Lignocellulosic biomass is a renewable feedstock for 2nd-generation biomanufacturing. Particularly, environment friendly co-fermentation of combined glucose and xylose in lignocellulosic hydrolysates is a key concern in decreasing product prices.

Nonetheless, co-utilization of xylose and glucose in microbes is difficult as a consequence of restricted xylose assimilation and the glucose repression impact.

Not too long ago, a analysis group led by Prof. Zhou Yongjin from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics (DICP) of the Chinese language Academy of Sciences (CAS) has proposed a microbial platform for lignocellulose bio-refinery. It will probably effectively synthesize acetyl-CoA derivatives, equivalent to fatty acids (FFA) and 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), owing to the improved provide of precursor acetyl-CoA and cofactor NADPH by rewiring the mobile metabolism of Ogataea (Hansenula) polymorpha.

This research was printed in Nature Chemical Biology on Aug. 24.

The researchers realized co-utilization of glucose and xylose by introducing a hexose transporter mutant and xylose isomerase, and overexpressing the native xylulokinase to reinforce xylose catabolism and import.

The engineered pressure produced 7.0 g/L FFA from actual lignocellulosic hydrolysates in shake flasks and 38.2 g/L FFA from simulated lignocellulose in a bioreactor. Moreover, this superior cell manufacturing facility was expanded for 3-HP manufacturing by a metabolic reworking technique, acquiring the very best 3-HP titer of 79.6 g/L from simulated lignocellulose.

“Our work realized co-utilization of xylose and glucose with out compromising native glucose metabolism and demonstrated the potential of O. polymorpha as a cell manufacturing facility to provide versatile value-added chemical compounds from lignocellulose,” stated Prof. Zhou.