Cell Biocatalyst Research Articles

Construction of a simple biocatalyst using psychrophilic bacterial cells and its application for efficient 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde production from glycerol

Most whole cell biocatalysts have some problems with yields and productivities because of various metabolites produced as byproducts and limitations of substrate uptake. We propose a psychrophile-based simple biocatalyst for efficient bio-production using mesophilic enzymes expressed in psychrophilic Shewanella livingstonensis Ac10 cells whose basic metabolism was inactivated by heat treatment. The 45°C heat-treated cells expressing lacZ showed maximum beta-galactosidase activity as well as chloroform/SDS-treated cells to increase membrane permeability. The fluorescent dye 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl-tetrazolium chloride staining indicated that most basic metabolism of Ac10 was lost by heat treatment at 45˚C for 10 min. The simple biocatalyst was applied for 3-HPA production by using Klebsiella pneumoniae dhaB genes. 3-HPA was stoichiometrically produced with the complete consumption of glycerol at a high production rate of 8.85 mmol 3-HPA/g dry cell/h. The amount of 3-HPA production increased by increasing the concentrations of biocatalyst and glycerol. Furthermore, it could convert biodiesel-derived crude glycerol to 3-HPA.

Synthesis of nylon 4 from gamma-aminobutyrate (GABA) produced by recombinant Escherichia coli

In this study, we developed recombinant Escherichia coli strains expressing Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis Il1403 glutamate decarboxylase (GadB) for the production of GABA from glutamate monosodium salt (MSG). Syntheses of GABA from MSG were examined by employing recombinant E. coli XL1-Blue as a whole cell biocatalyst in buffer solution. By increasing the concentration of E. coli XL1-Blue expressing GadB from the OD₆₀₀ of 2-10, the concentration and conversion yield of GABA produced from 10 g/L of MSG could be increased from 4.3 to 4.8 g/L and from 70 to 78 %, respectively. Furthermore, E. coli XL1-Blue expressing GadB highly concentrated to the OD₆₀₀ of 100 produced 76.2 g/L of GABA from 200 g/L of MSG with 62.4 % of GABA yield. Finally, nylon 4 could be synthesized by the bulk polymerization using 2-pyrrolidone that was prepared from microbially synthesized GABA by the reaction with Al₂O₃ as catalyst in toluene with the yield of 96 %.

Dependence of catalytic performance of a freeze-dried whole-cell biocatalyst of Pseudomonas fluorescens in regioselective acetylation of 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine on growth conditions

A freeze-dried whole-cell biocatalyst was prepared from Pseudomonas fluorescens and applied for the first time to regioselective synthesis of 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine monoester in nonaqueous media. The catalytic performances of the bacterial cells were significantly enhanced by cultivation with a mixed carbon sources containing yeast extract and additional lipid-related substrates, especially the supplement of soybean oil. Cultivation of the cells supplemented with glucose, however, resulted in both low biomass and catalytic activities in the acylation. Taking into account the yield and 5′-regioselectivity of the cell-mediated reaction, yeast extract appeared to be the most suitable for cell cultivation, of all the tested nitrogen sources. Due to the fact that the nutrient concentrations and culture time are also crucial factors affecting the corresponding cell-catalyzed reaction, their effect on the catalytic performance of the cells were also investigated. The best soybean oil concentration, yeast extract concentration and culture time were 0.5% (w/v), 0.1% (w/v) and 48h, respectively, under which the yield and 5′-regioselectivity of the reaction catalyzed by the cell biocatalyst reached 75.4% and 96.8%, respectively. Our results demonstrated that P. fluorescens whole cell was a green and economic alternative to enzymes for regioselective acylation of ara-C in non-aqueous media.

