title: Production of itaconate by whole-cell bioconversion of citrate mediated by expression of multiple cis-aconitate decarboxylase (cadA) genes in Escherichia coli.
abstract: Itaconate, a C5unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, is an important chemical building block that is used in manufacturing high-value products, such as latex and superabsorbent polymers. Itaconate is produced by fermentation of sugars by the filamentous fungus Aspergillus terreus. However, fermentation by A. terreus involves a long fermentation period and the formation of various byproducts, resulting in high production costs. E. coli has been developed as an alternative for producing itaconate. However, fermentation of glucose gives low conversion yields and low productivity. Here, we report the whole-cell bioconversion of citrate to itaconate with enhanced aconitase and cis-aconitate decarboxylase activities by controlling the expression of multiple cadA genes. In addition, this bioconversion system does not require the use of buffers, which reduces the production cost and the byproducts released during purification. Using this whole-cell bioconversion system, we were able to catalyze the conversion of 319.8 mM of itaconate (41.6 g/L) from 500 mM citrate without any buffer system or additional cofactors, with 64.0% conversion in 19 h and a productivity of 2.19 g/L/h. Our bioconversion system suggests very high productivity for itaconate production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junyoung
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyung-Min
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.affiliation: Institute for Ubiquitous Information Technology and Applications (CBRU), Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Shashi Kant
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Bhatia
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hun-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jung-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Ajou University, 206, World cup-ro, Yeongtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, 443-749, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kwon-Young
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Rhode Island Hospital, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America.
authors.forename: Wooseong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: IT Convergence Materials R&BD Group, Chungcheong Regional Division Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) 35-3 Hongchon-ri, Ipjang-myun, Seobuk-gu, Chonan-si, Chungnam 330-825, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Soongsil University, 511 Sangdo-dong, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Gon
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Engineering, College of Engineering, Konkuk University, 1 Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, 143-701, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yung-Hun
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D001230:Aspergillus / Q000201:enzymology*; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007840:Latex; D011108:Polymers; D013386:Succinates / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D007840:Latex; D011108:Polymers; D013386:Succinates; D019343:Citric Acid; D002262:Carboxy-Lyases; C018742:aconitate decarboxylase; D005947:Glucose; C005229:itaconic acid