A platform pathway for production of 3-hydroxyacids provides a biosynthetic route to 3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone

Collin H. Martin, Himanshu Dhamankar, Hsien-Chung Tseng, Micah J. Sheppard, Christopher R. Reisch and Kristala L.J. Prather ()
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Collin H. Martin: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Himanshu Dhamankar: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Hsien-Chung Tseng: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Micah J. Sheppard: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Christopher R. Reisch: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Kristala L.J. Prather: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Nature Communications, 2013, vol. 4, issue 1, 1-10

Abstract: Abstract The replacement of petroleum feedstocks with biomass to produce platform chemicals requires the development of appropriate conversion technologies. 3-Hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone has been identified as one such chemical; however, there are no naturally occurring biosynthetic pathways for this molecule or its hydrolyzed form, 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid. Here we design a novel pathway to produce various chiral 3-hydroxyacids, including 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid, consisting of enzymes that condense two acyl-CoAs, stereospecifically reduce the resulting β-ketone and hydrolyze the CoA thioester to release the free acid. Acetyl-CoA serves as one substrate for the condensation reaction, whereas the second is produced intracellularly by a pathway enzyme that converts exogenously supplied organic acids. Feeding of butyrate, isobutyrate and glycolate results in the production of 3-hydroxyhexanoate, 3-hydroxy-4-methylvalerate and 3,4-dihydroxybutyric acid+3-hydroxy-γ-butyrolactone, respectively, molecules with potential uses in applications from materials to medicines. We also unexpectedly observe the condensation reaction resulting in the production of the 2,3-dihydroxybutyric acid isomer, a potential value-added monomer.

Date: 2013
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2418

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