Patent Application
20170349918
The present invention relates to the field of biotechnology. Specifically, the present invention relates to a process for producing isobutanol, in which lactate is catalytically converted into isobutanol.
4-carbon alcohol compounds such as n-butanol and isobutanol are important industrial chemicals, and are useful as fuel additives, as feedstock in the plastic industry, and as agents of food-grade extractions. Each year, greater amounts of those alcohols are produced in the petrochemical industry, due to an increase in the demand.
Typically, these alcohols are produced by chemical synthesis or by biological processes. Both n-butanol and isobutanol can be produced chemically by hydroformylation of propylene, a process in which propylene contacts a catalyst comprising rhodium, leading to the hydroformylation of propylene to form butyraldehyde and isobutyraldehyde. Whereafter, the aldehydes are hydrogenated to form the corresponding alcohol, either butanol or isobutanol, as described in the European patent EP1733003 B1 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). Furthermore, n-butanol can be produced biologically by a well-known metabolic pathway named ABE fermentation (Jones and Woods, 1986; Berezina et al, 2012). This fermentation is widely used in industry, using Clostridium acetobutylicum, a widely used microorganism.
In regard to isobutanol, there is no genetically unmodified microorganism that is able to produce sufficient quantities of this compound for an industrial process. Although it is known that Saccharomyces cerevisiae is able to produce isobutanol when the nitrogen source is valine (Dickinson et al, 1998), a culture media using this amino acid as a nitrogen source is not economically viable.
Therefore, isobutanol has been conventionally produced by fermentation using genetically modified organisms. Genetically modified organisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Escherichia coli have been generally known to increase the production of isobutanol, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,188, U.S. Pat. No. 7,910,342, U.S. Pat. No. 7,993,889, U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,375, U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,376, U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,358, U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,440, U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,715, U.S. Pat. No. 8,153,415, U.S. Pat. No. 8,158,404, U.S. Pat. No. 8,178,328, U.S. Pat. No. 8,232,089, U.S. Pat. No. 8,241,878, U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,558, U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,565, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,283,144 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety). The raw material described in those patents is usually a carbohydrate, such as glucose, sucrose or fructose, as highlighted in the U.S. Pat. No. 7,851,188, U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,375, U.S. Pat. No. 8,178,328, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,283,144. Although this technology has evolved, it is important to note that there are various drawbacks associated with the use of genetically modified organisms to produce isobutanol, such as:
1. Large amounts of viable cells must be present to carry out the process efficiently. If there are small amounts of cells, the fermentation process becomes very slow. This fact has been well-known in the art.
2. Introducing an exogenous metabolic pathway into an organism implies an increase in the competition among its own metabolic pathways, as the carbon flow is divided between the microbial growing and isobutanol production. It prevents processes from reaching values close to the theoretical yield (for example, for the case of glucose, 0.411 grams of isobutanol is obtained from one gram of glucose). Therefore, to reach acceptable yields, it is not enough to express the metabolic pathway for the production of isobutanol; it is also required to remove genes from the metabolic pathway to reduce competition for the production of isobutanol. For example, genes encoding the enzyme pyruvate decarboxylase have been removed are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,993,889, U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,375, U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,715, U.S. Pat. No. 8,153,415, U.S. Pat. No. 8,178,328, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,565. Additionally, genes encoding the enzyme glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase have also been removed, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,358, U.S. Pat. No. 8,097,440, U.S. Pat. No. 8,133,715, U.S. Pat. No. 8,153,415, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,565. Similarly, genes encoding the enzyme aldehyde dehydrogenase have been removed, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,158,404.
3. Furthermore, to increase the yield of isobutanol, it is also required to overexpress endogenous and/or exogenous genes to establish the biochemical pathway of the isobutanol production. For example, overexpression of the aft gene increases activity of the enzymes involved in the synthesis of isobutanol, as described in the U.S. Pat. No. 8,017,376, U.S. Pat. No. 8,071,358, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,273,565.
4. It has been generally known in the art that removing and/or overexpressing genes, as described in 2 and 3 above, often makes organisms metabolically unstable.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a process in which no interaction or competition for the various substrates takes place, and no growth of microorganism associated with the process takes place.
In view of such need, European patent EP2204453 describes an enzymatic isobutanol production (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety). However, to carry out the process, glucose is used as a raw material, which requires at least 5 enzymes to be converted into pyruvate. In addition to using several enzymes to produce pyruvate, patent EP2204453B1 describes that the operating temperature of the system is above 50° C. This is due to the reducing efficiency of enzymes that catalyze the generation of pyruvate from glucose at lower temperatures. On the other hand, some enzymes that catalyze conversion of pyruvate into isobutanol operate efficiently at temperatures of from 20° C. to 37° C. In consequence, some of those enzymes may lose their catalytic activities over a short period of time because of the incompatibility of the enzymatic systems, as mentioned in examples of the patent EP2204453, specifically in Example 10.
On the other hand, the patent application publication EP2700714A1 (the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety) describes a very similar scheme to the patent EP2204453B1, but uses at least 13 enzymes to carry out the process.
In addition to the above-described drawbacks associated with the conventional processes of producing isobutanol, it should be noted that there is no process in the prior art, in which isobutanol is produced from lactate, and in which the production of isobutanol is carried out enzymatically. Moreover, there is no process in the prior art in which the action of those enzymes regenerates the electron acceptor and donor molecules in a continuous and stable manner for long periods of time.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide an enzymatic method for the production of isobutanol from lactate, wherein the production of isobutanol is associated with the NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration and in which this process may not be associated with growth of a microorganism.
Another object of the present invention is to associate the production of isobutanol from lactate, with a NAD+/NADH regenerating system.
A further object of the present invention is to associate the production of isobutanol from lactate, with a NADP+/NADPH regenerating system.
Meanwhile, another object of the present invention is to associate the production of isobutanol from lactate, with a regenerating system of a mixture of NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH.
Similarly, an object of the present invention is to provide a method in which the production of isobutanol from lactate is associated with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system, and which can be performed in a controlled environment, in which either of the components of the reaction mixture can be recirculated to the process.
Another object of the present invention is to develop a method in which the NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system is associated with isobutanol production from lactate in a batch process.
Another object of the present invention is to develop a method in which the NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system is associated with isobutanol production from lactate in a semi-continuous process.
