From zero to hero - production of bio-based nylon from renewable resources using engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum.
Polyamides are important industrial polymers. Currently, they are produced exclusively from petrochemical monomers. Herein, we report the production of a novel bio-nylon, PA5.10 through an integration of biological and chemical approaches. First, systems metabolic engineering of Corynebacterium glutamicum was used to create an effective microbial cell factory for the production of diaminopentane as the polymer building block. In this way, a hyper-producer, with a high diaminopentane yield of 41% in shake flask culture, was generated. Subsequent fed-batch production of C. glutamicum DAP-16 allowed a molar yield of 50%, a productivity of 2.2gL(-1)h(-1), and a final titer of 88gL(-1). The streamlined producer accumulated diaminopentane without generating any by-products. Solvent extraction from alkalized broth and two-step distillation provided highly pure diaminopentane (99.8%), which was then directly accessible for poly-condensation. Chemical polymerization with sebacic acid, a ten-carbon dicarboxylic acid derived from castor plant oil, yielded the bio-nylon, PA5.10. In pure form and reinforced with glass fibers, the novel 100% bio-polyamide achieved an excellent melting temperature and the mechanical strength of the well-established petrochemical polymers, PA6 and PA6.6. It even outperformed the oil-based products in terms of having a 6% lower density. It thus holds high promise for applications in energy-friendly transportation. The demonstration of a novel route for generation of bio-based nylon from renewable sources opens the way to production of sustainable bio-polymers with enhanced material properties and represents a milestone in industrial production.
(a)Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Stefanie
S
Kind
(a)Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany.
Steffi
S
Neubauer
(a)Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; (b)Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
Judith
J
Becker
(c)BASF SE, Fine Chemicals and Biotechnology, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Motonori
M
Yamamoto
(c)BASF SE, Fine Chemicals and Biotechnology, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Martin
M
Völkert
(c)BASF SE, Fine Chemicals and Biotechnology, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Gregory von
Gv
Abendroth
(c)BASF SE, Fine Chemicals and Biotechnology, Ludwigshafen, Germany.
Oskar
O
Zelder
(a)Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany; (b)Institute of Systems Biotechnology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany. Electronic address: christoph.wittmann@uni-saarland.de.
Christoph
C
Wittmann
D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D001688:Biological Products / Q000378:metabolism*; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources / Q000379:methods*; D048230:Corynebacterium glutamicum / Q000502:physiology*; D060847:Metabolic Engineering / Q000379:methods*; D009757:Nylons / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001688:Biological Products; D009757:Nylons
Bio-based polyamide; Cadaverine; Corynebacterium glutamicum; Diaminopentane; PA5.10; Systems metabolic engineering