Comparative analysis for the production of fatty acid alkyl esterase using whole cell biocatalyst and purified enzyme from Rhizopus oryzae on waste cooking oil (sunflower oil)

The petroleum fuel is nearing the line of extinction. Recent research and technology have provided promising outcomes to rely on biodiesel as the alternative and conventional source of fuel. The use of renewable source – vegetable oil constitutes the main stream of research. In this preliminary study, Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) was used as the substrate for biodiesel production. Lipase enzyme producing fungi Rhizopus oryzae 262 and commercially available pure lipase enzyme were used for comparative study in the production of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters (FAAE). The whole cell (RO 262) and pure lipase enzyme (PE) were immobilized using calcium alginate beads. Calcium alginate was prepared by optimizing with different molar ratios of calcium chloride and different per cent sodium alginate. Entrapment immobilization was done for whole cell biocatalyst (WCB). PE was also immobilized by entrapment for the transesterification reaction. Seven different solvents – methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, iso-propanol, iso-butanol and iso-amyl alcohol were used as the acyl acceptors. The reaction parameters like temperature (30°C), molar ratio (1:3 – oil:solvent), reaction time (24h), and amount of enzyme (10% mass ratio to oil) were also optimized for methanol alone. The same parameters were adopted for the other acyl acceptors too. Among the different acyl acceptors – methanol, whose reaction parameters were optimized showed maximum conversion of triglycerides to FAAE-94% with PE and 84% with WCB. On the whole, PE showed better catalytic converting ability with all the acyl acceptor compared to WCB. Gas chromatography analysis (GC) was done to determine the fatty acid composition of WCO (sunflower oil) and FAAE production with different acyl acceptors.

Modeling of permeabilization process in Pseudomonas putida G7 for enhanced limonin bioconversion

A facile process of enhanced whole cell biotransformation to debitter the triterpenoid limonin in citrus juices was optimized in this work. To maximize bioconversion, permeabilization conditions were modeled using response surface methodology. A central composite rotatable design with four significant variables (concentration, temperature, pH, and treatment time) was employed. The second order polynomial equations with R² values above 0.9 showed good correspondence between experimental and predicted values. The concentration, temperature, pH, and treatment time as well as their interactions had significant effects (p < 0.001) on limonin bioconversion. The optimum operating conditions for permeabilization were observed at a Na₂EDTA concentration of 1.5 μM, treatment time of 15 min, temperature of 28 °C, and pH 8. A maximum reduction of 76.71% in the limonin content was achieved within 150 min under selected conditions. The results are promising for refining permeabilization technique for whole cell biocatalysts thereby improving the debittering of citrus juices significantly.

Screening, immobilization and utilization of whole cell biocatalysts to mediate the ethanolysis of babassu oil

Abstract The screening, biomass growth of lipase-producing fungus isolated from different sources and available at URM (University Recife Mycologia), as well as, the immobilization and utilization of the whole cells for the transesterification of babassu oil were investigated. Rhizopus oryzae (URM 3231, 4692), Mucor circinelloides (URM 4140, 4182) and Penicillium citrinum URM 4216 were considered to be good intracellular lipase producers whereas those from Mucor hiemalis URM 4144 and Mucor piriformis URM 4145 were weaker. Fungi biomass containing high lipase activities was immobilized on different biomass support particles (BSPs) and with the exception of Penicillium citrinum URM 4216 all the other fungi strains exhibited high lipase activity (20–50 U g −1 ) when immobilized in situ using polyurethane foam particles. Transesterification activities of the immobilized whole cells were evaluated in the ethanolysis reaction with babassu oil and the highest performance was attained by M. circinelloides URM 4182 giving 83.22 ± 3.68% ester yield in less than 96 h reaction. The biocatalyst operational stability was also assessed and an inactivation profile was found to follow the Arrhenius model, revealing values of 26 days and 2.6 × 10 −2 day −1 , for half-life and a deactivation coefficient, respectively. The purified product (biodiesel) exhibited viscosity (6.63 cSt) close to the value to attend specifications by the ASTM D6751 to be used as biofuel. Results are favorable compared with data already reported in the literature and demonstrated that M. circinelloides URM 4182 whole cells is a cheaper biocatalyst that can be used in the biodiesel synthesis.

