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de Leeuw KD, van Willigen MJW, Vrauwdeunt T, Strik DPPTB. CO 2 supply is a powerful tool to control homoacetogenesis, chain elongation and solventogenesis in ethanol and carboxylate fed reactor microbiomes. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1329288. [PMID: 38720876 PMCID: PMC11076876 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1329288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Anaerobic fermentation technology enables the production of medium chain carboxylates and alcohols through microbial chain elongation. This involves steering reactor microbiomes to yield desired products, with CO2 supply playing a crucial role in controlling ethanol-based chain elongation and facilitating various bioprocesses simultaneously. In the absence of CO2 supply (Phase I), chain elongation predominantly led to n-caproate with a high selectivity of 96 Cmol%, albeit leaving approximately 80% of ethanol unconverted. During this phase, C. kluyveri and Proteiniphilum-related species dominated the reactors. In Phase II, with low CO2 input (2.0 NmL L-1 min-1), formation of n-butyrate, butanol, and hexanol was stimulated. Increasing CO2 doses in Phase III (6 NmL L-1 min-1) led to CO2 utilization via homoacetogenesis, coinciding with the enrichment of Clostridium luticellarii, a bacterium that can use CO2 as an electron acceptor. Lowering CO2 dose to 0.5 NmL L-1 min-1 led to a shift in microbiome composition, diminishing the dominance of C. luticellarii while increasing C. kluyveri abundance. Additionally, other Clostridia, Proteiniphilum, and Lactobacillus sakei-related species became prevalent. This decrease in CO2 load from 6 to 0.5 NmL L-1 min-1 minimized excessive ethanol oxidation from 30%-50% to 0%-3%, restoring a microbiome favoring net n-butyrate consumption and n-caproate production. The decreased ethanol oxidation coincided with the resurgence of hydrogen formation at partial pressures above 1%. High concentrations of butyrate, caproate, and ethanol in the reactor, along with low acetate concentration, promoted the formation of butanol and hexanol. It is evident that CO2 supply is indispensable for controlling chain elongation in an open culture and it can be harnessed to stimulate higher alcohol formation or induce CO2 utilization as an electron acceptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasper D. de Leeuw
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
- ChainCraft B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Ton Vrauwdeunt
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
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Noda S, Fujiwara R, Mori Y, Dainin M, Shirai T, Kondo A. Styrene Production in Genetically Engineered Escherichia coli in a Two-Phase Culture. BIOTECH 2024; 13:2. [PMID: 38247732 PMCID: PMC10801462 DOI: 10.3390/biotech13010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Styrene is an important industrial chemical. Although several studies have reported microbial styrene production, the amount of styrene produced in batch cultures can be increased. In this study, styrene was produced using genetically engineered Escherichia coli. First, we evaluated five types of phenylalanine ammonia lyases (PALs) from Arabidopsis thaliana (AtPAL) and Brachypodium distachyon (BdPAL) for their ability to produce trans-cinnamic acid (Cin), a styrene precursor. AtPAL2-expressing E. coli produced approximately 700 mg/L of Cin and we found that BdPALs could convert Cin into styrene. To assess styrene production, we constructed an E. coli strain that co-expressed AtPAL2 and ferulic acid decarboxylase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. After a biphasic culture with oleyl alcohol, styrene production and yield from glucose were 3.1 g/L and 26.7% (mol/mol), respectively, which, to the best of our knowledge, are the highest values obtained in batch cultivation. Thus, this strain can be applied to the large-scale industrial production of styrene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhei Noda
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan;
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Kawaguchi 332-0012, Saitama, Japan
| | - Ryosuke Fujiwara
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (R.F.); (T.S.)
| | - Yutaro Mori
- Department of Chemical Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan;
| | - Mayumi Dainin
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (R.F.); (T.S.)
| | - Tomokazu Shirai
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (R.F.); (T.S.)
| | - Akihiko Kondo
- Graduate School of Science, Technology and Innovation, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe 657-8501, Japan;
- Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan; (R.F.); (T.S.)
