Key enzymes catalyzing glycerol to 1,3-propanediol

• Published in: Biotechnology for biofuels Vol. 9; no. 57; p. 57
• Main Authors: Jiang, Wei, Wang, Shizhen, Wang, Yuanpeng, Fang, Baishan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10.03.2016; BioMed Central
• Subjects: Analysis; Binding sites; Biodiesel fuels; Catalysis; Chemical synthesis; Dehydrogenases; Enzymes; Glycerin; Glycerol; Influence; Kinases; Proteins; Review; Europe; Industrial enzyme; PDOR; GDHt; Glycerol; Bioconversion; Multienzyme coupling; GDH; Biodiesel; Renewable resources; Biocatalyst
• ISSN: 1754-6834; 1754-6834
• DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0473-6

Biodiesel can replace petroleum diesel as it is produced from animal fats and vegetable oils, and it produces about 10 % (w/w) glycerol, which is a promising new industrial microbial carbon, as a major by-product. One of the most potential applications of glycerol is its biotransformation to high value chemicals such as 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PD), dihydroxyacetone (DHA), succinic acid, etc., through microbial fermentation. Glycerol dehydratase, 1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase (1,3-propanediol-oxydoreductase), and glycerol dehydrogenase, which were encoded, respectively, by dhaB, dhaT, and dhaD and with DHA kinase are encompassed by the dha regulon, are the three key enzymes in glycerol bioconversion into 1,3-PD and DHA, and these are discussed in this review article. The summary of the main research direction of these three key enzyme and methods of glycerol bioconversion into 1,3-PD and DHA indicates their potential application in future enzymatic research and industrial production, especially in biodiesel industry.