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

Journal Article · · Science Advances
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [3]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1];  [1]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [4]; ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [1]
  1. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Renewable Resources and Enabling Science Center
  2. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Renewable Resources and Enabling Science Center; Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)
  3. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center
  4. Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI (United States)

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 $$\$$2.01$ per kilogram, which is cost competitive with fossil carbon-derived adipic acid ($$\$$1.10$ 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.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States); Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Office of Workforce Development for Teachers & Scientists (WDTS)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; SC0014664
OSTI ID:
2004925
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA--2A00-86909; MainId:87684; UUID:1ab3e9dc-b50c-4ccd-829e-fc2ca897a04f; MainAdminID:70681
Journal Information:
Science Advances, Journal Name: Science Advances Journal Issue: 36 Vol. 9; ISSN 2375-2548
Publisher:
AAASCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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