Biotransformation of C20- and C22-polyunsaturated fatty acids to 11S- and 13S-hydroxy fatty acids by Escherichia coli expressing 11S-lipoxygenase from Enhygromyxa salina.

Purpose: Peroxidation and reduction of 11S- and 13S-positions on C20 and C22 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) by Escherichia coli expressing highly active arachidonate (ARA) 11S-lipoxygenase (11S-LOX) from Enhygromyxa salina with the reducing agent cysteine.

Results: The specific activity and catalytic efficiency of ARA 11S-LOX from E. salina were 4.1- and 91-fold higher than those of only reported ARA 11S-LOX from Myxococcus xanthus, respectively. The hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) obtained by the biotransformation of ARA, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexanoic acid (DHA) by Escherichia coli expressing 11S-LOX from E. salina in the presence of cysteine were identified as 11S-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (11S-HETE), 11S-hydroxyeicosapentaenoic acid (11S-HEPE), 13S-hydroxydocosapentaenoic acid (13S-HDPA), and 13S-hydroxydocosahexaenoic acid (13S-HDHA), respectively. The recombinant cells converted 3 mM of ARA, EPA, DPA, and DHA into 2.9 mM of 11S-HETE, 2.4 mM 11S-HEPE, 1. 9 mM 13S-HDPA, and 2.2 mM 13S-HDHA in 60, 80, 120, and 120 min, corresponding to productivities of 72.5, 40.4, 18.5, and 22.4 μM min and conversion yields of 96.7, 80.0, 62.3, and 74.6%, respectively.

Conclusions: We report the highest concentrations, conversion yields, and productivities of 11S- and 13S-hydroxy fatty acids from C20- and C22-PUFAs achieved via E. coli expressing highly active E. salina 11S-LOX.