LuxAB-Based Microbial Cell Factories for the Sensing, Manufacturing and Transformation of Industrial Aldehydes

The application of genetically encoded biosensors enables the detection small molecules in living cells and has facilitated characterization enzymes, their directed evolution engineering (natural) metabolic pathways. In this work, LuxAB biosensor system from Photorhabdus luminescens was implemented Escherichia coli to monitor enzymatic production aldehydes primary alcohols carboxylic acid substrates. A simple high-throughput assay utilized bacterial luciferase—previously reported only accept aliphatic long-chain aldehydes—to detect structurally diverse aldehydes, including aromatic monoterpene aldehydes. used screen substrate scopes three prokaryotic oxidoreductases: an alcohol dehydrogenase (Pseudomonas putida), a choline oxidase variant (Arthrobacter chlorophenolicus) reductase (Mycobacterium marinum). Consequently, high-value such as cinnamaldehyde, citral citronellal could be produced vivo up 80% yield. Furthermore, dual role sensor monooxygenase, emitting bioluminescence through oxidation corresponding carboxylates, promises implementation artificial enzyme cascades for synthesis acids. These findings advance bio-based detection, preparation transformation industrially important cells.