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Song L, Ke J, Luo ZK, Xiong LB, Dong YG, Wei DZ, Wang FQ. Driving the conversion of phytosterol to 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum by engineering the supply and regeneration of flavin adenine dinucleotide. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:98. [PMID: 37291661 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02331-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The conversion of phytosterols to steroid synthons by engineered Mycolicibacteria comprises one of the core steps in the commercial production of steroid hormones. This is a complex oxidative catabolic process, and taking the production of androstenones as example, it requires about 10 equivalent flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD). As the high demand for FAD, the insufficient supply of FAD may be a common issue limiting the conversion process. RESULTS We substantiated, using the production of 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD) as a model, that increasing intracellular FAD supply could effectively increase the conversion of phytosterols into 9-OHAD. Overexpressing ribB and ribC, two key genes involving in FAD synthesis, could significantly enhance the amount of intracellular FAD by 167.4% and the production of 9-OHAD by 25.6%. Subsequently, styrene monooxygenase NfStyA2B from Nocardia farcinica was employed to promote the cyclic regeneration of FAD by coupling the oxidation of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to NAD+, and the production of 9-OHAD was further enhanced by 9.4%. However, the viable cell numbers decreased by 20.1%, which was attributed to sharply increased levels of H2O2 because of the regeneration of FAD from FADH2. Thus, we tried to resolve the conflict between FAD regeneration and cell growth by the overexpression of catalase and promotor replacement. Finally, a robust strain NF-P2 was obtained, which could produce 9.02 g/L 9-OHAD after adding 15 g/L phytosterols with productivity of 0.075 g/(L h), which was 66.7% higher than that produced by the original strain. CONCLUSIONS This study highlighted that the cofactor engineering, including the supply and recycling of FAD and NAD+ in Mycolicibacterium, should be adopted as a parallel strategy with pathway engineering to improve the productivity of the industrial strains in the conversion of phytosterols into steroid synthons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Song
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Intelligent Manufacturing (ECUST), China National Light Industry, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Jie Ke
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Intelligent Manufacturing (ECUST), China National Light Industry, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Zhi-Kun Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Intelligent Manufacturing (ECUST), China National Light Industry, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Liang-Bin Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Jiading District Central Hospital Affiliated Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, 201800, China
| | - Yu-Guo Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
| | - Dong-Zhi Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Intelligent Manufacturing (ECUST), China National Light Industry, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Feng-Qing Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, Newworld Institute of Biotechnology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China.
- Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Intelligent Manufacturing (ECUST), China National Light Industry, Shanghai, 200237, China.
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Zhang Y, Xiao P, Pan D, Zhou X. New Insights into the Modification of the Non-Core Metabolic Pathway of Steroids in Mycolicibacterium and the Application of Fermentation Biotechnology in C-19 Steroid Production. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065236. [PMID: 36982310 PMCID: PMC10049677 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065236] [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: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD), androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), and 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD), which belong to C-19 steroids, are critical steroid-based drug intermediates. The biotransformation of phytosterols into C-19 steroids by Mycolicibacterium cell factories is the core step in the synthesis of steroid-based drugs. The production performance of engineered mycolicibacterial strains has been effectively enhanced by sterol core metabolic modification. In recent years, research on the non-core metabolic pathway of steroids (NCMS) in mycolicibacterial strains has made significant progress. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms and metabolic modifications of NCMS for accelerating sterol uptake, regulating coenzyme I balance, promoting propionyl-CoA metabolism, reducing reactive oxygen species, and regulating energy metabolism. In addition, the recent applications of biotechnology in steroid intermediate production are summarized and compared, and the future development trend of NCMS research is discussed. This review provides powerful theoretical support for metabolic regulation in the biotransformation of phytosterols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- School of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Peiyao Xiao
- School of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Delong Pan
- School of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
| | - Xiuling Zhou
- School of Life Science, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng 252000, China
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3
