Carbon-negative bio-production of short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs) from syngas via the sequential two-stage bioprocess by Moorella thermoacetica and metabolically engineered Escherichia coli

Abstract

Syngas can be efficiently converted to acetate by Moorella thermoacetica under anaerobic conditions, which is environmentally friendly. Coupled with acetate production from syngas, using acetate to synthesize value-added compounds such as short-chain carboxylic acids (SCCAs) becomes a negative-carbon process. Escherichia coli is engineered to utilize acetate as the sole carbon source to produce SCCAs. By knocking out some acetyltransferase genes, introducing exogenous pathway and additional cofactor engineering, the strains can synthesize 3.79 g/L of 3-hydroxypropionic acid (3-HP), 1.83 g/L of (R)-3-hydroxybutyric acid (R-3HB), and 2.31 g/L of butyrate. We used M. thermoacetica to produce acetate from syngas. Subsequently, all engineered E. coli strains were able to produce SCCAs from syngas-derived acetate. The titers of 3-HP, R-3HB, and butyrate are 3.75, 1.68, and 2.04 g/L, with carbon sequestration rates of 51.1, 26.3, and 38.1 %. This coupled bioprocess has great potential for producing a range of other value-added chemicals from syngas.