Open AccessOne‐step bioconversion of hemicellulose polymers to rhamnolipids with Cellvibrio japonicus : A proof‐of‐concept for a potential host strain in future bioeconomy
Author(s) -
Horlamus Felix,
Wittgens Andreas,
Noll Philipp,
Michler Jan,
Müller Inga,
Weggenmann Fabiola,
Oellig Claudia,
Rosenau Frank,
Henkel Marius,
Hausmann Rudolf
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
gcb bioenergy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.378
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1757-1707
pISSN - 1757-1693
DOI - 10.1111/gcbb.12542
Subject(s) - bioconversion , hemicellulose , xylan , monosaccharide , chemistry , biorefinery , pulp and paper industry , lignin , raw material , biochemistry , cellulose , organic chemistry , fermentation , engineering
The purpose of this study was to evaluate Cellvibrio japonicus as a potential host strain for one‐step bioconversion of hemicellulose polymers to value‐added products. C. japonicus could be cultivated on all main lignocellulose monosaccharides as well as xylan polymers as a sole carbon source. This is particularly interesting as most industrially relevant bacteria are neither able to depolymerize wood polymers nor metabolize most hemicellulose monosaccharides. As a result, lignocellulose raw materials typically have to be degraded employing additional processes while the complete conversion of all lignocellulose sugars remains a challenge. Exemplary for a value‐added product, a one‐step conversion of xylan polymers to mono‐rhamnolipid biosurfactants with C. japonicus after transformation with the plasmid pSynPro8oT carrying the genes rhlAB was demonstrated. As achieved product yields in this one‐step bioconversion process are comparably low, many challenges remain to be overcome for application on an industrial scale. Nonetheless, this study provides a first step in the search for establishing a future host strain for bioeconomy, which will ideally be used for bioconversion of lignocellulose polymers with as little exhaustive pretreatment as possible.