Martha S. Smit

One‐pot Conversion of Cycloalkanes to Lactones

The one‐pot conversion of cycloalkanes to their corresponding lactones was achieved through the use of a synthetic pathway consisting of a cytochrome P450 monooxygenase (CYP450) for initial oxyfunctionalization of the cycloalkane, an alcohol dehydrogenase for ketone production and a Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase for lactone formation. Through variation of the cofactor dependence of the biocatalysts and the cofactor regeneration system, final product concentrations of nearly 3 g L−1 enantholactone (2‐oxocanone) from cycloheptane was reached within 12 h with a total turnover number (TTN) of 4185 with respect to the CYP450.

The influence of microbial physiology on biocatalyst activity and efficiency in the terminal hydroxylation of n-octane using Escherichia coli expressing the alkane hydroxylase, CYP153A6.

BackgroundBiocatalyst improvement through molecular and recombinant means should be complemented with efficient process design to facilitate process feasibility and improve process economics. This study focused on understanding the bioprocess limitations to identify factors that impact the expression of the terminal hydroxylase CYP153A6 and also influence the biocatalytic transformation of n–octane to 1-octanol using resting whole cells of recombinant E. coli expressing the CYP153A6 operon which includes the ferredoxin (Fdx) and the ferredoxin reductase (FdR).ResultsSpecific hydroxylation activity decreased with increasing protein expression showing that the concentration of active biocatalyst is not the sole determinant of optimum process efficiency. Process physiological conditions including the medium composition, temperature, glucose metabolism and product toxicity were investigated. A fed-batch system with intermittent glucose feeding was necessary to ease overflow metabolism and improve process efficiency while the introduction of a product sink (BEHP) was required to alleviate octanol toxicity. Resting cells cultivated on complex LB and glucose-based defined medium with similar CYP level (0.20 μmol gDCW-1) showed different biocatalyst activity and efficiency in the hydroxylation of octane over a period of 120 h. This was influenced by differing glucose uptake rate which is directly coupled to cofactor regeneration and cell energy in whole cell biocatalysis. The maximum activity and biocatalyst efficiency achieved presents a significant improvement in the use of CYP153A6 for alkane activation. This biocatalyst system shows potential to improve productivity if substrate transfer limitation across the cell membrane and enzyme stability can be addressed especially at higher temperature.ConclusionThis study emphasises that the overall process efficiency is primarily dependent on the interaction between the whole cell biocatalyst and bioprocess conditions.

Two‐Step One‐Pot Synthesis of Pinoresinol from Eugenol in an Enzymatic Cascade

The phytoestrogen pinoresinol is a high‐value compound that has a protective effect against diverse health disorders, and thus is of interest for the pharmaceutical industry. Isolation of pinoresinol from plants suffers from low yields, and its chemical synthesis involves several work‐up steps. In this study we devised a novel two‐step one‐pot enzymatic cascade combining a vanillyl‐alcohol oxidase and a laccase for the production of pinoresinol from eugenol via the intermediate coniferyl alcohol. Along with the well‐characterized vanillyl‐alcohol oxidase from Penicillium simplicissimum used to catalyze the oxidation of eugenol, enzyme screening revealed three bacterial laccases that were appropriate for the synthesis of pinoresinol from coniferyl alcohol. The cascade was optimized regarding enzyme ratios, pH value, and the presence of organic solvents. Under optimized conditions, pinoresinol concentration achieved 4.4 mM (1.6 g l−1), and this compound was isolated and analyzed.

Structural and Catalytic Characterization of a Fungal Baeyer-Villiger Monooxygenase

Baeyer-Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs) are biocatalysts that convert ketones to esters. Due to their high regio-, stereo- and enantioselectivity and ability to catalyse these reactions under mild conditions, they have gained interest as alternatives to chemical Baeyer-Villiger catalysts. Despite their widespread occurrence within the fungal kingdom, most of the currently characterized BVMOs are from bacterial origin. Here we report the catalytic and structural characterization of BVMOAFL838 from Aspergillus flavus. BVMOAFL838 converts linear and aryl ketones with high regioselectivity. Steady-state kinetics revealed BVMOAFL838 to show significant substrate inhibition with phenylacetone, which was more pronounced at low pH, enzyme and buffer concentrations. Para substitutions on the phenyl group significantly improved substrate affinity and increased turnover frequencies. Steady-state kinetics revealed BVMOAFL838 to preferentially oxidize aliphatic ketones and aryl ketones when the phenyl group are separated by at least two carbons from the carbonyl group. The X-ray crystal structure, the first of a fungal BVMO, was determined at 1.9 Å and revealed the typical overall fold seen in type I bacterial BVMOs. The active site Arg and Asp are conserved, with the Arg found in the “in” position. Similar to phenylacetone monooxygenase (PAMO), a two residue insert relative to cyclohexanone monooxygenase (CHMO) forms a bulge within the active site. Approximately half of the “variable” loop is folded into a short α-helix and covers part of the active site entry channel in the non-NADPH bound structure. This study adds to the current efforts to rationalize the substrate scope of BVMOs through comparative catalytic and structural investigation of different BVMOs.

Preparation of dodecanol-tolerant strains of Yarrowia lipolytica.

Dodecanol (1% v/v) and dodecanoic acid (1% w/v) inhibited growth of Yarrowia lipolytica in complex media supplemented with glucose but dodecanedioic acid (1% w/v) was not toxic. Dodecanol-tolerant strains were prepared from the wild type strain H222 as well as the acyl-CoA oxidase deleted (ΔPOX2, POX3, POX5) strain MTLY35. These strains grew in rich media containing up to 10% (v/v) dodecanol. Dodecanol-tolerant strains remained dodecanol tolerant after they had been cultured in rich media without dodecanol. No significant amount of dodecanedioic acid was accumulated by the dodecanol-tolerant strains when grown on glucose in the presence of dodecanol.

