Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically-engineered Escherichia coli

To engineer Escherichia coli for the heterologous production of di-rhamnolipids, which are important biosurfactants but mainly produced by opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

The codon-optimized rhlAB and rhlC genes originating from P. aeruginosa and Burkholderia pseudomallei were combinatorially expressed in E. coli to produce di-rhamnolipids with varied congeners compositions. Genes involved in endogenous upstream pathways (rhamnose and fatty acids synthesis) were co-overexpressed with rhlAB-rhlC, resulting in variations of rhamnolipids production and congeners compositions. Under the shake-flask condition, co-overexpression of rfbD with rhlAB-rhlC increased rhamnolipids production (0.64 ± 0.02 g l^-1) than that in strain only expressing rhlAB-rhlC (0.446 ± 0.009 g l^-1), which was mainly composed of di-rhamnolipids congeners Rha-Rha-C₁₀-C₁₀.

Biosynthesis of di-rhamnolipids and variations of congeners composition in genetically engineered E. coli strains were achieved via combiniations of mono-/di-rhamnolipids synthesis modules and endogenous upstream modules.