Recombinant Lactobacillus rhamnosus for High Purity L-Lactic Acid

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current microbial fermentation methods for producing L-lactic acid face challenges with low yield and optical purity, high production costs, and environmental concerns, limiting the efficiency and effectiveness of industrial applications.

Innovation Solution

A recombinant strain of Lactobacillus rhamnosus is genetically modified to weaken D-lactate dehydrogenase activity and enhance L-lactate dehydrogenase activity, resulting in improved L-lactic acid yield and optical purity, reduced fermentation costs, and enhanced environmental friendliness.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If chemical synthesis method is used to produce L-lactic acid, then production cost is reduced, but optical purity decreases and environmental pollution increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidoptical purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the biological parameters of the producing organism by modifying enzyme activities (reducing D-lactate dehydrogenase activity to below 10 U/mL and increasing L-lactate dehydrogenase activity to above 50 U/mL), which transforms the fermentation process to achieve high optical purity (above 98%) while maintaining cost-effectiveness through efficient metabolic pathways

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Manufacturing precision

If conventional microbial fermentation is used to produce L-lactic acid, then optical purity is improved, but yield and productivity remain low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptical purityVSAvoidyield
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes key metabolic parameters by controlling enzyme activities: reducing D-lactate dehydrogenase activity to below 10 U/mL and increasing L-lactate dehydrogenase activity to above 50 U/mL. This parameter optimization redirects metabolic flux toward L-lactic acid production, achieving both high optical purity (above 98%) and high yield (above 90% conversion rate)

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements metabolic feedback control by monitoring and adjusting enzyme activities in the fermentation process. The modified strain exhibits enhanced L-lactate dehydrogenase activity that provides positive feedback for L-lactic acid production, while suppressed D-lactate dehydrogenase activity prevents formation of competing D-lactic acid, thereby simultaneously improving yield and optical purity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If existing lactic acid bacteria strains are used, then production process is simple, but L-lactic acid yield and optical purity cannot meet practical demands

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process complexityVSAvoidoptical purity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent modifies specific biochemical parameters of Lactobacillus rhamnosus by controlling enzyme activities: D-lactate dehydrogenase activity is reduced to below 10 U/mL and L-lactate dehydrogenase activity is increased to above 50 U/mL. This targeted parameter modification achieves high optical purity (above 98%) without complicating the overall production process, maintaining microbial fermentation simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

4Device complexity

If existing lactic acid bacteria strains are used, then production process is simple, but yield and biomass are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process complexityVSAvoidyield
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes metabolic parameters by adjusting enzyme activities: reducing D-lactate dehydrogenase to below 10 U/mL and enhancing L-lactate dehydrogenase to above 50 U/mL. This parameter optimization improves L-lactic acid yield to above 90% conversion rate while maintaining simple microbial fermentation processes without requiring complex production systems

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

The modified strain achieves high L-lactic acid yield and optical purity, shortening production time, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing contamination, while being environmentally friendly.

Implementation Method 1

the microbial fermentation method for producing L-lactic acid by using renewable resources (e.g., glucose) as raw materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Implementation Method 2

the activity of L-lactate dehydrogenase is enhanced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Data Source

PatentUS11130973B1Recombinant strain for producing L-lactic acid
Publication Date: 2021.09.28 JILIN COFCO BIOCHEM

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to the technical fields of genetic engineering and microbial fermentation, and discloses a recombinant strain for producing L-lactic acid, wherein the recombinant strain is obtained by genetically modifying a starting strain, the activity of D-lactate dehydrogenase of the recombinant strain is weakened or inactivated, and the activity of L-lactate dehydrogenase is enhanced, as compared with the starting strain. The present invention can significantly improve the fermentation effect, the yield of the L-lactic acid and the optical purity of the product L-lactic acid.