Natural transformation of Vibrio natriegens with large genetic cluster enables alginate assimilation for isopentenol production.

Alginate is a major component of brown macroalgae, and its efficient utilization is critical for developing sustainable technologies. Vibrio natriegens is a fast-growing marine bacterium that has gained massive attention due to its potential as an alternative industrial chassis. However, V. natriegens cannot naturally metabolize alginate, limiting its usage in marine biomass conversion. In this study, V. natriegens was engineered to utilize marine biomass, kelp, as a carbon source. A total of 33.8 kb of the genetic cluster for alginate assimilation from Vibrio sp. dhg was integrated into V. natriegens by natural transformation. Engineered V. natriegens was further modified to produce 1.8 mg/L of isopentenol from 16 g/L of crude kelp powder. This study not only presents the very first case in which V. natriegens can be naturally transformed with large DNA fragments but also highlights the potential of this strain for converting marine biomass into valuable products.