Use of Resting Cells of Halomonas salina HSL5 as Biocatalyst For Biological Vanillic acid Production

The rising popularity of natural aroma products such as vanillin and vanillic acid has triggered off significant research activities to use biocatalysts for the production of natural flavor compounds. We conducted this study to screen moderately halophilc bacteria which are able to degrade ferulic acid and to study the possibility of forming vanillic acid via conversion of ferulic acid under resting cells conditions. 22 different strains of bacteria were isolated from different samples collected from the salty environments of Iran. Primary screening was performed by HPLC analyse. The selected strains were identified based on physiochemical characteristics as well as molecular phylogenetic analysis. Biotransformation mixtures were quantified for vanillic acid content and the other produced methoxyphenols by HPLC analyse. Based on the HPLC results obtained، among the 22 isolated strains، resting cells of Halomonas salina HSL5 (GenBank accession number JQ327041) produce the greatest quantity of vanillic acid (397 mg/l، molar yield of 46. 8%) after a 24-h reaction time، without further optimization The current study brings the first report for bioconversion of ferulic acid to vanilic acid in the Halomonas salina.