A Microbial Factory for Sustainable Production of Polymer Precursors: Chain Length-Specified ω‑Hydroxy Fatty Acids and α,ω-Dicarboxylic Acids

In the hope of advancing sustainable plastic production, great progress has been made toward efficient microbial conversion of renewable feedstock to short-chain (C2-C8), bifunctional polymer precursors (e.g. succinic acid, cadaverine, 1,4-butanediol). Relatively little attention has been given to medium-chain (C12-C14) monomers such as ω-hydroxy fatty acids (ω-OHFAs) and α,ω-dicarboxylic acids (α,ω-DCAs), which nonetheless are precursors to high performance polyesters and polyamides. In our work, we are engineering complete microbial conversions of glucose to various medium chain ω-OHFAs and α,ω-DCAs, with precise control of product chain length. We combine bioinformatics and in vivo production to screen a wide range of enzymes across phyla and identify combinations that yield complete conversion of intermediates to product α,ω- DCAs. This approach, coupled with optimization of culture conditions has allowed us to achieve near g/L titers of specific medium chain α,ω- DCAs. In particular, our results indicate potential for this microbial factory to enable commercially relevant, renewable production of C12 α,ω- DCA – a valuable precursor to the high-performance plastic nylon-6,12.