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Enhancing cofactor regeneration of cyanobacteria for the light-powered synthesis of chiral alcohols

Cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was exploited as green cell factory for light-powered asymmetric synthesis of aromatic chiral alcohols. The effect of temperature, light, substrate and cell concentration on substrate conversions were investigated. Under the optimal condition, a series of chiral alcohols were synthesized with conversions up to 95% and enantiomer excess (ee)?>?99%. We found that the addition of Na2S2O3 and Angeli’s Salt increased the NADPH content by 20% and 25%, respectively. As a result, the time to reach 95% substrate conversion was shortened by 12?h, which demonstrated that the NADPH regeneration and hence the reaction rates can be regulated in cyanobacteria. This blue-green algae based biocatalysis showed its potential for chiral compounds production in future.

Publication date: 01/01/2022

Author: Jianhua Fan, Yinghui Zhang, Ping Wu, Xiaoyan Zhang, Yunpeng Bai

Bioorganic Chemistry

      

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 870292.