Engineering of Escherichia coli for Co-Production of Lignocellulosic Ethanol and Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)

Bioethanol is an alternative energy source to fossil fuels and can serve as a raw material for the production of sustainable aviation fuel. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biodegradable plastic with the potential to replace petrochemical plastics. Lignocellulose has a renewable and eco-friendly nature, and it is a key factor in determining the environmental impact of bioethanol and PHB. In this study, we addressed this issue by developing Escherichia coli for the co-production of bioethanol and PHB from rice straw hydrolysate (RSH). Metabolic evolution was employed to enhance ethanol tolerance in the ethanologenic E. coli strain. To mitigate the toxicity of RSH, the strain was modified by rewiring the pentose phosphate pathway and subsequently subjected to metabolic evolution. The strain was further reshaped by reprogramming xylose metabolism and recruiting the PHB synthesis pathway. As a result, the engineered strain simultaneously utilized glucose and xylose while producing 19.8 g/L of bioethanol and 3.5 g/L of PHB in 30 h. The bioethanol yield and the PHB content account for 0.40 g/g and 38% of dry cell weight, respectively. Overall, it indicates the potential application of this developed strain in lignocellulosic biorefineries.