Potential of magnetically responsive (nano)biocomposites

Different types of biological materials are available for an enormous amount of bioscience, biotechnology and environmental technology applications. These materials are mainly diamagnetic, which means they do not interact significantly with an external magnetic field. However, several procedures can be used to convert biological materials into magnetically responsive composite materials which can be efficiently separated using simple magnets or magnetic separation systems. The prepared magnetic biocomposites can be used for many applications, such as magnetic removal and separation of xenobiotics and biologically active compounds, immobilization of target compounds, as parts of biosensors or as whole cell biocatalysts.

Stereoselective synthesis of bulky 1,2-diols with alcohol dehydrogenases

Although biotransformations implementing alcohol dehydrogenases (ADHs) are widespread, enzymes which catalyse the reduction and oxidation of sterically demanding substrates, especially 2-hydroxy ketones, are still rare. To fill this gap eight ADHs were investigated concerning their potential to reduce bulky 2-hydroxy ketones. All of these enzymes showed good activities along with excellent enantio- (ee > 99%) and diastereoselectivities (de > 99%). Due to their differences in substrate preferences and stereoselectivity a broad range of diastereomerically pure 1,2-diols is now accessible via biotransformation. Best results were obtained using the alcohol dehydrogenase from Ralstonia sp. (Cupriavidus sp.) (RADH), which showed a broad substrate range, especially for sterically demanding compounds. Araliphatic 2-hydroxy ketones, like (R)-2-hydroxy-1-phenylpropan-1-one ((R)-2-HPP), were reduced much faster than aliphatic or aromatic aldehydes (e.g. benzaldehyde) under the applied conditions. Additionally (R)- as well as (S)-2-hydroxy ketones were converted with high diastereoselectivities (de > 99%). RADH, which was up to now only studied as a whole cell biocatalyst overexpressed in E. coli, was purified and thoroughly characterised concerning its catalytic properties.

Saccharomyces cerevisiae를 이용한 3-chloro-4-fluoropropiophenone 환원 반응 최적화

Reduction of 3-chloro-4-fluoropropiophenone by Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a whole cell biocatalyst was optimized. Effects of glucose, S. cerevisiae and 3-chloro-4-fluoropropiophenone concentrations on conversion of reduction reaction was investigated. Optimum concentrations of glucose, S. cerevisiae and 3-chloro-4-fluoropropiophenone were 100, 40 and 20 g/L, respectively. At optimum condition, 100% of conversion was achieved in 12 hours of reaction.

Preparation of a promising whole cell biocatalyst of Geotrichum sp. lipase and its properties

BACKGROUND: As a new protein expression and self-immobilization system, cell-surface displayed enzymes have attracted increasing attention. In this study, Geotrichum sp. lipase (GSL), an important enzyme for the enrichment of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), was first displayed on the cell surface of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. RESULTS: The activity of displayed GSL was higher (43.7 U g−1 dry cell) than that of Candida antarctica lipase B (26.26 U g−1 dry cell) and that of Rhizopus oryzae lipase (4.1 U g−1 dry cell). It also exhibited higher thermostability than the free lipase, and retained 89% of the original activity after incubation at 40 °C for 3 h, compared with 48% at 35 °C for the free lipase at pH 8.5. Interestingly, the displayed lipase had a wider pH range and better pH stability. It had higher activity at all pH values than the free GSL, and retained 86% of the original activity in the pH range 9.5 to 10.5, whereas the activity of the free GSL could not be detected at pH 10. CONCLUSION: This work presented a method to prepare a whole-cell biocatalyst with better stability and broader pH tolerance which will provide a useful strategy for other cost-effective self-immobilized industrial lipases. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry

Selection of a New Whole Cell Biocatalyst for the Synthesis of 2-Deoxyribose 5-Phosphate

2-deoxyribose 5-phosphate (DR5P) is a key intermediate in the biocatalyzed preparation of deoxyribonucleosides. Therefore, DR5P production by means of simpler, cleaner, and economic pathways becomes highly interesting. One strategy involves the use of bacterial whole cells containing DR5P aldolase as biocatalyst for the aldol addition between acetaldehyde and D: -glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate or glycolytic intermediates that in situ generate the acceptor substrate. In this work, diverse microorganisms capable of synthesizing DR5P were selected by screening several bacteria genera. In particular, Erwinia carotovora ATCC 33260 was identified as a new biocatalyst that afforded 14.1-mM DR5P starting from a cheap raw material like glucose.

