Production of 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid from α-linolenic acid by permeabilized cells of recombinant Escherichia coli expressing the oleate hydratase gene of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia.

Recombinant Escherichia coli, expressing the oleate hydratase gene of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, was permeabilized by sequential treatments with 0.125 M NaCl and 2 mM EDTA. The optimal conditions for the production of 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid from α-linolenic acid by permeabilized cells were 35 °C and pH 7.0 with 0.1 % (v/v) Tween 40, 50 g permeabilized cells l(-1), and 17.5 g α-linolenic acid l(-1). Under these conditions, permeabilized cells produced 14.3 g 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid l(-1) after 18 h, with a conversion yield of 82 % (g/g) and a volumetric productivity of 0.79 g l(-1) h(-1). These values were 17 and 168 % higher than those obtained by nonpermeabilized cells, respectively. The concentration, yield, and productivity of 10-hydroxy-12,15(Z,Z)-octadecadienoic acid obtained by permeabilized cells are the highest reported thus far.