Efficient production of enantiopure D-lysine from L-lysine by a two-enzyme cascade system

The microbial production of D-lysine has been of great interest as a medicinal raw material. Here, a two-step process for D-lysine production from L-lysine by the successive microbial racemization and asymmetric degradation with lysine racemase and decarboxylase was developed. The whole-cell activities of engineered Escherichia coli expressing racemases from the strains Proteus mirabilis (LYR) and Lactobacillus paracasei (AAR) were first investigated comparatively. When the strain BL21-LYR with higher racemization activity was employed, L-lysine was rapidly racemized to give DL-lysine, and the D-lysine yield was approximately 48% after 0.5 h. Next, L-lysine was selectively catabolized to generate cadaverine by lysine decarboxylase. The comparative analysis of the decarboxylation activities of resting whole cells, permeabilized cells, and crude enzyme revealed that the crude enzyme was the best biocatalyst for enantiopure D-lysine production. The reaction temperature, pH, metal ion additive, and pyridoxal 5'-phosphate content of this two-step production process were subsequently optimized. Under optimal conditions, 750.7 mmol/L D-lysine was finally obtained from 1710 mmol/L L-lysine after 1 h of racemization reaction and 0.5 h of decarboxylation reaction. D-lysine yield could reach 48.8% with enantiomeric excess (ee) ≥ 99%.