Development of scalable precision fermentation and chemical-grade purification of 5-aminovaleric acid for high-value valorization

초록

The use of biogenic 5-aminovaleric acid (5-AVA), a key bio-monomer offers a plausible pathway for transforming the petrochemical industry into a low-carbon emission sector. However, its broader industrial application is limited by the absence of established precision fermentation platforms that yield high 5-AVA titers. Scalable downstream purification strategies for its purification are also lacking. Therefore, to address these issues, this study presents a precision fermentation platform for the high-precision synthesis of 5-AVA using an engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum strain, AVA-3. Via stepwise metabolic engineering to enhance l-lysine flux and suppress byproduct formation, we obtained the highest 5-AVA titers reported to date: 51.8 at 5 L (lab scale) and 44.4 g/L at 500 L (pilot scale). Tailored media supplemented with polypeptone and trace elements improved cell growth and 5-AVA yield, highlighting the effectiveness of precision fermentation in scalable bioprocess development. Additionally, a downstream purification protocol for obtaining high-purity 5-AVA, which showed a recovery rate of approximately 50 %, was also established. Further experiments indicated that the high-purity 5AVA thus obtained could serve as a renewable platform chemical as it could be used as a precursor in the production of bio-based nylon. Representative chemical valorizations of bio-based 5-AVA also led to the formation of value-added compounds with potential for application in functional materials as precursors for antibody-drug conjugate linkers and metabolically important compounds. These findings position C. glutamicum AVA-3 as a robust microbial chassis for sustainable, industrial-scale 5-AVA production and may contribute to ongoing efforts toward establishing carbon-efficient biomanufacturing and a circular bioeconomy.

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