Mycobacterium neoaurum SMO2 Overexpression for ADD Yield

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for producing androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD) and androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD) are costly, environmentally unfriendly, and lack understanding of key enzymes involved in microbial transformation, limiting yield and efficiency.

Innovation Solution

Identification and intensive expression of three isoenzymes (SMO1, SMO2, SMO3) of steroid C27-monooxygenase in Mycobacterium neoaurum using gene knockout and complementation methods, specifically overexpressing SMO2 to enhance ADD yield.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If chemical synthesis is used to produce AD and ADD from diosgenin, then production cost is reduced, but environment pollution increases and process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction costVSAvoidenvironment pollution
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces chemical synthesis methods with microbial transformation using Mycobacterium neoaurum. The bacterium naturally transforms sterols (cholesterol, plant sterols) into AD and ADD through enzymatic reactions, eliminating the need for complex chemical reagents and harsh reaction conditions, thereby reducing environmental pollution while maintaining cost-effectiveness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent utilizes the endogenous enzymatic system of Mycobacterium neoaurum to perform the transformation. The bacterium's native enzymes (including steroid C27-monooxygenase, cholesterol oxidase, and 3-ketosteroid-Δ1-dehydrogenase) naturally catalyze the conversion of sterols to AD and ADD, eliminating the need for external catalysts or complex process interventions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Object-affected harmful factors

If microbial transformation is used to produce AD and ADD from sterols, then environment friendliness is improved and cost is reduced, but yield and efficiency are limited due to lack of understanding of key enzymes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenvironment pollutionVSAvoidyield of AD and ADD
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the complex sterol transformation pathway into discrete enzymatic steps and identifies the specific enzymes responsible for each step. By isolating and characterizing key enzymes (steroid C27-monooxygenase SMO1/SMO2/SMO3, cholesterol oxidase, 3-ketosteroid-Δ1-dehydrogenase), the research enables targeted optimization of each step to improve overall yield and efficiency

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent optimizes fermentation parameters (temperature, pH, aeration, substrate concentration) and genetic parameters (enzyme expression levels, enzyme ratios) to maximize the activity of key enzymes. By adjusting these parameters, the transformation efficiency from sterols to AD and ADD is significantly enhanced while maintaining environmental benefits

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If the metabolic pathway of sterol transformation is thoroughly understood with all enzymes identified, then productivity is improved, but device complexity and research complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveyield of AD and ADDVSAvoidcomplexity of enzyme identification process
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs feedback mechanisms through metabolic pathway analysis, where the accumulation or depletion of intermediate metabolites provides information about enzyme activity and pathway bottlenecks. By monitoring metabolite levels and enzyme expression patterns, the research systematically identifies key enzymes without requiring exhaustive analysis of every pathway component

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses genetic engineering tools (plasmids, promoters, selectable markers) as intermediaries to study and identify key enzymes. By constructing recombinant strains with controlled enzyme expression and using genetic complementation approaches, the research efficiently identifies functional enzymes without directly analyzing complex metabolic interactions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Significantly increases the yield of ADD from 5.2 g·L−1 to 7.3 g·L−1, demonstrating a 40.4% increase, and provides a more efficient and environmentally friendly microbial fermentation method for industrial production.

Implementation Method 1

the enzyme in the first step of sterol transformation, which is cholesterol oxidase, and the enzyme in the last step, which is 3-ketosteroid-Δ1-dehydrogenase, have been identified and proved. Other enzymes in the approach have not yet been identified and applied.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectEnzyme catalysis: Enzyme

Implementation Method 2

steroid side chains are degraded selectively, and thereby a target product is obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidation: Oxidation

Implementation Method 3

by means of the microbial fermentation technique, sterol side chains are degraded selectively, and thereby a target product is obtained

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS10851352B2Mycobacterium neoaurum-derived steroid C27-monooxygenase and application thereof
Publication Date: 2020.12.01 JIANGNAN UNIV

AI summary

The present invention discloses a Mycobacterium neoaurum-derived steroid C27-monooxygenase and an application thereof, which belong to the technical fields of genetic engineering and enzyme engineering. By the method of gene knockout and intensive expression, the present invention screens out three isoenzymes of a key enzyme SMO in the process of degrading sterol side chains from Mycobacterium neoaurum. The three isoenzymes are intensively expressed respectively in the Mycobacterium neoaurum for the high yield of androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), the yield of ADD is increased remarkably, wherein the effect of SMO2 is most remarkable. By overexpressing SMO2, the final ADD yield is increased from 5.2 g·L−1 to 7.3 g·L−1. The present invention provides a helpful guidance for the industrialization of the microbial fermentation method for increasing the ADD yield.