Extending galactose-oxidation pathway of Pseudomonas putida for utilization of galactose-rich red macroalgae as sustainable feedstock

Abstract

Marine red macroalgae has attracted researchers’ consideration as a non-lignocellulosic feedstock for microbial growth to produce biofuels and biochemical products. Gelidium amansii is representative galactose-rich red macroalgae biomass but studies on its galactose utilization are currently scarce. Herein, we engineered Pseudomonas putida KT2440 as a functional chassis for assimilation of galactose in addition to glucose in G. amansii hydrolysate. P. putida KT2440 was confirmed owning high ability to oxidize galactose to galactonate by glucose dehydrogenase. Thereafter galactose-oxidation pathway was extended by introducing galactonate transport and metabolism modules from Pseudomonas rhodesiae NL2019. The recombinant strains NL910 and NL911 were able to grow on galactose with high cell densities and growth rates, and simultaneously upgrade all red macroalgae streams, which is essential to develop a sustainable and cost-effective bioprocess for valorization of red macroalgae.