Efficient (3S)-Acetoin and (2S,3S)-2,3-Butanediol Production from meso-2,3-Butanediol Using Whole-Cell Biocatalysis

Abstract

(3<i>S</i>)-Acetoin and (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-2,3-butanediol are important platform chemicals widely applied in the asymmetric synthesis of valuable chiral chemicals. However, their production by fermentative methods is difficult to perform. This study aimed to develop a whole-cell biocatalysis strategy for the production of (3<i>S</i>)-acetoin and (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-2,3-butanediol from <i>meso</i>-2,3-butanediol. First, <i>E. coli</i> co-expressing (2<i>R</i>,3<i>R</i>)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase, NADH oxidase and <i>Vitreoscilla</i> hemoglobin was developed for (3<i>S</i>)-acetoin production from <i>meso</i>-2,3-butanediol. Maximum (3<i>S</i>)-acetoin concentration of 72.38 g/L with the stereoisomeric purity of 94.65% was achieved at 24 h under optimal conditions. Subsequently, we developed another biocatalyst co-expressing (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-2,3-butanediol dehydrogenase and formate dehydrogenase for (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-2,3-butanediol production from (3<i>S</i>)-acetoin. Synchronous catalysis together with two biocatalysts afforded 38.41 g/L of (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-butanediol with stereoisomeric purity of 98.03% from 40 g/L <i>meso</i>-2,3-butanediol. These results exhibited the potential for (3<i>S</i>)-acetoin and (2<i>S</i>,3<i>S</i>)-butanediol production from <i>meso</i>-2,3-butanediol as a substrate via whole-cell biocatalysis.