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Yuan C, Ma Z, Li Y, Zhang J, Liu X, Han S, Du G, Shi J, Sun J, Zhang B. Production of 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-1,4-dien-3-one by modifying multiple genes in Mycolicibacterium. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:1563-1574. [PMID: 36729227 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12399-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
C22 steroid drug intermediates are suitable for corticosteroids synthesis, and the production of C22 steroids is unsatisfactory due to the intricate steroid metabolism. Among the C22 steroids, 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-1,4-dien-3-one (1,4-HP) could be used for Δ1-steroid drug synthesis, such as prednisolone. Nevertheless, the production of 1,4-HP remains unsatisfactory. In this study, an ideal 1,4-HP producing strain was constructed. By the knockout of 3-ketosteroid-9-hydroxylase (KshA) genes and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Hsd4A) gene, the steroid nucleus degradation and the accumulation of C19 steroids in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum were blocked. The mutant strain could transform phytosterols into 1,4-HP as the main product and 21-hydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-4-ene-3-one as a by-product. Subsequently, the purity of 1,4-HP improved to 95.2% by the enhancement of 3-ketosteroid-Δ1-dehydrogenase (KSTD) activity, and the production of 1,4-HP was improved by overexpressing NADH oxidase (NOX) and catalase (KATE) genes. Consequently, the yield of 1,4-HP achieved 10.5 g/L. The molar yield and the purity of 1,4-HP were optimal so far, and the production of 1,4-HP provides a new intermediate for the pharmaceutical steroid industry. KEY POINTS: • A third 3-ketosteroid-9-hydroxylase was identified in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum. • An 1,4-HP producer was constructed by KshA and Hsd4A deficiency. • The production of 1,4-HP was improved by KSTD, NOX, and KATE overexpression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Yuan
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhiguo Ma
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yixin Li
- Department of Biology, Waterville, ME, 04901, USA
| | - Jingxian Zhang
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiangcen Liu
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Suwan Han
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Guilin Du
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jiping Shi
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Junsong Sun
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Baoguo Zhang
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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Bioconversion of Phytosterols to 9-Hydroxy-3-Oxo-4,17-Pregadiene-20-Carboxylic Acid Methyl Ester by Enoyl-CoA Deficiency and Modifying Multiple Genes in Mycolicibacterium neoaurum. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0130322. [PMID: 36286498 PMCID: PMC9680642 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01303-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
C22 steroids are valuable precursors for steroid drug synthesis, but the development of C22 steroids remains unsatisfactory. This study presented a strategy for the one-step bioconversion of phytosterols to a C22 steroid drug precursor, 9-hydroxy-3-oxo-4,17-pregadiene-20-carboxylic acid methyl ester (9-OH-PDCE), by 3-ketosteroid-Δ
1
-dehydrogenase and enoyl-CoA hydratase deficiency with overexpression of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase acyl-CoA dehydrogenase in
Mycolicibacterium
.
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Wang XX, Ke X, Liu ZQ, Zheng YG. Rational development of mycobacteria cell factory for advancing the steroid biomanufacturing. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 38:191. [PMID: 35974205 PMCID: PMC9381402 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03369-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Steroidal resource occupies a vital proportion in the pharmaceutical industry attributing to their important therapeutic effects on fertility, anti-inflammatory and antiviral activities. Currently, microbial transformation from phytosterol has become the dominant strategy of steroidal drug intermediate synthesis that bypasses the traditional chemical route. Mycobacterium sp. serve as the main industrial microbial strains that are capable of introducing selective functional modifications of steroidal intermediate, which has become an indispensable platform for steroid biomanufacturing. By reviewing the progress in past two decades, the present paper concentrates mainly on the microbial rational modification aspects that include metabolic pathway editing, key enzymes engineering, material transport pathway reinforcement, toxic metabolic intermediates removal and byproduct reconciliation. In addition, progress on omics analysis and direct genetic manipulation are summarized and classified that may help reform the industrial hosts with more efficiency. The paper provides an insightful present for steroid biomanufacturing especially on the current trends and prospects of mycobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Xin Wang
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Choral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Ke
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Choral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhi-Qiang Liu
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Choral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China. .,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yu-Guo Zheng
- National and Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Biomanufacturing of Choral Chemicals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Synthesis of Zhejiang Province, College of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, People's Republic of China
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6
