Biotransformation of 4-halophenols to 4-halocatechols using Escherichia coli expressing 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase

Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2011 Mar;89(6):1867-75. doi: 10.1007/s00253-010-2969-5. Epub 2010 Nov 6.

Abstract

Escherichia coli cells, expressing 4-hydroxyphenylacetate 3-hydroxylase, fully transformed 4-halogenated phenols to their equivalent catechols as single products in shaken flasks. 4-Fluorophenol was transformed at a rate 1.6, 1.8, and 3.4-fold higher than the biotransformation of 4-chloro-, 4-bromo-, and 4-iodo-phenol, respectively. A scale-up from shaken flask to a 5 L stirred tank bioreactor was undertaken to develop a bioprocess for the production of 4-substituted halocatechols at higher concentrations and scale. In a stirred tank reactor, the optimized conditions for induction of 4-HPA hydroxylase expression were at 37 °C for 3 h. The rate of biotransformation of 4-fluorophenol to 4-fluorocatechol by stirred tank bioreactor grown cells was the same at 1 and 4.8 mM (5.13 μmol/min/g CDW) once the ratio of biocatalyst (E. coli CDW) to substrate concentration (mM) was maintained at 2:1. At 10.8 mM 4-fluorophenol, the rate of 4-fluorocatechol formation decreased by 4.7-fold. However, the complete transformation of 1.3 g of 4-fluorophenol (10.8 mM) to 4-fluorocatechol was achieved within 7 h in a 1 L reaction volume. Similar to 4-fluorophenol, other 4-substituted halophenols were completely transformed to 4-halocatechols at 2 mM within a 1-2 h period. An increase in 4-halophenol concentration to 4.8 mM resulted in a 2.5-20-fold decrease in biotransformation efficiency depending on the substrate tested. Organic solvent extraction of the 4-halocatechol products followed by column chromatography resulted in the production of purified products with a final yield of between 33% and 38%.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioreactors
  • Biotransformation
  • Catechols / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli / enzymology*
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / genetics
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases / metabolism*
  • Phenols / metabolism*
  • Phenylacetates / metabolism*
  • Temperature
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • Catechols
  • Phenols
  • Phenylacetates
  • 4-hydroxyphenylacetate
  • 4-fluorocatechol
  • 4-fluorophenol
  • Mixed Function Oxygenases