Exploring the synthetic applicability of a new carboxylic acid reductase from Segniliparus rotundus DSM 44985

Abstract

A new carboxylic acid reductase (CAR) gene from Segniliparus rotundus DSM 44985 was overexpressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant enzyme exhibited high activity toward a variety of aromatic and aliphatic carboxylic acids. Especially, it effectively reduced 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (8a) and 4-nitrobenzoic acid (19a), toward which the known Nocardia CAR exhibited no or little activity. The recombinant E. coli cells co-expressing the Segniliparus CAR and Nocardia PPTase genes catalyzed the reductions of vanillic acid (20a) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (25a) to give vanillyl alcohol (20c) and 3-hydroxytyrosol (25c) with high yield, respectively. The endogenous aldehyde reductases of E. coli should be responsible for the further reduction of the produced aldehydes. These results demonstrated that Segniliparus CAR was a useful addition to the biocatalyst tool-box for the reduction of carboxylic acids and might find applications in the synthesis of valuable bio-based chemicals from renewable resources.