Another object of the present invention is to develop a method in which the NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system is associated with isobutanol production from lactate in a continuous process.
These and other objects, alone or in combinations thereof, have been satisfied by the discovery of a process of producing isobutanol, including: mixing water, lactate, an enzyme mixture including at least one enzyme, at least one cofactor, and at least one coenzyme, to prepare a reaction mixture; allowing catalytic conversions of lactate in the reaction mixture for a sufficient amount of time to produce isobutanol; and separating the isobutanol from a reactant obtained by the catalytic conversions in B). The conversion of lactate into isobutanol in B) is in association with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regenerating system.
In order to understand the objects of the present invention, the following definitions and abbreviations are provided:
The terms “lactic acid”, “lactate”, “2-hydroxypropanoic acid” and “α-hydroxypropanoic acid” refer to the same molecule, wherein such molecule has three carbons and has the following molecular formula: H3C—CHOH—COOH (C3H6O3). For the purposes of this invention, the term “lactic acid” refers to any isomer or mixture of isomers reported in the international databases with the identification numbers CAS 50-21-5, 79-33-4, 10326-41-7, 598-82-3, which may be L-lactate or D-lactate or a mixture of both in any proportion. Also, for the purposes of this invention, the term “lactate” is equivalent to “lactic acid”, since in solution and depending on the pH, “lactic acid” may be present in its ionic form. “Lactate” can be obtained in different ways, whether biological or chemical. In a biological way, the “lactate” can be obtained, for example, by the fermentation of organic compounds. Some of the “lactate”-producing organisms include Escherichia coli, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus delbrueckii, Lactococcus lactis, etc. Chemically, the “lactate” can be obtained from ethanol, sodium cyanide and sulfuric acid; the process terminates with a nucleophilic attack of the cyanide to the carbonyl group of the aldehyde to form the nitrile of the lactic acid in a racemic form. The nitrile is hydrolyzed in the presence of water and an excess of sulfuric acid to yield the free “lactic acid”.
The terms “pyruvate”, “pyruvic acid”, “2-oxopropanoic acid,” “α-ketopropionic acid”, “pyroracemic acid” and “acetylformic acid” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has three carbons and has the following molecular formula CH3COCOOH (C3H4O3, CAS: 127-17-3).
The terms “2-acetolactic acid,” “2-acetolactate,” “2-hydroxy-2-methyl-3-oxobutanoic acid” and “2-acetyl lactic acid” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has five carbons and has the following molecular formula CH3COC(CH3)OHCOOH (C5H8O4, CAS: not available).
The terms “2,3-dihydroxyvalerate”, “2,3-dihydroxy-3-methylbutanoate”, “2,3-dihydroxy-isovalerate”, “2,3-dihydroxy-isovaleric acid” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has five carbons and has the following molecular formula (CH3)2COHCHOHCOOH (C5H10O4, CAS: 1756-18-9).
The terms “ketoisovaleric acid”, “ketoisovalerate”, “3-methyl-2-oxobutanoic acid”, “2-oxoisovalerate”, “2-oxoisopentanoate” and “2-ketovaline” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has five carbons and has the following molecular formula (CH3)2CHCOCOOH (C5H8O3, CAS: 759-05-7).
The terms “isobutyraldehyde”, “2-methylpropanal” and “2-methylpropionaldehyde” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has four carbons and the following molecular formula (CH3)2CHCHO (C4H8O, CAS: 78-84-2).
The terms “isobutanol”, “isobutyl alcohol” and “2-methyl-1-propanol” refer to the same molecule; such molecule has four carbons and has the following molecular formula (CH3)2CHCH2OH (C4H10O, CAS: 78-83-1).
The terms “reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)” and “nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+)” refer to molecules of the cellular metabolism that transport electrons from one molecule to other, and carry out oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions.
The terms “reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)” and “nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADP+)” refer to molecules of the cellular metabolism that transport electrons from one molecule to other, and carry out oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions.
For the purpose of this invention, the term “NAD(P)+” is equivalent to the term “NAD+” and/or “NADP+”, and the use of the term “NAD(P)H” is equivalent to the terms “NADH” and/or “NADPH”.
The term “theoretical yield” refers to the maximum amount of product that can be obtained by a reaction, and it is calculated by a stoichiometric equation. The theoretical yield may be compared with a theoretical amount of product obtained by experimental reactions calculated based on the stoichiometry of the reaction.
The term “experimental yield” refers to the amount of product that is obtained experimentally by a chemical reaction with respect to the amount of consumed substrates.
The term “conversion efficiency” refers to the percentage obtained from the ratio between the experimental and the theoretical yields, and its value may vary from 0 to 100%.
The terms “redox reaction” and “redox reactions” refer to a biochemical reaction that is mediated by the action of an enzyme, wherein a compound is reduced and another is oxidized. These reactions may occur in the cells due to the presence of NADH or NADPH (oxidizing agents) and NAD+ or NADP+ (reducing agents).
The terms “polypeptide” and “enzyme” refer to an organic molecule including amino acid residues that is able to perform conversion reactions from a starting compound to a final compound, wherein the starting and the final compounds may be molecularly and/or spatially different.
The terms “gene” or “genes” refer to biological molecules, which are composed of nitrogen compounds or bases known in the prior art as adenine, guanine, cytosine and thymine. The genes are molecules that transmit information in a cell for the synthesis of biological enzymes.
The term “reactor” refers to a physical container built from a suitable material, in which, in a controlled manner, a chemical, biochemical, biological reaction or combinations thereof can occur. Different types of reactors can be found in the prior art. As an example, continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR), plug flow reactor, fluidized bed reactor, and packed bed reactor (PBR) are mentioned. Some characteristics of the reactors may include: a) its corrosion resistance due to the reactions; b) its ability to monitor and control operating variables such as temperature, stirring, pH, concentration of dissolved gases, pressure, etc; c) its operating mode, which can be in continuous, semi-continuous or batch (various operating modes in which a reactor can operate may be known in the art); d) its ability to use different types of catalysts to carry out the reaction; for example, the catalysts may be dissolved or may be trapped or immobilized (various modes in which a catalyst can be catalyzing the reaction may be known in the art).