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Nunes VO, Vanzellotti NDC, Fraga JL, Pessoa FLP, Ferreira TF, Amaral PFF. Biotransformation of Phytosterols into Androstenedione—A Technological Prospecting Study. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27103164. [PMID: 35630641 PMCID: PMC9147728 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27103164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Androstenedione (AD) is a key intermediate in the body’s steroid metabolism, used as a precursor for several steroid substances, such as testosterone, estradiol, ethinyl estradiol, testolactone, progesterone, cortisone, cortisol, prednisone, and prednisolone. The world market for AD and ADD (androstadienedione) exceeds 1000 tons per year, which stimulates the pharmaceutical industry’s search for newer and cheaper raw materials to produce steroidal compounds. In light of this interest, we aimed to investigate the progress of AD biosynthesis from phytosterols by prospecting scientific articles (Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar databases) and patents (USPTO database). A wide variety of articles and patents involving AD and phytosterol were found in the last few decades, resulting in 108 relevant articles (from January 2000 to December 2021) and 23 patents of interest (from January 1976 to December 2021). The separation of these documents into macro, meso, and micro categories revealed that most studies (articles) are performed in China (54.8%) and in universities (76%), while patents are mostly granted to United States companies. It also highlights the fact that AD production studies are focused on “process improvement” techniques and on possible modifications of the “microorganism” involved in biosynthesis (64 and 62 documents, respectively). The most-reported “process improvement” technique is “chemical addition” (40%), which means that the addition of solvents, surfactants, cofactors, inducers, ionic liquids, etc., can significantly increase AD production. Microbial genetic modifications stand out in the “microorganism” category because this strategy improves AD yield considerably. These documents also revealed the main aspects of AD and ADD biosynthesis: Mycolicibacterium sp. (basonym: Mycobacterium sp.) (40%) and Mycolicibacterium neoaurum (known previously as Mycobacterium neoaurum) (32%) are the most recurrent species studied. Microbial incubation temperatures can vary from 29 °C to 37 °C; incubation can last from 72 h to 14 days; the mixture is agitated at 140 to 220 rpm; vegetable oils, mainly soybean, can be used as the source of a mixture of phytosterols. In general, the results obtained in the present technological prospecting study are fundamental to mapping the possibilities of AD biosynthesis process optimization, as well as to identifying emerging technologies and methodologies in this scenario.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Oliveira Nunes
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
| | - Nathália de Castro Vanzellotti
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
| | - Jully Lacerda Fraga
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
| | - Fernando Luiz Pellegrini Pessoa
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
- Centro Universitário SENAI CIMATEC, Salvador 41650-010, BA, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Felix Ferreira
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
| | - Priscilla Filomena Fonseca Amaral
- By&Bio—By-Products to Bioproducts Lab, Escola de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, RJ, Brazil; (V.O.N.); (N.d.C.V.); (J.L.F.); (F.L.P.P.); (T.F.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-21-3938-7623
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Zhao YQ, Liu YJ, Ji WT, Liu K, Gao B, Tao XY, Zhao M, Wang FQ, Wei DZ. One-pot biosynthesis of 7β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione from phytosterols by cofactor regeneration system in engineered mycolicibacterium neoaurum. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:59. [PMID: 35397581 PMCID: PMC8994266 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01786-5] [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: 03/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background 7β-hydroxylated steroids (7β-OHSt) possess significant activities in anti-inflammatory and neuroprotection, and some of them have been widely used in clinics. However, the production of 7β-OHSt is still a challenge due to the lack of cheap 7β-hydroxy precursor and the difficulty in regio- and stereo-selectively hydroxylation at the inert C7 site of steroids in industry. The conversion of phytosterols by Mycolicibacterium species to the commercial precursor, androst-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD), is one of the basic ways to produce different steroids. This study presents a way to produce a basic 7β-hydroxy precursor, 7β-hydroxyandrost-4-ene-3,17-dione (7β-OH-AD) in Mycolicibacterium, for 7β-OHSt synthesis. Results A mutant of P450-BM3, mP450-BM3, was mutated and engineered into an AD producing strain for the efficient production of 7β-OH-AD. The enzyme activity of mP450-BM3 was then increased by 1.38 times through protein engineering and the yield of 7β-OH-AD was increased from 34.24 mg L− 1 to 66.25 mg L− 1. To further enhance the performance of 7β-OH-AD producing strain, the regeneration of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) for the activity of mP450-BM3-0 was optimized by introducing an NAD kinase (NADK) and a glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). Finally, the engineered strain could produce 164.52 mg L− 1 7β-OH-AD in the cofactor recycling and regeneration system. Conclusions This was the first report on the one-pot biosynthesis of 7β-OH-AD from the conversion of cheap phytosterols by an engineered microorganism, and the yield was significantly increased through the mutation of mP450-BM3 combined with overexpression of NADK and G6PDH. The present strategy may be developed as a basic industrial pathway for the commercial production of high value products from cheap raw materials. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01786-5.
