ARS | Publication request: Current Progress and Future Research on the Production of Oxygenated Fatty Acids

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: November 21, 2009
Publication Date: November 21, 2009
Citation: Hou, C.T., Kim, B., Kim, H. 2009. Current progress and future research on the production of oxygenated fatty acids [abstract]. International Symposium on Biocatalysis and Biotechnology. C2. p. 52.

Technical Abstract: Oxygenated (hydroxy-, epoxy-) fatty acids such as ricinoleic, vernolic and /or sebacic acids are high value chemicals and can be used to produce polymers and specialty chemicals. Oxygenated fatty acids also have many bioactive properties, such as antimicrobial activity against Salmonella, Staphylococcus, and plant pathogenic fungi, as shown in our previous work. The specific physiological activity of bioactive fatty acids depends on the position of the hydroxyl groups on the fatty acyl chain. We produced kilogram quantity of bioactive 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid from oleic acid by Pseudomonas aeruginosa PR3. Now we are trying to scale-up production of another bioactive fatty acid 12,13,17-trihydroxy-9(Z)-octadecenoic acid from lenoleic acid by Bacillus megatherium ALA2. Because hydrophobic fatty acids need to be evenly dispersed in culture for effective contact with microbial cells, we investigated the effect of surfactants on the production of 12,13,17-THOA. Among the three surfactant type (SO-25, Tween-80 and Triton X-100 with concentrations from 0.01, to 1%) tested, Triton X-100 decreased cell growth and 12,13,17-THOA production while Tween-80 at 0.5% nearly doubled 12,13,17-THOA production over the control. When the concentration of substrate was changed with a fixed concentration of Tween-80 (0.5 %), maximum 12,13,17-THOA production was achieved at 1% of substrate. When different concentrations of Tween-80 were tested in a dissolved oxygen controlled fermentor, 12,13,17-THOA production reached maximum at 0.5% of surfactant with THOA production at 620 mg/L. From an economical point of view, future research should emphasize on a one step bioprocess for the production of oxygenated fatty acid directly from soybean oil.