Development of a promising microbial platform for the production of dicarboxylic acids from biorenewable resources

Abstract

BackgroundAs a sustainable industrial process, the production of dicarboxylic acids (DCAs), used as precursors of polyamides, polyesters, perfumes, plasticizers, lubricants, and adhesives, from vegetable oil has continuously garnered interest. Although the yeast Candida tropicalis has been used as a host for DCA production, additional strains are continually investigated to meet productivity thresholds and industrial needs. In this regard, the yeast Wickerhamiella sorbophila, a potential candidate strain, has been screened. However, the lack of genetic and physiological information for this uncommon strain is an obstacle that merits further research. To overcome this limitation, we attempted to develop a method to facilitate genetic recombination in this strain and produce high amounts of DCAs from methyl laurate using engineered W. sorbophila.ResultsIn the current study, we first developed efficient genetic engineering tools for the industrial application of W. sorbophila. To increase homologous recombination (HR) efficiency during transformation, the cell cycle of the yeast was synchronized to the S/G2 phase using hydroxyurea. The HR efficiency at POX1 and POX2 loci increased from 56.3% and 41.7%, respectively, to 97.9% in both cases. The original HR efficiency at URA3 and ADE2 loci was nearly 0% during the early stationary and logarithmic phases of growth, and increased to 4.8% and 25.6%, respectively. We used the developed tools to construct W. sorbophila UHP4, in which β-oxidation was completely blocked. The strain produced 92.5 g/l of dodecanedioic acid (DDDA) from methyl laurate over 126 h in 5-l fed-batch fermentation, with a productivity of 0.83 g/l/h.ConclusionsWickerhamiella sorbophila UHP4 produced more DDDA methyl laurate than C. tropicalis. Hence, we demonstrated that W. sorbophila is a powerful microbial platform for vegetable oil-based DCA production. In addition, by using the developed genetic engineering tools, this emerging yeast could be used for the production of a variety of fatty acid derivatives, such as fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, and ω-hydroxy fatty acids.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13068-018-1310-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Whole-Cell Biotransformation of 1,12-Dodecanedioic Acid from Coconut Milk Factory Wastewater by Recombinant CYP52A17SS Expressing Saccharomyces cerevisiae

“…Moreover, the pH of the CCW was 5.5, which is the optimal pH for S. cerevisiae growth. Indeed, maintaining the S. cerevisiae growth medium at pH 5.5 was reported to give a high cell concentration and product formation [17], while adjusting the medium pH to 5-5.5 in the methyl laurate fermentation by the yeast Wickerhamiella sorbophila UHP4 promoted a high cell growth [26]. It is likely that, in this study, the recombinant yeast consumed substrates, such as sugars and fatty acids, from the CCW as alternative carbon sources for its growth.…”

Multi-enzymatic cascade reactions with Escherichia coli-based modules for synthesizing various bioplastic monomers from fatty acid methyl esters

“…5 For example, dodecanedioic acid (92.5 g L −1 ) was produced from dodecanoic acid methyl ester (DAME) using engineered Wickerhamiella sorbophila 6 and tetradecanedioic acid (∼210 g L −1 ) was produced from methyl myristate using engineered Candida tropicalis . 6,7 Unlike yeasts, Escherichia coli has a fast growth rate and offers easy genetic manipulation, making it an organism of first choice in microbial cell factory research. However, ‘greener’ synthetic routes enabling the production of medium-chain bioplastic monomers such as ω-amino fatty acids (ω-AFAs), ω-hydroxy fatty acids (ω-HFAs), α,ω-diamines etc .…”

Direct Biotransformation of Nonanoic Acid and Its Esters to Azelaic Acid by Whole Cell Biocatalyst of Candida tropicalis

“…As substrate for DCA production, alkanes, fatty acids, and their esters were biotransformed by Candida species. − , Among the three types, the best substrate type was dependent on the microbial strain and biotransformation condition, but it was sure that the utilization of fatty acid itself with medium carbon chain gave the lowest performance of DCA (e.g., dodecanedioic acid) production . The ω-oxidation of fatty acid is a NADPH-dependent process.…”