Optimization of whole-cell biocatalytic process for N-acetylneuraminic acid production

Abstract:

[Objective] N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) has important medical value in the treatment of influenza, the neurological disease. The conventional methods of production have some shortcomings, such as high cost and low yield. So the available resource of Neu5Ac can not meet the large-scale demand of medical industry. [Methods] In earlier research, a metabolic engineering bacteria (Escherichia coli ΔnanTEK/pNA) has been constructed for the production of Neu5Ac, Whole-cell catalysis was used for the production of Neu5Ac with GlcNAc and pyruvate as the substrate. Culture condition (temperature and time) of E. coli ΔnanTEK/ pNA and subsequent biological transformation (temperature, time, Triton X-100 and so on) were studied by single factor experiment. [Results] After conditions optimization, the production of Neu5Ac was improved and 294.39 mmol/L of Neu5Ac was obtained. [Conclusion] The process can be used for industrial large-scale production of Neu5Ac in terms of convenience, efficiency and economy.