The term “cofactors” refers to inorganic compounds, which are required for the action of enzymes, eg. Mg2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Na+, K+, Co2+, Ni2+, Mn2+, etc.
The term “substrate” refers to a molecule on which an enzyme reacts. The enzyme may be specific and selective for a substrate.
The terms “enzyme mixture” and “mixture of enzymes” refer to a set of enzymes found in the same solution, which enables the production of isobutanol from lactate. The enzyme mixture and mixture of enzymes may be prepared prior to be mixed with lactate or other components employed in the process of the present invention. In one aspect, the enzymes may be mixed in a container such as a pipe, a tank, or a reactor, prior to be mixed with lactate or the other components.
The concentration of enzyme(s) in the enzyme mixture may be greater than 0.001 g/L, greater than 0.01 g/L, or preferably greater than 0.1 g/L.
When the enzyme(s) is/are immobilized as defined below, the concentration of enzyme(s) in the enzyme mixture may be greater than 0.001 g/g, greater than 0.01 g/g, or preferably greater than 0.1 g/g, of the carrier.
In one aspect of the present invention, the enzyme mixture may include at least one of lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27 and/or EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1 y/o EC 1.1.1.2), and analogues thereof. In one preferred aspect of the present invention, the enzyme mixture may include lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27 and/or EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1 y/o EC 1.1.1.2).
The term “coenzyme” refers to organic and non-protein compounds that are essential for the activity of some enzymes. Examples of coenzyme include “flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD)”, “thiamine pyrophosphate (ThPP)”, “flavin mononucleotide (FMN”), etc.
The term “reaction mixture” refers to the group of chemical compounds in aqueous, oil, gaseous, or solid phases, which may be subject to catalytic reactions by a polypeptide or mixture of polypeptides. A reaction mixture may include, or may be composed of, an enzyme mixture, cofactors, coenzymes, NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH, and lactate. The reaction mixture may be prepared by mixing the chemical compounds in a container that is appropriate to prepare the mixture. For example, a pipe, a tank, or a reactor may be utilized to prepare the reaction mixture. A reaction mixture may be prepared by mixing the chemical compounds by an appropriate method to promote interactions between the enzyme(s) and the substrate(s).
When the reaction mixture includes lactate, the concentration of lactate in the reaction mixture may be at least 1 g/L, 20 g/L, 100 g/L, 200 g/L, or preferably 300 g/L.
The term “sequential” refers to the orderly transformation of lactate to pyruvate by the enzyme lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27 and/or EC 1.1.1.28), pyruvate into 2-acetolactate by the enzyme acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate by the ketol acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), 2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate into ketoisovalerate by the enzyme dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), ketoisovalerate into isobutyraldehyde by the enzyme ketoacid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1 and/or EC 1.1.1.2).
The term “multi-enzyme system” refers to a set of enzymes that sequentially convert lactate into isobutanol.
The term “gene deletion” refers to a process of deleting a DNA region encoding a protein.
The term “exogenous gene” refers to a DNA region encoding a protein foreign to the organism.
The term “endogenous gene” refers to a DNA region encoding a native protein in the organism.
The term “overexpression” refers to increased expression levels of a protein encoded by an endogenous- or an exogenous-gene.
The term “regeneration of NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH” refers to: the conversion of NAD+ and/or NADP+ molecules to NADH and/or NADPH molecules resulting from the action of any enzyme that may catalyze these conversions; and the conversion of NADH and/or NADPH molecules into NAD+ and/or NADP+ resulting from the action of any enzyme that may catalyze these conversions. Those conversions can be found in the same reaction system.
The term “free enzyme” refers to an enzyme distributed in a solution.
The term “free enzymes” refers to a set of enzymes distributed in a solution.
The term “carrier” refers to a solid or semi-solid inert matrix, which preferably does not change its protein structure. The carrier may be any kinds of carriers that may be suitable to immobilize an enzyme. Examples of the carrier may include, but are not limited to, zeolite, activated carbon, acrylamide, silica gel, agarose, alginate, sand, or any combinations thereof.
The term “immobilized enzyme” refers to an attached, trapped, embedded, adhered, adsorbed, bound, secured, etc., enzyme by any physical or chemical method in/on a “carrier”.
The term “immobilized enzymes” refers to a set of attached trapped, embedded, adhered, adsorbed, bound, secured, etc., enzymes, by any physical or chemical method in/on a “carrier”.
The terms “L-lactate dehydrogenase”, “L(+)-nLDH”, “L-(+)-lactate dehydrogenase”, “L-lactic dehydrogenase”, “L-lactic acid dehydrogenase”, “L-lactate dehydrogenase NAD+-dependent” and “L-lactic dehydrogenase” (EC 1.1.1.27) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the compound L-lactate into pyruvate. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of L-lactate into pyruvate. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of L-lactate dehydrogenase. Examples of the enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of L-lactate into pyruvate are described in Table 1. The enzymes described in Table 1 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Escherichia coli APEC O1
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli IHE3034
Mus musculus
Cricetulus griseus
Pongo abelii
Canis familiaris
Staphylococcus aureus
Corynebacterium
glutamicum K051
Sorangium cellulosum
So ce 56
Bacillus subtilis subsp.
subtilis 168
Lactococcus lactis subsp.