Construction of a Yeast Cell-Surface Display System and Expression of&lt;i&gt; Trametes sp. laccase&lt;/i&gt;

Laccases (1.10.3.2, p-diphenol: dioxygen oxidoreductases) is a family of blue copper-containing oxidases that are commonly found in bacteria, fungi and plants. It is able to oxidize and degrade a variety of aromatic compounds and other organic compounds. Due to this ability, laccases can serve environmental bioremediation processes and industrial purposes. Cell-surface display of enzymes is one of the most attractive applications in yeast. It is a effective utilization to construct the whole cell biocatalyst. The cDNA sequence of Trametes sp. C30 LAC3 was optimized and synthesized according to the codon bias of Saccharomyces Italic textcerevisiae, because codon optimization has been proved to be effective to maximize production of heterologous proteins in yeast. The genes encoding galactokinase (GAL1) promoter, α-mating factor 1 (MFα1) pre-pro secretion signal, fully codon-optimized LAC3, the 320 amino acids of C terminal of α-agglutinin, alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH1) terminator and kanMX cassette were amplified and cloned into YEplac181 to construct a cell-surface display vector called pGMAAK-lac3 with α-agglutinin as an anchor. Then pGMAAK-lac3 was transformed into S. cerevisiae. The results show LAC3 was immobilized and actively expressed on S. cerevisiae. However, the substrate specifity and activity were obviously changed. The displayed LAC3 lost the activity to phenolic substrate (guaiacol) and its activity to non-phenolic substrate (ABTS) was greatly reduced. To our knowledge, this was the first attempt to construct and express laccase through cell-surface display technology.

Optimisation of surface expression using the AIDA autotransporter

BackgroundBacterial surface display is of interest in many applications, including live vaccine development, screening of protein libraries and the development of whole cell biocatalysts. The goal of this work was to understand which parameters result in production of large quantities of cells that at the same time express desired levels of the chosen protein on the cell surface. For this purpose, staphylococcal protein Z was expressed using the AIDA autotransporter in Escherichia coli.ResultsThe use of an OmpT-negative E. coli mutant resulted in successful expression of the protein on the surface, while a clear degradation pattern was found in the wild type. The expression in the mutant resulted also in a more narrow distribution of the surface-anchored protein within the population. Medium optimisation showed that minimal medium with glucose gave more than four times as high expression as LB-medium. Glucose limited fed-batch was used to increase the cell productivity and the highest protein levels were found at the highest feed rates. A maintained high surface expression up to cell dry weights of 18 g l-1 could also be achieved by repeated glucose additions in batch cultivation where production was eventually reduced by low oxygen levels. In spite of this, the distribution in the bacterial population of the surface protein was narrower using the batch technique.ConclusionsA number of parameters in recombinant protein production were seen to influence the surface expression of the model protein with respect both to the productivity and to the display on the individual cell. The choice of medium and the cell design to remove proteolytic cleavage were however the most important. Both fed-batch and batch processing can be successfully used, but prolonged batch processing is probably only possible if the chosen strain has a low acetic acid production.

Asymmetric reduction of a ketone by wet and lyophilized cells of Geotrichum candidum in organic solvents

Sixteen organic co-solvents were screened for stereoselective reduction of 1-acetonapthone in aqueous media by whole cells of Geotrichum candidum. Benzyl alcohol was found to be a good co-solvent as it afforded a high coversion and reduced deactivation of the cells. Half-lives of the wet and lyophilized whole cell biocatalysts in pure benzyl alcohol were 23.07 and 11.21 hours, respectively. The initial reaction rates at 30°C were 13.1 and 11.0μmol/min, respectively, for the wet and lyophilized cells. With optimized conditions in a reaction medium containing phosphate buffer and benzyl alcohol (1:1 by vol) with 230mM 1-acetonapthone, more than 98% and 81% conversion (ee >99%) was achieved in 5 hours with the wet and lyophilized cells, respectively. Both the cell preparations showed maximum conversion at 30°C. A thermodynamic characterization revealed that the wet cells were more thermostable than the lyophilized cells. The calculated half-life of the wet cells at pH 7 was 93 hours, whereas that of the lyophilized cells was 71 hours at the same condition.