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Strik DPBTB, Heusschen B. Microbial Recycling of Polylactic Acid Food Packaging Waste into Carboxylates via Hydrolysis and Mixed-Culture Fermentation. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2103. [PMID: 37630663 PMCID: PMC10458239 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082103] [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: 06/09/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
To establish a circular economy, waste streams should be used as a resource to produce valuable products. Biodegradable plastic waste represents a potential feedstock to be microbially recycled via a carboxylate platform. Bioplastics such as polylactic acid food packaging waste (PLA-FPW) are theoretically suitable feedstocks for producing carboxylates. Once feasible, carboxylates such as acetate, n-butyrate, or n-caproate can be used for various applications like lubricants or building blocks for making new bioplastics. In this study, pieces of industrial compostable PLA-FPW material (at 30 or 60 g/L) were added to a watery medium with microbial growth nutrients. This broth was exposed to 70 °C for a pretreatment process to support the hydrolysis of PLA into lactic acid at a maximum rate of 3.0 g/L×d. After 21 days, the broths of the hydrolysis experiments were centrifugated and a part of the supernatant was extracted and prepared for anaerobic fermentation. The mixed microbial culture, originating from a food waste fermentation bioprocess, successfully fermented the hydrolyzed PLA into a spectrum of new C2-C6 multi-carbon carboxylates. n-butyrate was the major product for all fermentations and, on average, 6.5 g/L n-butyrate was obtained from 60 g/L PLA-FPW materials. The wide array of products were likely due to various microbial processes, including lactate conversion into acetate and propionate, as well as lactate-based chain elongation to produce medium-chain carboxylates. The fermentation process did not require pH control. Overall, we showed a proof-of-concept in using real bioplastic waste as feedstock to produce valuable C2-C6 carboxylates via microbial recycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P. B. T. B. Strik
- Environmental Technology, Wageningen University & Research, 6708 WG Wageningen, The Netherlands
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New Insights into the Physiology of the Propionate Producers Anaerotignum propionicum and Anaerotignum neopropionicum (Formerly Clostridium propionicum and Clostridium neopropionicum). Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030685. [PMID: 36985257 PMCID: PMC10053330 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Propionate is an important platform chemical that is available through petrochemical synthesis. Bacterial propionate formation is considered an alternative, as bacteria can convert waste substrates into valuable products. In this regard, research primarily focused on propionibacteria due to high propionate titers achieved from different substrates. Whether other bacteria could also be attractive producers is unclear, mostly because little is known about these strains. Therefore, two thus far less researched strains, Anaerotignum propionicum and Anaerotignum neopropionicum, were investigated with regard to their morphologic and metabolic features. Microscopic analyses revealed a negative Gram reaction despite a Gram-positive cell wall as well as surface layers for both strains. Furthermore, growth, product profiles, and the potential for propionate formation from sustainable substrates, i.e., ethanol or lignocellulosic sugars, were assessed. Results showed that both strains can oxidize ethanol to different extents. While A. propionicum only partially used ethanol, A. neopropionicum converted 28.3 mM ethanol to 16.4 mM propionate. Additionally, the ability of A. neopropionicum to produce propionate from lignocellulose-derived substrates was analyzed, leading to propionate concentrations of up to 14.5 mM. Overall, this work provides new insights into the physiology of the Anaerotignum strains, which can be used to develop effective propionate producer strains.
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Tang J, Dai K, Wang QT, Zheng SJ, Hong SD, Jianxiong Zeng R, Zhang F. Caproate production from xylose via the fatty acid biosynthesis pathway by genus Caproiciproducens dominated mixed culture fermentation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 351:126978. [PMID: 35276377 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 03/05/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Caproate production from organic wastes is deemed as a novel strategy in mixed culture fermtation (MCF). However, producing caproate from natural sugar of xylose by MCF is seldom reported and the metabolic pathway is still unclear. Thus, the caproate production from xylose was investigated in this study by mesophilic MCF. The results showed that the caproate concentration from xylose (10 g/L) was 1.2 ± 0.17 g/L (equal to 2.7 gCOD/L) under pH 5.0. Dosing extra ethanol of 5 g/L could slightly increase the caproate production by ∼ 30% (i.e., 1.6 g/L). While dosing extra acetate of 5 g/L negatively affected the caproate production, which was just 0.2 g/L. The microbial analysis illustrated that genus Caproiciproducens was a main identified caproate producer, occupying over 80% of enriched mixed culture. The fatty acid biosynthesis pathway was identified via metagenomic analysis. These unexpected differences extended the understanding of caproate production from organic wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Tang
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Kun Dai
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Qing-Ting Wang
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Si-Jie Zheng
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Si-Di Hong
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Raymond Jianxiong Zeng
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China
| | - Fang Zhang
- Center of Wastewater Resource Recovery, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350002, China.
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