lactis Il1403
Aspergillus fumigatus
Enterobacter sp. 638
Streptococcus pneumoniae
The terms “D-lactate dehydrogenase”, “D-specific lactic dehydrogenase”, “D-(−)-lactate dehydrogenase (NAD+)”, “D-lactic acid dehydrogenase”, “D-lactic dehydrogenase” (EC 1.1.1.28) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the compound D-lactate into pyruvate. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of D-lactate into pyruvate. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of D-lactate dehydrogenase. Examples of the enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of D-lactate into pyruvate are described in Table 2. The enzymes described in Table 2 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655
Escherichia coli O26:H11
Escherichia coli PMV-1
Escherichia coli O145:H28
Shigella boydii Sb227
Shewanella pealeana
Treponema pallidum
Pseudomonas aeruginosa RP73
Acinetobacter sp. ADP1
Pectobacterium carotovorum
Neisseria meningitidis WUE 2594
Cytophaga hutchinsonii
Planctomyces brasiliensis
Sphaerobacter thermophilus
Alistipes finegoldii
The terms “acetolactate synthase”, “acetolactate synthase”, “alpha-acetohydroxy acid synthetase”, “alpha-acetohydroxy acid synthase”, “alpha-acetolactate synthase”, “alpha-acetolactate synthetase”, “acetohydroxy acid synthetase”, “acetohydroxy acid synthase”, “acetolactate pyruvate-lyase (carboxylating)”, “acetolactic synthetase” (EC 2.2.1.6) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the compound pyruvate into 2-acetolactate. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of pyruvate into 2-acetolactate. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of acetolactate synthase. Examples of the enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of pyruvate into 2-acetolactate are described in Table 3. The enzymes described in Table 3 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Bacillus subtilis subsp. subtilis
Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c
Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c
Methanococcus aeolicus Nankai-3
Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3
The terms “keto acid reductoisomerase”, “ketol acid reductoisomerase”, “dihydroxyisovalerate dehydrogenase (isomerizing)”, “acetohydroxy acid isomeroreductase”, “alpha-keto-beta-hydroxylacyl reductoisomerase” “2-hydroxy-3-keto acid reductoisomerase”, “acetohydroxy acid reductoisomerase”, “acetolactate reductoisomerase” and “dihydroxyisovalerate (isomerizing) dehydrogenase” (EC 1.1.1.86) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of keto acid reductoisomerase. Examples of the enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate are described in Table 4. The enzymes described in Table 4 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GenBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Escherichia coli str. K-12 substr.
Corynebacterium glutamicum ATCC
Corynebacterium glutamicum K051
Salmonella enterica subsp. serovar
Typhimurium str. LT2
Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c
Campylobacter jejuni RM1221
Methylococcus capsulatus str. Bath
Shewanella oneidensis MR-1
Dehalococcoides ethenogenes 195
Carboxydothermus hydrogenoformans
Listeria monocytogenes serotype
Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA
Streptomyces avermitilis MA-4680
Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1
The terms “dihydroxy acid dehydratase”, “dihydroxy-acid dehydratase”, “acetohydroxy acid dehydratase”, “alpha,beta-dihydroxy acid dehydratase”, “DHAD”, “2,3-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase”, “alpha,beta-dihydroxyisovalerate dehydratase” and “2,3-dihydroxy-acid hydro-lyase” (EC 4.2.1.9) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate into ketoisovalerate. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate into ketoisovalerate. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of dihydroxy acid dehydratase. Examples of enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate into ketoisovalerate are described in Table 5. The enzyme described in Table 5 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases in which examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Saccharomyces cerevisiae S288c
Shewanella oneidensis MR-1
Ruegeria pomeroyi DSS-3
Escherichia coli O157:H7 str.
Escherichia coli UTI89
Escherichia coli CFT073
Escherichia coli BW2952
Campylobacter jejuni RM1221
Dehalococcoides ethenogenes 195
Methylococcus capsulatus str. Bath
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato
Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA
Listeria monocytogenes serotype 4b
Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus
Yersinia pestis Nepal516
The term “keto acid decarboxylase”, “branched-chain-2-oxoacid decarboxylase”, “branched-chain oxo acid decarboxylase”, “branched-chain alpha-keto acid decarboxylase”, “branched-chain keto acid decarboxylase” (EC 4.1.1.72) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting ketoisovalerate into isobutyraldehyde. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of ketoisovalerate into isobutyraldehyde. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of keto acid decarboxylase. Examples of the enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction from ketoisovalerate into isobutyraldehyde are described in Table 6. The enzymes described in Table 6 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases in which more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis KF147
Francisella tularensis subsp. tularensis
Mycobacterium smegmatis str. MC2 155
Staphylococcus aureus M1
Mycobacterium indicus pranii MTCC 9506
Psychrobacter sp. G
Proteus mirabilis BB2000
Mycobacterium kansasii ATCC 12478
Arabidopsis thaliana chromosome 3
Staphylococcus lugdunensis HKU09-01
Edwardsiella tarda FL6-60
Melissococcus plutonius DAT561
Yersinia enterocolitica subsp. palearctica
Enterobacter aerogenes EA1509E
Rhizobium tropici CIAT 899
The terms “alcohol dehydrogenase”, “aldehyde reductase”, “ADH”, “alcohol dehydrogenase (NAD)”, “aliphatic alcohol dehydrogenase”, “NAD-dependent alcohol dehydrogenase”, “NADH-alcohol dehydrogenase” and “NADH-aldehyde dehydrogenase” (EC 1.1.1.1) refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the compound isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADH. However, there may exist other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of alcohol dehydrogenase. Examples of these enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADH are described in Table 7. The enzymes described in Table 7 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Escherichia coli str. BL21
Zymomonas mobilis subsp.
mobilis ZM4
Desulfarculus baarsi
Vibrio nigripulchritudo
Shewanella baltica OS678
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Shewanella baltica OS185
Desulfovibrio piezophilus
Eubacterium rectale M104/1
Thermoanaerobacterium
thermosaccharolyticum
Ilyobacter polytropus
Rubrobacter radiotolerans
Escherichia coli K-12
Dickeya zeae
Mannheimia
succiniciproducens
The terms “alcohol dehydrogenase”, “alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP+)”, “aldehyde reductase (NADPH)”, “NADP-alcohol dehydrogenase”, “NADP+-aldehyde reductase”, “NADP+-dependent aldehyde reductase”, “NADPH-aldehyde reductase”, “NADPH-dependent aldehyde reductase” and “alcohol dehydrogenase (NADP)” (EC 1.1.1.2) also refer to a polypeptide having catalytic activity, wherein the catalytic activity includes converting the compound isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADPH. However, there may be other enzymes that are not classified in this group of enzymes that catalyze the conversion reaction of isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol. Such enzymes will be considered as analogues of alcohol dehydrogenase. Examples of enzymes that can catalyze the conversion reaction of isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADPH are described in Table 8. The enzymes described in Table 8 are shown for reference only, since there are many databases where more examples of these enzymes can be found, such as GeneBank (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp), Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org), etc.
