3-Oxoadipic Acid Production via Aliphatic Substrate Fermentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing 3-oxoadipic acid using microorganisms face challenges with low utilization efficiency due to the use of aromatic compounds as raw materials, leading to difficulties in separation and low metabolic pathway confirmation, especially when using lignin degradation products.

Innovation Solution

The method involves culturing specific microorganisms such as those from the genera Serratia, Corynebacterium, and Pseudomonas, which can produce 3-oxoadipic acid from aliphatic compounds like saccharides, succinic acid, and glycerol, utilizing their metabolic pathways to efficiently produce the acid.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If aromatic compounds (vanillic acid and/or protocatechuic acid) are used as raw materials for 3-oxoadipic acid production, then 3-oxoadipic acid can be produced via the β-ketoadipate pathway, but the utilization efficiency of raw materials is low and separation is difficult due to remaining non-metabolizable components from lignin degradation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3-oxoadipic acid production efficiencyVSAvoidraw material utilization efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the raw material parameter from aromatic compounds to aliphatic compounds (saccharides, succinic acid, glycerol), fundamentally altering the substrate type to improve utilization efficiency and eliminate separation difficulties associated with lignin degradation byproducts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts and eliminates the problematic aromatic compound pathway and instead utilizes the aliphatic compound metabolic pathway, removing the source of non-metabolizable components that complicate separation while maintaining 3-oxoadipic acid production

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If aromatic compounds are used as raw materials, then 3-oxoadipic acid production is possible through known metabolic pathways, but the metabolic pathway confirmation is insufficient and separation process becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemetabolic pathway confirmationVSAvoidseparation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the substrate parameter to aliphatic compounds with well-defined metabolic pathways (such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates), providing clear metabolic pathway confirmation while simplifying the separation process since these compounds are completely metabolizable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If lignin degradation products are used as raw materials, then 3-oxoadipic acid can be produced, but a large amount of non-metabolizable components remain in the culture, making separation difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improve3-oxoadipic acid production capabilityVSAvoidseparation ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent fundamentally changes the raw material parameter from complex lignin degradation products to simple aliphatic compounds (saccharides, succinic acid, glycerol) that are completely metabolizable, thereby maintaining production capability while dramatically improving separation ease due to the absence of non-metabolizable components

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach allows for the effective production of 3-oxoadic acid using a metabolic pathway in microorganisms, enhancing the utilization efficiency of raw materials and simplifying the separation process, as confirmed by quantitative analysis in the culture supernatant.

Implementation Method 1

a method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid, the method comprising the step of culturing at least one type of microorganism having a capacity to produce 3-oxoadipic acid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMetabolic pathway: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS11753662B2Method for producing 3-Oxoadipic acid
Publication Date: 2023.09.12 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC

AI summary

A method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid from an aliphatic compound easily utilizable by a microorganism, such as a saccharide, by utilization of a metabolic pathway of the microorganism is disclosed. The method of producing 3-oxoadipic acid includes the step of culturing at least one type of microorganism having a capacity to produce 3-oxoadipic acid, selected from the group consisting of, for example, microorganisms belonging to the genus Serratia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Corynebacterium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Hafnia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Bacillus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Escherichia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Pseudomonas, microorganisms belonging to the genus Acinetobacter, microorganisms belonging to the genus Alcaligenes, microorganisms belonging to the genus Shimwellia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Planomicrobium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Nocardioides, microorganisms belonging to the genus Yarrowia, microorganisms belonging to the genus Cupriavidus, microorganisms belonging to the genus Rhodosporidium, microorganisms belonging to the genus Streptomyces, and microorganisms belonging to the genus Microbacterium.