An efficient 2-keto-L-gulonic acid whole-cell biotransformation system built on the characterization of L-sorbose dehydrogenase

Abstract

There are five L-sorbose dehydrogenases (SDH_2764, SDH_2744, SDH_0718, SDH_1927, SDH_0337) in Ketogulonicigenium vulgare SPU B805 and three L-sorbose dehydrogenases (SDH_02251, SDH_02271, SDH_P100164) in K. robustum SPU_B003, which play essential roles in the classical two-step fermentation for 2-keto-L-gulonic acid (2-KGA, the precursor of vitamin C) synthesis. In this work, the above eight SDH enzymes were cloned and purified, and their optimal pH values and reaction temperatures, kinetic properties (Km and Kcat), thermal stabilities, substrate spectra, and effects of metal ions were determined. Eight SDH-harboring recombinant E.coli strains were verified to be capable to catalyze L-sorbose to 2-KGA. Additionally, the molecular docking results showed that the product 2-KGA could inhibit SDH activity by competing for the same hydrogen bonding sites with substrate L-sorbose. Finally, a novel and efficient whole-cell recycling catalysis system to overcome the product inhibition was proposed, the yield of 2-KGA reached up to 80.12 g/L with the productivity of 6.68 g/L/h. The results provide a promising prospect for selection and modification sorbose dehydrogenase for construction a one-step biotransformation system of 2-KGA.