Homo sapiens
Rattus norvegicus
Equus caballus
Pteropus alecto
Xenopus laevis
Tetrapisispora phaffii
Aspergillus oryzae
Cyanothece sp. ATCC
Zunongwangia profunda
Escherichia coli
Salmonella enterica subsp.
enterica serovar Typhi Ty2
Salmonella enterica subsp.
enterica serovar Heidelberg
Salmonella enterica subsp.
enterica serovar
Bovismorbificans
Pectobacterium sp. SCC3193
Vibrio cholerae M66-2
One aspect of the present invention relates to a method in which a multi-enzyme system sequentially produces isobutanol from lactate, and in which the production of isobutanol is associated with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration system (
Moreover, preferably, the present invention overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art by providing polypeptides that convert lactate into isobutanol sequentially, with an experimental yield less than or equal to the theoretical yield.
Furthermore, the present invention may not require the quantities established by the stoichiometric reactions of NAD+ and/or NADP+ and NADH and/or NADPH to perform the process described above; since the method of the present invention may allow the regeneration of NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH during the conversion of lactate into pyruvate and the conversion of acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate and the conversion of isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol.
Likewise, the process of the present invention may employ unit operations which recycle the NAD+, NADP+, NADH and/or NADPH system, allowing that a smaller amount of those compounds than those established by the stoichiometry may be required to convert higher amounts of lactate into isobutanol.
The present invention may use the enzymes: L-Lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1. 1.72), and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and its analogues to convert L-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NAD+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of L-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained in the conversion of L-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of L-lactate).
In yet another aspect, the present invention may use the enzymes: D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and its analogues to convert D-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NAD+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of D-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained in the conversion of D-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of D-lactate).
In yet another aspect, the present invention may use the enzymes: L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and/or its analogues to convert a mixture of L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NAD+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of mixed solution of L-lactate and D-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained in the conversion of the mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate).
Also, the present invention may use the enzymes: L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or its analogues to convert L-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NADP+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of L-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained in the conversion of L-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of L-lactate).
Similarly, the present invention may use the enzymes: D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or its analogues to convert D-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NADP+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of D-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained for the conversion of D-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of D-lactate).
On other hand, the present invention may use the enzymes: L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or its analogues to convert a mixture of L-lactic acid and D-lactic acid into isobutanol, wherein the amount of NADP+ added to the system may be less than the amount established by the stoichiometric reaction for the conversion of the mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate into isobutanol. The experimental yield obtained for the conversion of the mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate into isobutanol may be less than or equal to the theoretical yield (0.411 grams of isobutanol per gram of mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate).
Other aspects of the present invention relates to a mixture of enzymes that perform a series of reactions producing isobutanol from lactate sequentially. In turn, the preferred enzyme mixtures used to convert lactate into isobutanol are as follows:
a) When the starting substrate is L-lactate and the redox reactions use NAD+/NADH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and/or any of their analogues;
b) When the starting substrate is D-lactate and the redox reactions use NAD+/NADH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and/or any of their analogues;
c) When the starting substrate is a mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate and the redox reactions use NAD+/NADH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and/or any of their analogues;
d) When the starting substrate is L-lactate and the redox reactions use NADP+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or any of their analogues;
e) When the starting substrate is D-lactate and the redox reactions use NADP+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or any of their analogues;
f) When the starting substrate is a mixture of L-lactate and D-lactate and the redox reactions use NADP+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or any of their analogues;
g) When the starting substrate L-lactate and the redox reactions use a mixture of NAD+/NADH and NADH+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2), and/or any of their analogues;
h) When the starting substrate is D-lactate and the redox reactions use NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2), and/or any of their analogues; and
i) When the starting substrate is a mixture of L-lactate and D-Lactate and the redox reactions use NAD+/NADH and NADP+/NADPH to obtain isobutanol as the final product, the enzyme mixture may include L-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27), D-lactate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28), acetolactate synthase (EC 2.2.1.6), keto acid reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86), dihydroxy acid dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9), keto acid decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72), alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1) and alcohol dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2) and/or any of their analogues.
In another aspect of the present invention, a process for producing isobutanol from lactate is provided, associated with a NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H regeneration system, wherein the operation mode is preferably in continuous, using free enzymes. The mixture of enzymes may be any of those above mentioned.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the method may include several stages described below:
I. In a mixing tank, water, lactate, a mixture of enzymes, NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H, cofactor(s) and coenzyme(s) used by the enzymes to carry out the catalysis, are mixed together. The cofactor(s) and coenzyme(s) that are used by each enzyme to carry out the catalysis may be related to the nature of each enzyme. Table 9 shows some of the cofactors and the different enzymes that are preferably used in the present invention. The cofactors and coenzymes shown in Table 9 are for exemplary purposes only and do not exempt other cofactors or coenzymes to be found by a person skilled in the art.
The ingredients described above may be mixed in a pipe, a reactor, or any other container suitable to mix the ingredients.
The ingredients may be mixed by any appropriate method to promote interaction between the enzyme(s) and the substrate(s). In addition, the mixing may be carried out mechanically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. A single mixing method may be utilized, or a two or more different mixing methods may be combined to mix the ingredients.
II. The mixture prepared in I is subjected to catalytic reactions. The effluent stream of the mixing tank continuously passes through a reactor such that the reaction conditions, including catalytic reaction conditions, remain stable with a pH of between 2 and 12, between 4 and 10, preferably between 6 and 8, and a temperature of between 5° C. and 50° C., preferably between 15° C. and 40° C., more preferably between 25° C. and 37° C. When the effluent stream enters the reactor, isobutanol may be produced from lactate with a conversion efficiency equal to or less than 100%. Preferably, the duration of the catalytic reactions is sufficiently long to convert lactate into isobutanol.
In one aspect of the present invention, during such procedure, lactate may catalytically convert into isobutanol. The catalytic conversions of lactate may be conducted in a container that is suitable to carry out the catalytic conversion. For example, a stirred tank reactor, a plug flow reactor, a fluidized bed reactor, or a packed bed reactor, may be used alone or in combination.
III. Isobutanol is separated from the reactant obtained in II. A reactor outlet stream, which may be enriched with isobutanol and depleted in lactate, passes through a separation system wherein the cofactors, coenzymes and enzymes can be separated from isobutanol and water. The enzymes, coenzymes and cofactors may form a concentrated stream, which can be recycled to the mixing tank in I or reactor in II. The separation may be done by any method suitable to separate molecules based on, for example, their physicochemical properties.
