Expression and production of recombinant cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase in Escherichia coli under the control of temperature-dependent promoter

cis-Epoxysuccinate hydrolase (ESH) from Nocardia tartaricans CAS-52 could catalyze the stereospecific hydrolysis of cis-epoxysuccinate to l-(+)-tartrate. The ESH gene of 762 bp was cloned and its open reading frame (ORF) sequence predicted a protein of 253 amino acids. An expression plasmid carrying the ESH gene under the control of the PLPR promoter was introduced into Escherichia coli, and the ESH gene was successfully expressed in the recombinant strain. The expression conditions and scale-up production were also studied. Fed-batch fermentation of E. coli Trans 1-T1 transformant was carried out in a 2000 L fermentor to product recombinant ESH. The results showed that wet cell concentration reached to 62.45 g L−1, and the specific activity of ESH was 380.17 U mg−1, which could meet the requirements of industrial production of l-(+)-tartaric acid.

► An engineering bacterium is constructed to express recombinant ESH with PLPR promoter.
► The phage resistant strain is chosen to avoid phage pollution.
► Realizing the industrial production of recombinant ESH.