Work

Physiological metabolic analysis and process optimization of hypoxia in promoting coenzyme Q10 biosynthesis and accumulation in Rhodobacter sphaeroides HY01

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Coenzyme Q 10 fermentation by Rhodobacter sphaeroides ( R . sphaeroides ) is highly aerobic. However, its biosynthesis and accumulation are paradoxically induced under hypoxic conditions. While oxygen serves as both an induction signal and a key precursor, the mechanisms underlying Coenzyme Q 10 accumulation under hypoxia remain elusive, posing a significant bottleneck for yield improvement. This study systematically elucidated these mechanisms through transcriptomic analysis. Results revealed that metabolic pathways for precursor and Coenzyme Q 10 biosynthesis were, surprisingly, downregulated under hypoxia. Conversely, genes inhibiting morphological remodeling were downregulated, while those involved in cell membrane biosynthesis were upregulated. Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between cellular morphology and Coenzyme Q 10 yield. Specifically, under varying hypoxic conditions, cell morphology and Coenzyme Q 10 yield also exhibited strong correlations, with higher yields were associated with larger cell volumes. These findings suggest that R. sphaeroides enhances Coenzyme Q 10 accumulation primarily by expanding the cell volume and membrane surface area rather than upregulating biosynthetic pathways. Leveraging this insight, the addition of unsaturated fatty acids further increasing the Coenzyme Q 10 yield by 18.9%. This study provides a novel strategy for enhancing Coenzyme Q 10 production through morphological engineering and process optimization.

Source: Synthetic and Systems Biotechnology

DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2026.02.001