IV. On the other hand, the water-isobutanol mixture may be separated by another system. Any separation methods that are suitable to separate molecules may be employed. The separation may be conducted based on a size of the molecules. The separation systems may be: system of membranes (reverse osmosis, pervaporation, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, etc.), distillation, evaporation or any other system which allows the separation of molecules either by size or by any of their physicochemical properties.
When separating isobutanol, the reactant obtained by the catalytic conversions may be separated into a stream including isobutanol and water, and a stream including components other than isobutanol and water. The stream including isobutanol and water may further be separated into a stream including isobutanol and a stream including water. The stream including components other than isobutanol and water may be recycled by mixing into in the mixing tank or the reactor.
Nicotiana tabacum
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
E. coli
Bacillus subtilis
S. cerevisiae
Methanococcus aeolicus
Methanococcus voltae
Oryza sativa
Corynebacterium glutamicum
Spinacia oleracea
Hordeum vulgare
Neurospora crassa
Salmonella enterica
Spinacia oleracea
Sulfolobus solfataricus
Neurospora crassa (micelio)
Methanococcus aeolicus
Escherichia coli
Lactococcus lactis
Oenococcus oeni
Oenococcus oeni
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Geobacillus thermodenitrificans
Saimiri sciureus
Acetobacter pasteurianus
Natronomonas pharaonis
Emericella nidulans
Flavobacterium frigidimaris
Desulfovibrio gigas
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
In a different aspect of the present invention, a method for producing isobutanol from lactate is provided, in which the production of isobutanol is associated with a regeneration system of NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H. Preferably, the operation mode is in continuous, and use a mixture of immobilized enzymes. The mixture of immobilized enzymes may include any of those described above. The immobilization can be done by different methods generally known in the art. Table 10 shows some of the carriers that may be used to immobilize enzymes. The carriers listed in Table 10 are exemplary purposes only and do not exempt other carriers to be found by a person skilled in the art even if not mentioned in Table 10.
The method may include several stages as described below:
I. In a tank, enzymes are immobilized in/on a carrier. One or more enzymes can be immobilized in/on the same or different carriers. Additionally, the carriers may be of the same type with different number of enzymes, or the carriers may be of different types, have different sizes, or have different chemical compositions. Each carrier may contain one or more kind of enzymes. Coenzymes and cofactors may or may not present in/on the carrier. Once the enzymes are immobilized, these enzymes will be added to the reactor.
II. In a separate mixing tank, water, lactate and NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H are mixed. Each enzyme may use cofactor(s) and coenzyme(s) to perform catalysis, depending on the nature of the enzyme. Table 9 shows some coenzymes and cofactors that are preferably used with various enzymes in the present invention. Cofactors and coenzymes described in Table 9 are for exemplary purposes only and do not exempt other cofactors and coenzymes to be found by a person skilled in the art.
The ingredients described above may be mixed in a pipe, a reactor, or any other container appropriate to mix the ingredients.
The ingredients may be mixed by any appropriate methods to promote interaction between the enzyme(s) and the substrate(s). In addition, the mixing may be carried out mechanically, pneumatically, or hydraulically. A single mixing method may be utilized, or a two or more different mixing methods may be combined to mix the ingredients.
III. The stream exiting stage II flows continuously through a reactor containing the immobilized enzymes. The reactor maintains stable reaction conditions with a pH of between 2 and 12, between 4 and 10, preferably between 6 to 8, and a temperature of between 5° C. and 50° C., preferably between 15° C. and 40° C., more preferably between 25° C. and 37° C. When the stream enters the reactor, isobutanol may be produced from lactate with a conversion efficiency equal to or less than 100%. Preferably the carrier should be maintained within the reactor. However, the carrier may be removed from the reactor and may be recycled for further use.
IV. The output enriched in isobutanol and lactate depleted effluent from stage III, may pass through a separation system, wherein the coenzymes and cofactors are separated from isobutanol and water. Coenzymes and cofactors may be lead to a concentrated stream that may be recycled to the mixing tank or to the enzyme reactor.
V. The isobutanol-water mixture exiting the separation system described in IV, may be separated by other separation system. This system may produce two streams, in one hand an isobutanol stream and on the other hand a water stream.
The separation systems mentioned in IV and V may include: membrane systems (reverse osmosis, pervaporation, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration, etc.), distillation, evaporation or any other system which allows the separation of molecules by either size or by any of their physicochemical properties.
One aspect of the present invention relates to a biofuel or biofuel precursor prepared by the process disclosed above. The biofuel or biofuel precursor preferably meets requirements of ASTM D7862.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to an automotive fuel prepared by blending a mixture of hydrocarbons and the biofuel precursor described above.
The following examples are intended to clarify the novelty of the present invention. It should be understood that the following examples are not a limitation to the scope of the present invention. From the description of the invention and from the following examples, a person skilled in the art may carry out some modifications, which will be considered within the scope and spirit of the invention as it is described in the claims.
To determine the enzymatic activity of various enzymes, different enzyme genes were cloned into commercial expression vectors, such as the DUET (Merck, USA) series, by following the protocols described in Green and Sambrook, 2010. Subsequently, the enzymes were purified according to protocols described in Green and Sambrook, 2010. A list of enzymes tested is shown in Table 11.
Escherichia coli APEC O1
Lactococcus lactis subsp.
lactis Il1403
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655
Pseudomonas aeruginosa RP73
Planctomyces brasiliensis
Escherichia coli str. K-12
Bacillus subtilis subsp.
subtilis str. 168
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Escherichia coli K-12 MG1655
Corynebacterium glutamicum
Escherichia coli UTI89
Staphylococcus aureus subsp.
aureus N315
Staphylococcus aureus M1
Lactococcus lactis subsp.
lactis KF147
Arabidopsis thaliana
Escherichia coli BL21 DE3
Zymomonas mobilis subsp.
mobilis ZM4
Escherichia coli K-12 W3110
Escherichia coli K12 W3110
Rattus norvegicus
Homo sapiens
Enzymatic assays and results are described below:
a) L-Lactate Dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.27):
The L-lactate dehydrogenase converts L-lactate into pyruvate using NAD+ and/or NADP+, therefore the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of L-lactate, NAD+ and/or NADP+, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in literature (Cetinel et al., 2013). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. L-Lactate consumption kinetics was monitored by HPLC with a refractive index detector by using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column. The production of NADH and/or NADPH was monitored using a Cary-60 spectrophotometer with temperature control at a wavelength of 340 nm. The test conditions are shown in Table 12.
