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Inducible cell lysis systems in microbial production of bio-based chemicals

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Abstract

The release of products from microbial cells is an essential process for industrial scale production of bio-based chemicals. However, traditional methods of cell lysis, e.g., mechanical disruption, chemical solvent extraction, and immobilized enzyme degradation, account for a large share of the total production cost. Thus, an efficient cell lysis system is required to lower the cost. This review has focused on our current knowledge of two cell lysis systems, bacteriophage holin–endolysin system, and lipid enzyme hydrolysis system. These systems are controlled by conditionally inducible regulatory apparatus and applied in microbial production of fatty acids and polyhydroxyalkanoates. Moreover, toxin–antitoxin system is also suggested as alternative for its potential applications in cell lysis. Compared with traditional methods of cell disruption, the inducible cell lysis systems are more economically feasible and easier to control and show a promising perspective in industrial production of bio-based chemicals.

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Acknowledgment

This research was financially supported by 100-Talent Project of CAS (for GZ), Director Innovation Foundation of QIBEBT, CAS (Y112141105), National Natural Scientific Foundation of China (31200030), National Science and Technology Program (2012BAD32B06), and National 863 Project of China (SS2013AA050703-2).

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  1. Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 189 Songling Road, Qingdao, 266101, China

    Yongqiang Gao, Xinjun Feng, Mo Xian, Qi Wang & Guang Zhao

  2. Key Laboratory of Biobased Materials, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China

    Mo Xian & Guang Zhao

  3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yongqiang Gao, Xinjun Feng & Qi Wang

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  1. Yongqiang Gao
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  2. Xinjun Feng
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  4. Qi Wang
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  5. Guang Zhao
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Correspondence to Guang Zhao.

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Yongqiang Gao and Xinjun Feng contributed equally to this work.

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Gao, Y., Feng, X., Xian, M. et al. Inducible cell lysis systems in microbial production of bio-based chemicals. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 97, 7121–7129 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5100-x

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