Highly efficient biosynthesis of 3′-sialyllactose in engineered Escherichia coli

3′-Sialyllactose (3′-SL), one of the abundant and important sialylated human milk oligosaccharides, is an emerging food ingredient used in infant formula milk. We previously developed an efficient route for 3′-SL biosynthesis in metabolically engineered Escherichia coli BL21(DE3). Here, several promising α2,3-sialyltransferases were re-evaluated from the byproduct synthesis perspective. The α2,3-sialyltransferase from Neisseria meningitidis MC58 (NST) with great potential and the least byproducts was selected for subsequent molecular modification. Computer-assisted mutation sites combined with a semi-rational modification were designed and performed. A combination of two mutation sites (P120H/N113D) of NST was finally confirmed as the best one, which significantly improved 3′-SL biosynthesis, with extracellular titers of 24.5 g/L at 5-L fed-batch cultivations. When NST-P120H/N113D was additionally integrated into the genome of host EZAK (E. coli BL21(DE3)ΔlacZΔnanAΔnanT), the final strain generated 32.1 g/L of extracellular 3′-SL in a 5-L fed-batch fermentation. Overall, we underscored the existence of by-products and improved 3′-SL production by engineering N. meningitidis α2,3-sialyltransferase.