Alkyl Formate Ester Synthesis by a Fungal Baeyer–Villiger Monooxygenase

We investigated Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenase (BVMO)‐mediated synthesis of alkyl formate esters, which are important flavor and fragrance products. A recombinant fungal BVMO from Aspergillus flavus was found to transform a selection of aliphatic aldehydes into alkyl formates with high regioselectivity. Near complete conversion of 10 mm octanal was achieved within 8 h with a regiomeric excess of ∼80 %. Substrate concentration was found to affect specific activity and regioselectivity of the BVMO, as well as the rate of product autohydrolysis to the primary alcohol. More than 80 % conversion of 50 mm octanal was reached after 72 h (TTN nearly 20 000). Biotransformation on a 200 mL scale under unoptimized conditions gave a space‐time yield (STY) of 4.2 g L−1 d−1 (3.4 g L−1 d−1 extracted product).

Rhodotorula bloemfonteinensis sp. nov., Rhodotorula eucalyptica sp. nov., Rhodotorula orientis sp. nov. and Rhodotorula pini sp. nov., yeasts isolated from monoterpene-rich environments.

Recent rDNA sequencing of 25 isolates from a previous study, during which limonene-utilizing yeasts were isolated from monoterpene-rich environments by using 1,4-disubstituted cyclohexanes as sole carbon sources, led to the identification of four hitherto unknown Rhodotorula species. Analyses of the 26S rDNA D1/D2 region as well as the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) domain indicated that two isolates (CBS 8499(T) and CBS 10736) were identical and were closely related to Rhodotorula cycloclastica, a previously described limonene-utilizing yeast. These novel isolates differed from known yeast species and could be distinguished from R. cycloclastica by standard physiological tests. The other three isolates represent three novel Rhodotorula species, closely related to Sporobolomyces magnisporus. These three species could also be distinguished from other Rhodotorula species by standard physiological tests. Based on these results, we suggest that the new isolates represent novel species, for which the names Rhodotorula eucalyptica sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8499(T)  = NRRL Y-48408(T)), Rhodotorula pini sp. nov. (type strain CBS 10735(T)  = NRRL Y-48410(T)), Rhodotorula bloemfonteinensis sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8598(T)  = NRRL Y-48407(T)) and Rhodotorula orientis sp. nov. (type strain CBS 8594(T)  = NRRL Y-48719(T)) are proposed. R. eucalyptica and R. pini can also utilize limonene.

Heterologous coexpression of the benzoate-para-hydroxylase CYP53B1 with different cytochrome P450 reductases in various yeasts

Cytochrome P450 monooxygenases (P450) are enzymes with high potential as biocatalysts for industrial applications. Their large‐scale applications are, however, limited by instability and requirement for coproteins and/or expensive cofactors. These problems are largely overcome when whole cells are used as biocatalysts. We previously screened various yeast species heterologously expressing self‐sufficient P450s for their potential as whole‐cell biocatalysts. Most P450s are, however, not self‐sufficient and consist of two or three protein component systems. Therefore, in the present study, we screened different yeast species for coexpression of P450 and P450‐reductase (CPR) partners, using CYP53B1 from Rhodotorula minuta as an exemplary P450. The abilities of three different coexpressed CPR partners to support P450 activity were investigated, two from basidiomycetous origin and one from an ascomycete. The various P450‐CPR combinations were cloned into strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Hansenula polymorpha, Yarrowia lipolytica and Arxula adeninivorans, using a broad‐range yeast expression vector. The results obtained supported the previous finding that recombinant A. adeninivorans strains perform excellently as whole‐cell biocatalysts. This study also demonstrated for the first time the P450 reductase activity of the CPRs from R. minuta and U. maydis. A very interesting observation was the variation in the supportive activity provided by the different reductase partners tested and demonstrated better P450 activity enhancement by a heterologous CPR compared to its natural partner CPR. This study highlights reductase selection as a critical variable for consideration in the pursuit of optimal P450‐based catalytic systems. The usefulness of A. adeninivorans as both a host for recombinant P450s and whole‐cell biocatalyst was emphasized, supporting earlier findings.

An alcohol dehydrogenase from the short-chain dehydrogenases/reductases family of enzymes for the lactonization of 1,6-hexanediol

Biocatalytic production of lactones, and in particular ϵ‐caprolactone (CL), have gained increasing interest as a greener route to polymer building blocks, especially through the use of Baeyer–Villiger monooxygenases (BVMOs). Despite several advances in the field, BVMOs, however, still suffer several practical limitations. Alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)‐mediated lactonization of diols in turn has received far less attention and very few enzymes have been identified for the conversion of diols to lactones, with horse‐liver ADH (HLADH) remaining the catalyst of choice. Screening of a diverse panel of ADHs, AaSDR‐1, a member of the short‐chain dehydrogenase/reductase family, was found to produce ϵ‐caprolactone from hexane‐1,6‐diol. Moreover, cofactor regeneration by an NADH oxidase eliminated the requirement of co‐substrates, yielding water as the sole by‐product. Despite lower turnover frequencies as compared to HLADH, higher selectivity was found for the production of CL, with HLADH forming significant amounts of 6‐hydroxyhexanoic acid and adipic acid through aldehyde dehydrogenation/oxidation of the gem‐diol intermediates. Also, CL yield were shown to be dependent on buffer choice, as structural elucidation of a Tris adduct confirmed the buffer amine to react with aliphatic aldehydes forming a Schiff‐base intermediate which through further ADH oxidation, forms a tricyclic acetal product.