Effects of bmim[PF6] treatments with different concentrations on microbial activity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

To study the role of ionic liquid as a solvent in whole cell biocatalyst, it is necessary to probe the effects of ionic liquid treatments on microbial activity. In this paper, Saccharomyces cerevisiae was selected as a test bacterium to study the effects of bmim[PF6] ionic liquid in different concentration on yeast activity through determining the growth curve, sugar degradation curve, microbial activity, colonial morphology and cell morphology. The results revealed that the growth of yeast is inhibited strongly in low concentration ionic liquid, while the lethal effect is feeble in high concentration ionic liquid. This result was totally different from that of supercritical CO2 treatment or high concentration benzene methanol treatment which would lead most yeast to death.

Biodiesel production from isolated oleaginous fungi Aspergillus sp. using corncob waste liquor as a substrate

The study documented the potential of isolated filamentous fungus Aspergillus sp. as whole cell biocatalyst for biodiesel production using Sabourauds dextrose broth medium (SDBM) and corncob waste liquor (CWL) as substrates. SDBM showed improvement in both biomass production (13.6g dry weight/1000ml) and lipid productivity (23.3%) with time. Lipid extraction was performed by direct (DTE) and indirect (IDTE) transesterification methods. DTE showed higher transesterification efficiency with broad spectrum of fatty acids profile over IDTE. CWL as substrate showed good lipid productivity (22.1%; 2g dry biomass; 48h) along with efficient substrate degradation. Lipids derived from both substrates depicted high fraction of saturated fatty acids than unsaturated ones. Physical characteristics of fungal based biodiesel correlated well with prescribed standards. CWL derived biodiesel showed relatively good fuel properties (acid number, 0.40mg KOH/g of acid; iodine value, 11g I2/100g oil; density, 0.8342g/cm3) than SDBM derived biodiesel.

Development of a Whole Cell Biocatalyst for the Efficient Prenylation of Indole Derivatives by Autodisplay of the Aromatic Prenyltransferase FgaPT2

AbstractThe following study depicts the development of a whole cell biocatalyst for the prenylation of indole derivatives. For this purpose the prenyltransferase FgaPT2 from Aspergillus fumigatus was displayed on the surface of Escherichia coli cells by using Autodisplay. The presence of the prenyltransferase in the outer membrane was detected by using SDS‐PAGE and Western Blot after the proteins of the outer membrane were isolated. The orientation of the prenyltransferase towards the outside of the cells was investigated by accessibility testing with externally added proteases. The FgaPT2 whole cell biocatalyst converted up to 250 μM of indole‐3‐propionic acid, approximately 25 % of the substrate used in the assay (100 μL sample, OD578=40). Another indole substrate, L‐β‐homotryptophan was also investigated and a conversion of 13 % was determined. By optimizing the assay conditions the conversion rate could be raised to approximately 30 % of indole‐3‐propionic acid during a 24 h incubation time at 20 °C. The whole cell biocatalyst endured a storage period of one month at 8 °C without any detectable loss in activity. Reusability was confirmed by recycling the biocatalyst. After three cycles of consecutive use, the whole cell biocatalyst retained a conversion rate of 46 % of indole‐3‐propionic acid and 23 % of L‐β‐homotryptophan after the third cycle.

