hydroxyalkanoyloxy)alkanoic acid (HAA, i.e., rhamnolipid precursors) production. However, during scale-up of the cultivation from shake flask to bioreactor, excessive foam formation hinders the use of standard fermentation protocols. In this study, the foam was guided from the reactor to a foam fractionation column to separate biosurfactants from medium and bacterial cells. Applying this integrated unit operation, the space-time yield (STY) for rhamnolipid synthesis could be increased by a factor of 2.8 (STY = 0.17 gRL/L·h) compared to the production in shake flasks. The accumulation of bacteria at the gas-liquid interface of the foam resulted in removal of whole-cell biocatalyst from the reactor with the strong consequence of reduced rhamnolipid production. To diminish the accumulation of bacteria at the gas-liquid interface, we deleted genes encoding cell-surface structures, focusing on hydrophobic proteins present on P. putida KT2440. Strains lacking, e.g., the flagellum, fimbriae, exopolysaccharides, and specific surface proteins, were tested for cell surface hydrophobicity and foam adsorption. Without flagellum or the large adhesion protein F (LapF), foam enrichment of these modified P. putida KT2440 was reduced by 23 and 51%, respectively. In a bioreactor cultivation of the non-motile strain with integrated rhamnolipid production genes, biomass enrichment in the foam was reduced by 46% compared to the reference strain. The intensification of rhamnolipid production from hydrophilic carbon sources presented here is an example for integrated strain and process engineering. This approach will become routine in the development of whole-cell catalysts for the envisaged bioeconomy. The results are discussed in the context of the importance of interacting strain and process engineering early in the development of bioprocesses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian C. Blesken
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Isabel Bator
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Christian Eberlein
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Hermann J. Heipieper
- Department of Environmental Biotechnology, UFZ - Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Till Tiso
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| | - Lars M. Blank
- iAMB - Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt - Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
- Bioeconomy Science Center (BioSC), Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Jülich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Lebeau J, Efromson JP, Lynch MD. A Review of the Biotechnological Production of Methacrylic Acid. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:207. [PMID: 32266236 PMCID: PMC7100375 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Industrial biotechnology can lead to new routes and potentially to more sustainable production of numerous chemicals. We review the potential of biobased routes from sugars to the large volume commodity, methacrylic acid, involving fermentation based bioprocesses. We cover the key progress over the past decade on direct and indirect fermentation based routes to methacrylic acid including both academic as well as patent literature. Finally, we take a critical look at the potential of biobased routes to methacrylic acid in comparison with both incumbent as well as newer greener petrochemical based processes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Lebeau
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - John P Efromson
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Michael D Lynch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Becker J, Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Gauert M, Mampel J, Blank LM, Wierckx N. An Ustilago maydis chassis for itaconic acid production without by-products. Microb Biotechnol 2019; 13:350-362. [PMID: 31880860 PMCID: PMC7017832 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ustilago maydis is a promising yeast for the production of a range of valuable metabolites, including itaconate, malate, glycolipids and triacylglycerols. However, wild-type strains generally produce a potpourri of all of these metabolites, which hinders efficient production of single target chemicals. In this study, the diverse by-product spectrum of U. maydis was reduced through strain engineering using CRISPR/Cas9 and FLP/FRT, greatly increasing the metabolic flux into the targeted itaconate biosynthesis pathway. With this strategy, a marker-free chassis strain could be engineered, which produces itaconate from glucose with significantly enhanced titre, rate and yield. The lack of by-product formation not only benefited itaconate production, it also increases the efficiency of downstream processing improving cell handling and product purity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Becker
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Marc Gauert
- BRAIN AG (Biotechnology, Research and Information Network), Darmstädter Str. 34-36, Zwingenberg, 64673, Germany
| | - Jörg Mampel
- BRAIN AG (Biotechnology, Research and Information Network), Darmstädter Str. 34-36, Zwingenberg, 64673, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- Institute of Applied Microbiology (iAMB), Aachen Biology and Biotechnology (ABBt), RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, Aachen, 52074, Germany.,Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich, 52425, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Hosseinpour Tehrani H, Saur K, Tharmasothirajan A, Blank LM, Wierckx N. Process engineering of pH tolerant Ustilago cynodontis for efficient itaconic acid production. Microb Cell Fact 2019; 18:213. [PMID: 31830998 PMCID: PMC6909570 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-019-1266-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Ustilago cynodontis ranks among the relatively unknown itaconate production organisms. In comparison to the well-known and established organisms like Aspergillus terreus and Ustilago maydis, genetic engineering and first optimizations for itaconate production were only recently developed for U. cynodontis, enabling metabolic and morphological engineering of this acid-tolerant organism for efficient itaconate production. These engineered strains were so far mostly characterized in small scale shaken cultures. Results In pH-controlled fed-batch experiments an optimum pH of 3.6 could be determined for itaconate production in the morphology-engineered U. cynodontis Δfuz7. With U. cynodontis ∆fuz7r∆cyp3rPetefmttA Pria1ria1, optimized for itaconate production through the deletion of an itaconate oxidase and overexpression of rate-limiting production steps, titers up to 82.9 ± 0.8 g L−1 were reached in a high-density pulsed fed-batch fermentation at this pH. The use of a constant glucose feed controlled by in-line glucose analysis increased the yield in the production phase to 0.61 gITA gGLC−1, which is 84% of the maximum theoretical pathway yield. Productivity could be improved to a maximum of 1.44 g L−1 h−1 and cell recycling was achieved by repeated-batch application. Conclusions Here, we characterize engineered U. cynodontis strains in controlled bioreactors and optimize the fermentation process for itaconate production. The results obtained are discussed in a biotechnological context and show the great potential of U. cynodontis as an itaconate producing host.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Hosseinpour Tehrani
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Katharina Saur
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Apilaasha Tharmasothirajan
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Lars M Blank
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Nick Wierckx
- iAMB-Institute of Applied Microbiology, ABBt-Aachen Biology and Biotechnology, RWTH Aachen University, Worringerweg 1, 52074, Aachen, Germany. .,Institute of Bio- and Geosciences IBG-1: Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|