Publications
Science advancesSep 2023 |
9
(
36
),
eadj0053
DOI:
10.1126/sciadv.adj0053

Lignin conversion to β-ketoadipic acid by Pseudomonas putida via metabolic engineering and bioprocess development

Werner, Allison Z; Cordell, William T; Lahive, Ciaran W; Klein, Bruno C; Singer, Christine A; Tan, Eric C D; Ingraham, Morgan A; Ramirez, Kelsey J; Kim, Dong Hyun; Pedersen, Jacob Nedergaard; Johnson, Christopher W; Pfleger, Brian F; Beckham, Gregg T; Salvachúa, Davinia
Product Used
Oligo Pools
Abstract
Bioconversion of a heterogeneous mixture of lignin-related aromatic compounds (LRCs) to a single product via microbial biocatalysts is a promising approach to valorize lignin. Here, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 was engineered to convert mixed p-coumaroyl- and coniferyl-type LRCs to β-ketoadipic acid, a precursor for performance-advantaged polymers. Expression of enzymes mediating aromatic O-demethylation, hydroxylation, and ring-opening steps was tuned, and a global regulator was deleted. β-ketoadipate titers of 44.5 and 25 grams per liter and productivities of 1.15 and 0.66 grams per liter per hour were achieved from model LRCs and corn stover-derived LRCs, respectively, the latter representing an overall yield of 0.10 grams per gram corn stover-derived lignin. Technoeconomic analysis of the bioprocess and downstream processing predicted a β-ketoadipate minimum selling price of .01 per kilogram, which is cost competitive with fossil carbon-derived adipic acid (.10 to 1.80 per kilogram). Overall, this work achieved bioproduction metrics with economic relevance for conversion of lignin-derived streams into a performance-advantaged bioproduct.
Product Used
Oligo Pools

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