Using 1-propanol to significantly enhance the production of valuable odd-chain fatty acids by Rhodococcus opacus PD630

AbstractOdd-chain fatty acids (OCFAs) have been reported to possess pharmacological activity and have been used in the manufacture of agricultural and industrial chemicals. We here provided a new method to increase the OCFAs content in oil produced byRhodococcus opacus PD630 through addition of 1-propanol to the fermentation media. The OCFAs in oil ofR. opacus PD630 are primarily pentadecanoic acid (C15:0), heptadecanoic acid (C17:0) and heptadecenoic acid (C17:1). After adding 0.5 –1.5% (v/v) 1-propanol, the production of oil increased from 1.27 g/L to 1.31–1.61 g/L, and the OCFAs content in oil increased by 46.7–55.1%. Metabolic intermediates determination and transcriptome analysis revealed thatR. opacus assimilated 1-propanol through methylmalonyl-CoA pathway. When the nitrogen source was limited, propionyl-CoA was converted to propionyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) which could be used as primer during the elongation of fatty acid synthesis. Then OCFAs were produced when odd number of propionyl-ACP was incorporated in the cycles of fatty acid synthesis.Graphic Abstract
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research