Developing an Ethanol Utilization Pathway based NADH Regeneration System in Escherichia coli

Interests remain in searching for cofactor regeneration system with higher efficiency at lower substrate cost. Glucose dehydrogenase (GDH) system has been dominant in NADH regeneration, but it only has a theoretical yield of one NADH per glucose molecule. This work sought to explore the utility of a two-step ethanol utilization pathway (EUP) in pathway-based NADH regeneration. The pathway runs from ethanol to acetaldehyde and to acetyl-CoA with each step generating one NADH, that together results in a higher theoretical yield of two NADH per ethanol molecule. In this project, anaerobic biotransformation of ketone (acetophenone or butanone) to alcohol by cpsADH from Candida parapsilosis was used as readout for evaluating relative efficacy and operating modes for EUP cofactor regeneration in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). Experiment tests validated that EUP was more efficient than GDH in NADH regeneration. Further, growing cell delivered higher biotransformation efficiency compared to resting cell due to the driving force generated by cell growth. Finally, preculture or cultivation in M9 + 10 g/L ethanol medium delivered higher biotransformation efficiency compared to LB medium. Overall, EUP could help regenerate NADH in support of a biocatalytic reaction, and is more efficient in cofactor regeneration than GDH.

Efficient one-step biocatalytic multienzyme cascade strategy for direct conversion of phytosterol to C17-hydroxylated steroids

Steroidal 17-carbonyl reduction is crucial to the production of natural bioactive steroid medicines, boldenone (BD) is one of the important C17-hydroxylated steroids. Although efforts have been made to produce BD through biotransformation, the challenge of complex transformation process, high substrates cost, and low catalytic efficiencies have yet to be mastered. Phytosterol (PS) is the most widely accepted substrate for the production of steroid medicines due to its similar foundational structure and ubiquitous sources. 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17βHSD) and its native electron donor play significant roles in the 17β-carbonyl reduction reaction of steroids. In this study, we bridged 17βHSD with a cofactor regeneration strategy in Mycobacterium neoaurum to establish a one-step biocatalytic carbonyl reduction strategy for efficient biosynthesis of BD from PS for the first time. After investigating different intracellular electron transfer strategies, we rationally designed the engineered strain with co-expression of 17βhsd and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) gene in M. neoaurum . With establishment of an intracellular cofactor regeneration strategy, the ratio of [NADPH]/[NADP + ] was maintained at a relatively high level, the yield of BD increased from 17% (in MNR M3M- ayr1 S.c ) to 78% (in MNR M3M- ayr1 & g6p with glucose supplementation), and the productivity was increased by 6.5 times. Furthermore, under the optimal glucose supplementation condition, the yield of BD reached 82%, which is the highest yield reported by transformation from PS with one-step. This study demonstrated an excellent strategy for production of many other valuable carbonyl reduction steroidal products from natural cheap raw materials. Importance Steroid C17-carbonyl reduction is one of the important transformations for the production of valuable steroidal medicines or intermediates for further synthesis of steroidal medicines, but it remains a challenge through either chemical or biological synthesis. Phytosterol can be obtained from low-cost residue of waste natural materials, and it is preferred as the economical and applicable substrate for steroid medicines production by Mycobacterium . This study explored a green and efficient one-step biocatalytic carbonyl reduction strategy for direct conversion of phytosterol to C17-hydroxylated steroids by bridging 17β-Hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase with a cofactor regeneration strategy in Mycobacterium neoaurum . This work has practical value for the production of many valuable hydroxylated steroids from natural cheap raw materials.