Functional expression of recombinant Pseudozyma antarctica lipase B (PalB) in Escherichia coli has been technically problematic due to protein misfolding, ineffective disulfide bond formation, and protein instability associated with intracellular proteolysis. To overcome these problems, an alternative approach was explored in this study by extracellular secretion of PalB via two Sec-independent secretion systems, i.e., the alpha-hemolysin (type I) and the modified flagellar (type III) secretion systems, which can export proteins of interest from the cytoplasm directly to the exterior of the cell. Both shaker flask and bioreactor cultivations were performed to characterize the developed PalB expression/secretion systems. Bioactive PalB was expressed and secreted extracellularly either as a HlyA fusion (i.e., PalB-HlyA via type I system) or an intact protein (via type III system). However, the secretion intermediates in the intracellular fraction of culture samples were non-bioactive even though they were soluble, suggesting that the extracellular secretion did mediate the development of PalB activity. Also importantly, the secretion strategy appeared to have a minimum impact on cell physiology. PalB secretion via the type I system was fast with higher specific PalB activities but poor cell growth. On the other hand, the secretion via the type III system was slow with lower specific PalB activities but effective cell growth.

Functional expression of lipase from Burkholderia sp. C20 (Lip) in various cellular compartments of Escherichia coli was explored. The poor expression in the cytoplasm of E. coli was improved by several strategies, including coexpression of the cytoplasmic chaperone GroEL/ES, using a mutant E. coli host strain with an oxidative cytoplasm, and protein fusion technology. Fusing Lip with the N-terminal peptide tags of T7PK, DsbA, and DsbC was effective in enhancing the solubility and biological activity. Non-fused Lip or Lip fusions heterologously expressed in the periplasm of E. coli formed insoluble aggregates with a minimum activity. Biologically active and intact Lip was obtained upon the secretion into the extracellular medium using the native signal peptide and the expression performance was further improved by coexpression of the periplasmic chaperon Skp. The extracellular expression was even more effective when Lip was secreted as a Lip-HlyA fusion via the α-hemolysin transporter. Finally, Lip could be functionally displayed on the E. coli cell surface when fused with the carrier EstA.

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