Regio- and Stereoselective Concurrent Oxidations with Whole Cell Biocatalyst: Simple and Green Syntheses of Enantiopure 1,2-Diols via Oxidative Kinetic Resolution

A simple and green method for preparing several enantiopure 1,2-diols was developed, for the first time, via regio- and stereoselective concurrent oxidations of the racemates with microbial cells. Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 was found to catalyze the regio- and stereoselective oxidations of 3-O-benzylglycerol 1 to the corresponding α-hydroxy aldehyde 5 and then to the α-hydroxy carboxylic acid 6. Concurrent biooxidations of racemic 3-O-benzylglycerol 1 with resting cells of Sphingomonas sp. HXN-200 gave (S)-1 in 99.2% enantiomeric excess (ee) and 32% yield. Similar biooxidations of racemic 1-(4-chlorophenyl)-1,2-ethanediol 2, 1-(4-methylphenyl)-1,2-ethanediol 3, and phenyl-1,2-ethanediol 4 gave (R)-2 in 98.4% ee and 48% yield, (R)-3 in 99.6% ee and 45% yield, and (R)-4 in 98.7% ee and 36% yield, respectively. These represent the best results known thus far for the enzymatic syntheses of the useful and valuable diols (S)-1 and (R)-2–4.

A whole cell biocatalyst for cellulosic ethanol production from dilute acid-pretreated corn stover hydrolyzates

In this research, a recombinant whole cell biocatalyst was developed by expressing three cellulases from Clostridium cellulolyticum--endoglucanase (Cel5A), exoglucanase (Cel9E), and β-glucosidase--on the surface of the Escherichia coli LY01. The modified strain is identified as LY01/pRE1H-AEB. The cellulases were displayed on the surface of the cell by fusing with an anchor protein, PgsA. The developed whole cell biocatalyst was used for single-step ethanol fermentation using the phosphoric acid-swollen cellulose (PASC) and the dilute acid-pretreated corn stover. Ethanol production was 3.59 ± 0.15 g/L using 10 g/L of PASC, which corresponds to a theoretical yield of 95.4 ± 0.15%. Ethanol production was 0.30 ± 0.02 g/L when 1 g/L equivalent of glucose in the cellulosic fraction of the dilute sulfuric acid-pretreated corn stover (PCS) was fermented for 84 h. A total of 0.71 ± 0.12 g/L ethanol was produced in 48 h when the PCS was fermented in the simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation mode using the hemicellulosic (1 g/L of total soluble sugar) and as well as the cellulosic (1 g/L of glucose equivalent) parts of PCS. In a control experiment, 0.48 g/L ethanol was obtained from 1 g/L of hemicellulosic PCS. It was concluded that the whole cell biocatalyst could convert both cellulosic and hemicellulosic substrates into ethanol in a single reactor. The developed C. cellulolyticum-E. coli whole cell biocatalyst also overcame the incompatible temperature problem of the frequently reported fungal-yeast systems.

Cloning and characterization of purine nucleoside phosphorylase in Escherichia coli and subsequent ribavirin biosynthesis using immobilized recombinant cells

With improved enzymatic activity and easy accessibility, the recombinant purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNPase) could be a very promising alternative for nucleoside biosynthesis. In our work, the deoD gene encoding PNPase was successfully cloned from Escherichia coli MG1665 and overexpressed in E. coli BL 21(DE3). After optimization of expression conditions including temperature, induction timing and isopropyl-thio-β- d-galactoside (IPTG) concentration, over 70% of expressed total protein was His-tagged PNPase, in the soluble and functional form. Followed assays indicated that the recombinant enzyme exhibited similar substrate specificity and pH preference as the wild type PNPase. Furthermore, the immobilization technology was applied to develop the possible application of recombinant enzyme. Agar from four different polymer carriers was selected as a suitable matrix for whole recombinant cell entrapment. Subsequent enzyme assays, kinetic analysis and stability evaluation of free and immobilized recombinant cells were compared. The results indicated that although the immobilization process reduced the substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency of recombinant cells, it could significantly enhance the stability and reusability of these cells. Finally, the immobilized whole cell biocatalyst was applied to produce ribavirin, as a model nucleoside synthesis reaction. The obtained relative high productivity of rabavirin and quick reaction time suggested the great potential and feasibility of immobilized PNPase in efficient and valuable industrial utilizations.