In all assays, both conversions from L-lactate into pyruvate and NADH and/or NADPH production were observed. The results shown in Table 13 represent the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time, considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
b) D-Lactate Dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.28)
The D-lactate dehydrogenase converts D-lactate into pyruvate using NAD+ and/or NADP+, therefore the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of D-lactate, NAD+ and/or NADP+, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in literature (Kim et al., 2014). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. D-Lactate consumption kinetics were monitored by HPLC with a refractive index detector using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column; NADH and/or NADPH production was monitored using a Cary-60 spectrophotometer with temperature control at a wavelength of 340 nm. The assay conditions are shown in Table 14.
In all performed assays, conversion from D-lactate to pyruvate and the production of NADH and/or NADPH were observed. The results shown in Table 15 represent the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time, considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
c) Acetolactate Synthase (EC 2.2.1.6)
Acetolactate synthase converts pyruvate into 2-acetolactate, therefore, the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of pyruvate, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in the literature (Holtzclaw and Chapman, 1975; Barak et al., 1987; Atsumi et al., 2009). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. Pyruvate consumption kinetics were monitored by UHPLC with a UV detector at a wavelength of 210 nm using an Acclaim organic acids column, a Cary-60 spectrophotometer was also used with temperature control to a wavelength of 320 nm. The assay conditions are shown in Table 16.
Table 17 shows the results of the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases, such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
d) Keto Acid Reductoisomerase (EC 1.1.1.86) and Dihydroxy Acid Dehydratase (EC 4.2.1.9).
On one hand, the keto acid reductoisomerase converts 2-acetolactate into 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate while dihydroxy acid dehydratase converts 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate into ketoisovalerate. Due to the non-commercial availability of 2-acetolactate and the unstability of 2,3-dihydroxyvalerate, the activities of both enzymes were determined indirectly by an assay where acetolactate synthase and keto acid reductoisomerase and dihydroxy acid dehydratase were coupled. This was accomplished by varying the initial concentrations of pyruvate, NADH and/or NADPH, such as pH and temperature using protocols described in literatures (Flint et al., 1993; Bastian et al., 2011; Li et al., 2011.). A combination of two reductoisomerase enzymes and two dihydroxy keto acid dehydratase enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. The pyruvate consumption kinetics and ketoisovalerate production (dihydroxy dehydratase enzyme activity) were monitored by UHPLC with a UV detector at a wavelength of 210 nm using an Acclaim organic acids column; NADH and/or NADPH consumption (substrate for the ketoacid reductoisomerase enzyme) was monitored using a Cary-60 spectrophotometer with temperature control at a wavelength of 340 nm. The assay conditions are shown in Table 18.
Table 19 shows the results of the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases, such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
e) Keto Acid Decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.72)
Keto acid decarboxylase converts ketoisovalerate to isobutyraldehyde, therefore the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of ketoisovalerate, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in the literature (Plaza et al. 2004). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. Ketoisovalerate consumption kinetics were monitored by UHPLC with a UV detector at a wavelength of 210 nm using an Acclaim organic acids column, a Cary-60 spectrophotometer was also used with temperature control to a wavelength of 318 nm. The assay conditions are shown in Table 20.
Table 21 shows the results of the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time, considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases, such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
f) Alcohol Dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.1).
This alcohol dehydrogenase converts isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADH, therefore the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of isobutyraldehyde, NADH, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in the literature (Atsumi et al., 2010). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. Isobutanol production kinetics was monitored by HPLC with a refractive index detector by using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column, the consumption of NADH was monitored using a Cary-60 spectrophotometer with temperature control at a wavelength of 340 nm. The assay conditions are shown in Table 22.
In all performed assays conversion from isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol and NADH consumption were observed. The results shown in Table 23 represent the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time, considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases, such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
g) Alcohol Dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.2).
The alcohol dehydrogenase converts isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol using NADPH, therefore the assays were conducted by varying the initial concentrations of isobutyraldehyde, NADPH, pH and temperature, following the protocols described in the literature (Atsumi et al., 2010). Three enzymes from different microorganisms were used as an example. Isobutanol production kinetics was monitored by HPLC with a refractive index detector by using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column, the consumption of NADH was monitored using a Cary-60 spectrophotometer with temperature control at a wavelength of 340 nm. The test conditions are shown in Table 24.
In all performed assays, conversion from isobutyraldehyde into isobutanol and NADPH consumption were observed. The results shown in Table 25 represent the conversion efficiency obtained after one hour of reaction time, considering the stoichiometry of the reaction reported by different international databases such as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (http://www.kegg.jp) and Braunschweig Enzyme Database (http://www.brenda-enzymes.org).
