Biosynthesis of poly(2-hydroxyisovalerate-co-lactate) by metabolically engineered Escherichia coli

Jung Eun Yang, Je Woong Kim, Young Hoon Oh, So Young Choi, Hyuk Lee, A. Reum Park, Jihoon Shin, Si Jae Park, Sang Yup Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) containing 2-hydroxyacids such as lactate (LA) and 2-hydroxybutyrate (2HB) have recently been produced by metabolically engineered microorganisms. Here, we further expanded 2-hydroxyacid monomer spectrum of PHAs by engineering Escherichia coli to produce PHAs containing 2-hydroxyisovalerate (2HIV). To generate 2HIV in vivo, feedback resistant ilvBNmut genes encoding acetohydroxyacid synthase and ilvCD genes encoding ketol-acid reductoisomerase and dihydroxyacid dehydratase, respectively, and panE gene encoding d-2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenase are overexpressed. Also, pct540 gene encoding evolved propionyl-CoA transferase and phaC1437 gene encoding evolved PHA synthase are overexpressed along with ilvBNmut, ilvCD, and panE genes in E. coli strain for in vivo synthesis of 2HIV containing PHAs. E. coli strain expressing all of these genes can produce poly(13.2 mol% 2HIV-co-7.5 mol% 2HB-co-42.5 mol% 3HB-co-36.8 mol% LA) when it is cultured in a chemically defined medium containing 20 g/L of glucose and 2 g/L of sodium 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB). To produce PHA containing only 2HIV and LA monomers, poxB, pflB, adhE and frdB genes encoding enzymes involved in competing pathways for pyruvate are deleted so that cells can generate more 2HIV and LA. When this engineered E. coli strain expressing ilvBNmut, ilvCD, panE, pct540 and phaC1437 genes is cultured in the medium containing 20 g/L of glucose and 2 mM l-isoleucine, which can inhibit l-threonine dehydratase responsible for in vivo 2HB generation, poly(20 mol% 2HIV-co-80 mol% LA) can be produced to the polymer content of 9.6% w/w. These results suggest that novel PHAs containing 2HIV can be produced by engineering branched-chain amino acid metabolism.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1572-1585
Number of pages14
JournalBiotechnology Journal
Volume11
Issue number12
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Dec 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim

Keywords

  • 2-Hydroxyacids
  • Escherichia coli
  • Metabolic engineering
  • Poly(2-hydroxyisovalerate-co-lactate)
  • Polyhydroxyalkanoates

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