Fermentative production of 1-propanol from sugars using wild-type and recombinant Shimwellia blattae

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2015 Feb;99(4):2001-8. doi: 10.1007/s00253-014-6330-2. Epub 2014 Dec 31.

Abstract

Shimwellia blattae is an enteric bacterium and produces endogenous enzymes that convert 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) to 1-propanol, which is expected to be used as a fuel substitute and a precursor of polypropylene. Therefore, if S. blattae could be induced to generate its own 1,2-PD from sugars, it might be possible to produce 1-propanol from sugars with this microorganism. Here, two 1,2-PD production pathways were constructed in S. blattae, resulting in two methods for 1-propanol production with the bacterium. One method employed the L-rhamnose utilization pathway, in which L-rhamnose is split into dihydroxyacetone phosphate and 1,2-PD. When wild-type S. blattae was cultured with L-rhamnose, an accumulation of 1,2-PD was observed. The other method for producing 1,2-PD was to introduce an engineered 1,2-PD production pathway from glucose into S. blattae. In both cases, the produced 1,2-PD was then converted to 1-propanol by 1,2-PD converting enzymes, whose production was induced by the addition of glycerol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Propanol / metabolism*
  • Biotransformation
  • Culture Media / chemistry
  • Enterobacteriaceae / growth & development
  • Enterobacteriaceae / metabolism*
  • Fermentation
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glycerol / metabolism
  • Metabolic Engineering*
  • Propylene Glycol / metabolism
  • Rhamnose / metabolism*

Substances

  • Culture Media
  • Propylene Glycol
  • 1-Propanol
  • Glucose
  • Glycerol
  • Rhamnose