This example is intended to demonstrate the NAD+/NADH and/or the NADP+/NADPH regeneration concept:
a) NAD+/NADH, by coupling an enzyme that catalyzes a production of NADH and two enzymes that catalyze a production of NAD+ according to the following reactions:
2C3H6O3+2NAD+==>2C3H4O3+2NADH+2H+ (1)
2C3H4O3==>C5H8O4+CO2 (2)
C5H8O4+NADH+H+===>C5H10O4+NAD+ (3)
C5H10O4==>C5H8O3+H2O (4)
C5H8O3==>C4H8O+CO2 (5)
C4H8O+NADH+H+==>C4H10O+NAD+ (6)
From the above chemical equations, the overall stoichiometric of the multienzymatic system has theoretically no loss or gain of NAD+ or NADH. The overall reaction results in the use of two lactate molecules to produce one isobutanol molecule, obtaining 100% conversion efficiency in accordance with the following reaction:
2C3H6O3==>C4H10O+2CO2+H2O (7)
b) NADP+/NADPH, by coupling an enzyme that produces NADPH and two enzymes that produce NADP+ according to the following reactions:
2NADP++2C3H6O3==>2NADPH+2C3H4O3+2H+ (8)
2C3H6O3==>C5H8O4+CO2 (9)
C5H8O4+NADPH+H+==>C5H10O4+NADP+ (10)
C5H10O4==>C5H8O3+H2O (11)
C5H8O3==>C4H8O+CO2 (12)
C4H8O+NADPH+H+==>C4H10O+NADP+ (13)
From the above chemical equations, the overall stoichiometric of the multienzymatic system has theoretically no loss or gain of NADP+ or NADPH. The overall reaction results in the use of two lactate molecules to produce one isobutanol molecule, obtaining 100% conversion efficiency, in accordance with the following reaction:
2C3H6O3==>2CO2+H2O+C4H10O (14)
c) Mixture of NAD(P)+/NAD(P)H, by coupling enzymes which produce NAD(P)H with enzymes that produce NAD(P)+, in accordance with the following reactions:
2C3H6O3+2NAD(P)+==>2C3H4O3+2NAD(P)H+2H+ (15)
2C3H4O3==>C5H8O4+CO2 (16)
C5H8O4+NAD(P)H+H+==>C5H10O4+NAD(P)+ (17)
C5H10O4==>C5H8O3+H2O (18)
C5H8O3==>C4H8O+CO2 (19)
C4H8O+NAD(P)H+H+==>C4H10O+NAD(P)+ (20)
From the above chemical equations, the overall stoichiometric of the multienzymatic system has theoretically no loss or gain of NAD(P)+ or NAD(P)H. The overall reaction results in the use of two lactate molecules to produce one isobutanol molecule, obtaining 100% conversion efficiency according to the following reaction:
2C3H6O3==>2CO2+H2O+C4H10O (21)
A batch system was developed, to associate the NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration system with isobutanol production from lactate, to use under different operating conditions (Table 26). The reaction mixture was formulated with the enzymes (Table 27), cofactors and coenzymes (at the concentrations described in the prior art), lactic acid and NAD+ and/or NADP+. In
In all cases, the reactions were initiated with the addition of lactate. From the beginning of the reaction, the reaction mixture was continuously sampled to determine the progress of the reaction. The NADH and/or NADPH concentration was measured over time on a Cary-60 spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 340 nm. The lactate and isobutanol were monitored by HPLC with refractive index detector using a Rezex ROA-Organic Acids H+ column.
In a system without NADH regeneration, the theoretical stoichiometric balance indicates that 147.8 g of NADH are required to convert 19.55 g of pyruvate (equivalent to 20 g of lactate) into 8.22 g of isobutanol. However, by coupling a NAD+/NADH regenerating system, as suggested in the present invention, and in association with a lactate oxidation by the action of L-lactate dehydrogenase enzyme, only 0.1 g of NAD+ to convert 20 g of lactate in 8.22 g of isobutanol is required.
Similar results to the ones described in the previous paragraphs, were obtained when the process was carried out with 0.1 g/L of NADP+ and when a mixture of NAD+ and NADP+ was used at a concentration of 0.1 g/L.
The previously mentioned comments demonstrate that the isobutanol production from lactate in a batch process coupled with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration system is possible.
To demonstrate the possibility of coupling the enzymatic production of isobutanol from lactate, with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration system, in a continuous process by using free enzymes, the following procedures were carried out:
Lactate was continuously converted into isobutanol in a reactor using free enzymes. The reaction mixture was formulated using the enzyme mixture (Table 27), cofactors and coenzymes (at the concentrations generally employed in the art), lactic acid, and NAD+ and/or NADP+. The operating conditions of the reactor are shown in Table 28. The inlet stream and outlet stream of the reactor were the same, in order to have a continuous process.
The reaction was initiated in the same manner as in the batch process (see Example 2); subsequently, the addition and removal of the reaction medium took place in a continuous manner.
The output stream from the reactor was coupled to a reverse osmosis system, which separated the enzymes, cofactors, and coenzymes from isobutanol. The enzymes, cofactors, and coenzymes stream was recirculated into the reactor.
For all the conditions listed in Tables 27 and 28, the evolution of the reaction intermediates in the reactor outlet stream was monitored. The evolution of NADH and/or NADPH was measured on a Cary-60 spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 340 nm. The lactate and isobutanol were measured by HPLC with refractive index detector using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column.
As seen in
It should be highlighted that very similar conversion efficiencies were obtained for other conditions, as shown in Tables 27 and 28.
To demonstrate the possibility of coupling the enzymatic production of isobutanol from lactate, with a NAD+/NADH and/or NADP+/NADPH regeneration system, in a continuous process using immobilized enzymes, the following was carried out:
Isobutanol was continuously produced from lactate in a reactor in which each enzyme or enzyme mixture (Table 27) was immobilized in/on different carriers (Table 10), with varying quantities of immobilized protein. The operating conditions are shown in Table 29. The reaction mixture was formulated using the immobilized enzyme mixture (Table 27), cofactors and coenzymes (at the concentrations generally employed in the art), lactic acid, and NAD+ and/or NADP+.
The output stream of the reactor was coupled to a reverse osmosis system, which recycles the mixture of cofactors, and coenzymes to the reactor and/or mixing tank. The initial concentration of NAD+ and/or NADP+ was 0.1 g/L, whereas the lactate concentration at the reactor inlet was varied according to Table 29. In all the conditions mentioned in tables 27 and 29, the evolution of the reaction intermediates was monitored along the tubular reactor. The change of NADH and/or NADPH was measured on a Cary-60 spectrophotometer at a wavelength of 340 nm. The lactate and isobutanol concentration were measured by HPLC with refractive index detector using a Rezex-ROA organic acids H+ column.
For this particular case, the reaction started when the mixture of cofactors, coenzymes, L-lactate, and NAD+ entered the packed reactor.
As seen in
In one aspect of the present invention, the total amount of NAD+ and NADH used to convert two moles of lactate into one mole of isobutanol is less than 1 mol, less than 0.1 moles, or preferably less than 0.01 moles.
In one aspect of the present invention, the total amount of NADP+ and NADPH used to convert two moles of lactate into one mole of isobutanol is less than one mole, less than 0.1 moles, or preferably less than 0.01 moles.
In one aspect of the present invention, the total amount of NADP+/NAD+ and NADPH/NADH used to convert two moles of lactate into one mole of isobutanol is less than one mole, less than 0.1 moles, or preferably less than 0.01 moles.
The contents of the following references are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB14/03204 | 12/16/2014 | WO | 00 |
