Whole-Cell Biotransformation of 1,12-Dodecanedioic Acid from Coconut Milk Factory Wastewater by Recombinant CYP52A17^SS Expressing <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>

• Main Authors: Phawadee Buathong, Nassapat Boonvitthya, Gilles Truan, Warawut Chulalaksananukul
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2020-08-01
• Series: Processes
• Subjects: biotransformation; dodecanedioic acid; hydroxydodecanoic acid; cytochrome P450; <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i>
• Online Access: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/8/8/969

Biotransformation of fatty acids from renewable wastewater as feedstock to value-added chemicals is a fascinating commercial opportunity. α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) are building blocks in many industries, such as polymers, cosmetic intermediates, and pharmaceuticals, and can be obtained by chemical synthesis under extreme conditions. However, biological synthesis can replace the traditional chemical synthesis using cytochrome P450 enzymes to oxidize fatty acids to DCAs. <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> BY(2R)/pYeDP60-CYP52A17^SS (BCM), a transgenic strain expressing the galactose-inducible CYP52A17^SS cytochrome P450 enzyme, was able to grow in a coconut milk factory wastewater (CCW) medium and produced 12-hydroxydodecanoic acid (HDDA) and 1,12-dodecanedioic acid (DDA). The supplementation of CCW with 10 g/L yeast extract and 20 g/L peptone (YPCCW) markedly increased the yeast growth rate and the yields of 12-HDDA and 1,12-DDA, with the highest levels of approximately 60 and 38 µg/L, respectively, obtained at 30 °C and pH 5. The incubation temperature and medium pH strongly influenced the yeast growth and 1,12-DDA yield, with the highest 1,12-DDA formation at 30 °C and pH 5–5.5. Hence, the <i>S. cerevisiae</i> BCM strain can potentially be used for producing value-added products from CCW.