Multidimensional optimization for accelerating light-powered biocatalysis in Rhodopseudomonas palustris

BACKGROUND: Whole-cell biocatalysis has been exploited to convert a variety of substrates into high-value bulk or chiral fine chemicals. However, the traditional whole-cell biocatalysis typically utilizes the heterotrophic microbes as the biocatalyst, which requires carbohydrates to power the cofactor (ATP, NAD (P)H) regeneration. RESULTS: In this study, we sought to harness purple non-sulfur photosynthetic bacterium (PNSB) as the biocatalyst to achieve light-driven cofactor regeneration for cascade biocatalysis. We substantially improved the performance of Rhodopseudomonas palustris-based biocatalysis using a highly active and conditional expression system, blocking the side-reactions, controlling the feeding strategy, and attenuating the light shading effect. Under light-anaerobic conditions, we found that 50 mM ferulic acid could be completely converted to vanillyl alcohol using the recombinant strain with 100% efficiency, and > 99.9% conversion of 50 mM p-coumaric acid to p-hydroxybenzyl alcohol was similarly achieved. Moreover, we examined the isoprenol utilization pathway for pinene synthesis and 92% conversion of 30 mM isoprenol to pinene was obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggested that R. palustris could be a promising host for light-powered biotransformation, which offers an efficient approach for synthesizing value-added chemicals in a green and sustainable manner. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: [Image: see text] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13068-023-02410-3.