Microbial production of 2,3-butanediol by a surfactant (serrawettin)-deficient mutant of Serratia marcescens H30

• Published in: Journal of industrial microbiology & biotechnology 2010-08, Vol.37 (8), p.857-862
• Main Authors: Zhang, Liaoyuan, Sun, Jian’an, Hao, Yingli, Zhu, Jiawen, Chu, Ju, Wei, Dongzhi, Shen, Yaling
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Analysis; Bacteria; Biochemistry; Bioinformatics; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biosynthesis; Biotechnology; Butylene Glycols - metabolism; Depsipeptides - deficiency; E coli; Enzymes; Experiments; Fermentation; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gene Knockout Techniques; Genes; Genetic Engineering; Inactivation; Inorganic Chemistry; Laboratories; Life Sciences; Microbial contamination; Microbiology; Mutagenesis, Insertional; Original Paper; Plasmids; Serratia marcescens; Serratia marcescens - genetics; Serratia marcescens - metabolism; Studies; Sucrose; Surfactants
• ISSN: 1367-5435; 1476-5535
• DOI: 10.1007/s10295-010-0733-6

Serrawettin W1 produced by Serratia marcescens is a surface-active exolipid resulting in a lot foam formation during the 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) fermentation process. In order to avoid excessive addition of antifoam agent and microbial contamination, S . marcescens mutants deficient in serrawettin W1 formation were successfully constructed through insertional inactivation of the swrW gene coding for serrawettin W1 synthase. The shake flask and batch experiments suggested that disruption of the swrW gene led to significant reduction of the foam formation and improved 2,3-BD production a little. Ultimately, fed-batch culturing of the mutant afforded a maximum 2,3-BD concentration of 152 g l −1 with a productivity of 2.67 g l −1  h −1 and a yield of 92.6% at 57 h.