Prospecção de isolados bacterianos e construção de linhagens recombinantes para a conversão do fenol derivado da lignina

Abstract

Lignin is a plant macromolecule composed of aromatic units that represent a promising renewable source of industrially relevant aromatic compounds. However, it remains underutilized due to its recalcitrant structure, which renders its conversion challenging and costly. An alternative approach for lignin upgrading involves the genetic engineering of microorganisms that convert aromatic compounds derived from its chemical depolymerization into metabolic intermediates, redirecting its metabolism to the production of a valued added product. Among the microbial chassis investigated, Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is widely studied due to its metabolic versatility and the availability of robust molecular tools for heterologous gene expression, yet it does not naturally assimilate phenol, a common molecule present in lignin depolymerization products. Therefore, it is important to find metabolic pathways that can be integrated into P. putida KT2440 so it can assimilate phenol and transform it into a valued added product. This work aimed to evaluate the capacity of bacterial isolates obtained from mangrove samples to assimilate phenol and engineer a P. putida KT2440 strain with a phenol hydroxylase to assimilate this aromatic compound on its metabolism. Collectively, these findings are relevant for the development of new metabolic engineeringstrategies aimed at biological funneling lignin-derived aromatics into value-added products, thereby contributing to new technologies for lignin upgrading.