Lactate(LA)-based polyesters are promising bio-based materials as alternatives to petroleum-based plastics. We have established an engineered Escherichia coli system, which directly convert biomass into LA-based polyesters. An LA-polymerizing enzyme (LPE) plays a central role in the intracellular polymerization of lactic acid. In this study, we used an alternative approach for meeting practical use requirements in food-grade and medical-related applications. We transferred the LA-based polyester biosynthesis machinery from prototype E. coli system to the industrially significant and safe organism Corynebacterium glutamicum, which does not produce any toxic compounds (i.e. endotoxin).The genes encoding the enzymes involved in monomer supplying (lactyl-CoA and 3-hydroxybutyryl-CoA) and LPE were introduced into C. glutamicum and the function of the individual enzymes was confirmed. The GC/MS and NMR analyses of extracted polymers revealed that the engineered C. glutamicum produced LA-based polyesters with extremely high LA fractions of which were hardly produced by the previous E. coli system.

Direct conversion of glucose into lactate-based polyesters using engineered <i>Corynebacterium glutamicum</i> as a whole cell catalyst

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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Direct conversion of glucose into lactate-based polyesters using engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum as a whole cell catalyst