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Title: Membrane Permeability of Terpenoids Explored with Molecular Simulation

Journal Article · · Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry

We report that terpenoids constitute a class of compounds with remarkable potential for pharmaceutical, fragrance, specialty chemical, and biofuel applications. However, their industrial production is limited by their rarity within their native plant hosts, creating considerable interest in microbial hosts capable of manufacturing terpenoids. To reduce production costs, nondestructive product recovery from these microbial hosts is preferred, and is achievable using a hydrophobic organic overlay. Our prior research has indicated that oxidized fatty acyl products may permeate faster through host membranes, increasing overall biorefinery productivity. To test this hypothesis for terpenoids, we computed membrane permeabilities of conventional terpenoid target products (e.g., limonene, bisabolene, farnesene) and related oxidized compounds through molecular dynamics simulations. These simulations indicate that terpenoid product permeabilities from cytosol to overlay are oxidation independent, as increases in membrane extraction efficiency due to product oxidation are proportionally offset by decreases in the membrane crossing rate if the membrane and organic phase are in close contact. However, if aqueous extraction is required, oxidation will accelerate the slow product extraction from the membrane. Experimental toxicity assays performed indicated that most terpenoids tested were tolerated by microbial hosts, although exposure to oxidized terpenes often retarded microbial growth compared with conventional terpenes. Finally, terpenoid oxidation is not expected to significantly increase or decrease the extraction productivity in an industrial setting where cells are in close contact, unlike the previously studied fatty acyl products.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308
OSTI ID:
1484588
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-2700-72683
Journal Information:
Journal of Physical Chemistry. B, Condensed Matter, Materials, Surfaces, Interfaces and Biophysical Chemistry, Vol. 122, Issue 45; ISSN 1520-6106
Publisher:
American Chemical SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 17 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (4)

Prediction of Terpenoid Toxicity Based on a Quantitative Structure–Activity Relationship Model journal December 2019
Passive membrane transport of lignin-related compounds journal October 2019
High density cultivation for efficient sesquiterpenoid biosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 journal April 2020
Improving heterologous protein expression in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for alpha-bisabolene production journal June 2020

Figures / Tables (10)