One-pot production of butyl butyrate from glucose using a cognate “diamond-shaped” E. coli consortium

Abstract Esters are widely used in plastics, textile fibers, and general petrochemicals. Usually, esters produced via chemical synthesis or enzymatic processes from the corresponding alcohols acids. However, fermentative production of and/or acids has recently also become feasible. Here we report a cognate microbial consortium capable producing butyl butyrate. This consists two engineered butyrate- butanol-producing E . coli strains with nearly identical genetic background. The pathways for butyrate butanol butyryl-CoA respective E. strains, together lipase-catalyzed esterification reaction, created “diamond-shaped” consortium. concentration fermentation vessel could be altered by adjusting inoculation ratios each strain After optimization, 7.2 g/L yield 0.12 g/g glucose without exogenous addition To our best knowledge, this is highest titer reported to date. study thus provides new way biotechnological esters.