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8
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Yuan CY, Ma ZG, Zhang JX, Liu XC, Du GL, Sun JS, Shi JP, Zhang BG. Production of 9,21-dihydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-4-en-3-one from phytosterols in Mycobacterium neoaurum by modifying multiple genes and improving the intracellular environment. Microb Cell Fact 2021; 20:229. [PMID: 34949197 PMCID: PMC8705162 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-021-01717-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Steroid drugs are essential for disease prevention and clinical treatment. However, due to intricated steroid structure, traditional chemical methods are rarely implemented into the whole synthetic process for generating steroid intermediates. Novel steroid drug precursors and their ideal bacterial strains for industrial production have yet to be developed. Among these, 9,21-dihydroxy-20-methyl-pregna-4-en-3-one (9-OH-4-HP) is a novel steroid drug precursor, suitable for the synthesis of corticosteroids. In this study, a combined strategy of blocking Δ1-dehydrogenation and the C19 pathway as well as improving the intracellular environment was investigated to construct an effective 9-OH-4-HP-producing strain. Results The Δ1-dehydrogenation-deficient strain of wild-type Mycobacterium neoaurum DSM 44074 produces 9-OH-4-HP with a molar yield of 4.8%. Hsd4A, encoding a β-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, and fadA5, encoding an acyl-CoA thiolase, were separately knocked out to block the C19 pathway in the Δ1-dehydrogenation-deficient strain. The two engineered strains were able to accumulate 0.59 g L−1 and 0.47 g L−1 9-OH-4-HP from 1 g L−1 phytosterols, respectively. Furthermore, hsd4A and fadA5 were knocked out simultaneously in the Δ1-dehydrogenation-deficient strain. The 9-OH-4-HP production from the Hsd4A and FadA5 deficient strain was 11.9% higher than that of the Hsd4A deficient strain and 40.4% higher than that of the strain with FadA5 deficiency strain, respectively. The purity of 9-OH-4-HP obtained from the Hsd4A and FadA5 deficient strain has reached 94.9%. Subsequently, the catalase katE from Mycobacterium neoaurum and an NADH oxidase, nox, from Bacillus subtilis were overexpressed to improve the intracellular environment, leading to a higher 9-OH-4-HP production. Ultimately, 9-OH-4-HP production reached 3.58 g L−1 from 5 g L−1 phytosterols, and the purity of 9-OH-4-HP improved to 97%. The final 9-OH-4-HP production strain showed the best molar yield of 85.5%, compared with the previous reported strain with 30% molar yield of 9-OH-4-HP. Conclusion KstD, Hsd4A, and FadA5 are key enzymes for phytosterol side-chain degradation in the C19 pathway. Double deletion of hsd4A and fadA5 contributes to the blockage of the C19 pathway. Improving the intracellular environment of Mycobacterium neoaurum during phytosterol bioconversion could accelerate the conversion process and enhance the productivity of target sterol derivatives. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-021-01717-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Yang Yuan
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Zhi-Guo Ma
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Jing-Xian Zhang
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xiang-Cen Liu
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Gui-Lin Du
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jun-Song Sun
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China. .,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Ji-Ping Shi
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China.,School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Bao-Guo Zhang
- Lab of Biorefinery, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 99 Haike Road, Pudong, Shanghai, 201210, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
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9
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Mycolicibacterium cell factory for the production of steroid-based drug intermediates. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 53:107860. [PMID: 34710554 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Steroid-based drugs have been developed as the second largest medical category in pharmaceutics. The well-established route of steroid industry includes two steps: the conversion of natural products with a steroid framework to steroid-based drug intermediates and the synthesis of varied steroid-based drugs from steroid-based drug intermediates. The biosynthesis of steroid-based drug intermediates from phytosterols by Mycolicibacterium cell factories bypasses the potential undersupply of diosgenin in the traditional steroid chemical industry. Moreover, the biosynthesis route shows advantages on multiple steroid-based drug intermediate products, more