Abstract
Recombinant Escherichia coli harboring the l-arabinose isomerase (BLAI) from Bacillus licheniformis was used as a biocatalyst to produce l-ribulose in the presence of borate. Effects of substrate concentration, the borate to l-arabinose ratio, pH, and temperature on the conversion of l-arabinose to l-ribulose were investigated. l-Ribulose production was efficient when pH was higher than 9 and temperature was higher than 50 °C. Borate addition to the reaction mixture was essential for high conversion of l-arabinose to l-ribulose as it resulted in an equilibrium shift in favor of the product. Under the optimal conditions determined by response surface methodology, the E. coli harboring BLAI produced 375 g l−1 L-ribulose from 500 g l−1 l-arabinose at a reaction time of 60 min, corresponding to a conversion yield of 75% and productivity of 375 g l−1 h−1. When the resting recombinant E. coli cells were recycled, 85% of the yield was obtained even after seven cycles of reuse. The productivity and final concentration of l-ribulose obtained in the present study were the highest yet reported.
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Acknowledgments
This research was supported by a grant from the Korea Research Foundation (2009-0070463). This research was also supported by the 2009 KU Brain Pool of Konkuk University.
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Zhang, YW., Jeya, M. & Lee, JK. l-Ribulose production by an Escherichia coli harboring l-arabinose isomerase from Bacillus licheniformis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 87, 1993–1999 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2600-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-010-2600-9