Cinnamic acid production using Streptomyces lividans expressing phenylalanine ammonia lyase.

Cinnamic acid production was demonstrated using Streptomyces as a host. A gene encoding phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) from Streptomyces maritimus was introduced into Streptomyces lividans, and its expression was confirmed by Western blot analysis. After 4 days cultivation using glucose as carbon source, the maximal level of cinnamic acid reached 210 mg/L. When glycerol (30 g/L) was used as carbon source, the maximal level of produced cinnamic acid reached 450 mg/L. In addition, using raw starch, xylose or xylan as carbon source, the maximal level of cinnamic acid reached 460, 300, and 130 mg/L, respectively. We demonstrated that S. lividans has great potential to produce cinnamic acid as well as other aromatic compounds.