ecofriendly processes, and consecutive reactions carried out in one operation step and in one pot. Androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD), androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) and 9-hydroxyandrostra-4-ene-3,17-dione (9-OH-AD) are the representative steroid-based drug intermediates synthesized by mycolicibacteria. Other steroid metabolites of mycolicibacteria, like 4-androstene-17β-ol-3-one (TS), 22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-4-ene-3-one (4-HBC), 22-hydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-1,4-diene-3-one (1,4-HBC), 9,22-dihydroxy-23,24-bisnorchol-4-ene-3-one (9-OH-HBC), 3aα-H-4α-(3'-propionic acid)-7aβ-methylhexahydro-1,5-indanedione (HIP) and 3aα-H-4α-(3'-propionic acid)-5α-hydroxy-7aβ-methylhexahydro-1-indanone-δ-lactone (HIL), also show values as steroid-based drug intermediates. To improve the bio-production efficiency of the steroid-based drug intermediates, mycolicibacterial strains and biotransformation processes have been continuously studied in the past decades. Many mycolicibacteria that accumulate steroid drug intermediates have been isolated, and subsequently optimized by conventional mutagenesis and genetic engineering. Especially, with the clarification of the mycolicibacterial steroid metabolic pathway and the developments on gene editing technologies, rational design is becoming an important measure for the construction and optimization of engineered mycolicibacteria strains that produce steroid-based drug intermediates. Hence, by reviewing researches in the past two decades, this article updates the overall process of steroid metabolism in mycolicibacteria and provides comprehensive schemes for the rational construction of mycolicibacterial strains that accumulate steroid-based drug intermediates. In addition, the special strategies for the bioconversion of highly hydrophobic steroid in aqueous media are discussed as well.
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Rohman A, Dijkstra BW. Application of microbial 3-ketosteroid Δ 1-dehydrogenases in biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 49:107751. [PMID: 33823268 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
3-Ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase catalyzes the 1(2)-dehydrogenation of 3-ketosteroid substrates using flavin adenine dinucleotide as a cofactor. The enzyme plays a crucial role in microbial steroid degradation, both under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, by initiating the opening of the steroid nucleus. Indeed, many microorganisms are known to possess one or more 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenases. In the pharmaceutical industry, 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase activity is exploited to produce Δ1-3-ketosteroids, a class of steroids that display various biological activities. Many of them are used as active pharmaceutical ingredients in drug products, or as key precursors to produce pharmaceutically important steroids. Since 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase activity requires electron acceptors, among other considerations, Δ1-3-ketosteroid production has been industrially implemented using whole-cell fermentation with growing or metabolically active resting cells, in which the electron acceptors are available, rather than using the isolated enzyme. In this review we discuss biotechnological applications of microbial 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenases, covering commonly used steroid-1(2)-dehydrogenating microorganisms, the bioprocess for preparing Δ1-3-ketosteroids, genetic engineering of 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenases and related genes for constructing new, productive industrial strains, and microbial fermentation strategies for enhancing the product yield. Furthermore, we also highlight the recent development in the use of isolated 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenases combined with a FAD cofactor regeneration system. Finally, in a somewhat different context, we summarize the role of 3-ketosteroid Δ1-dehydrogenase in cholesterol degradation by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria. Because the enzyme is essential for the pathogenicity of these organisms, it may be a potential target for drug development to combat mycobacterial infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Rohman
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia; Laboratory of Proteomics, Research Center for Bio-Molecule Engineering (BIOME), Universitas Airlangga, Surabaya 60115, Indonesia; Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
| | - Bauke W Dijkstra
- Laboratory of Biophysical Chemistry, University of Groningen, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands.
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