In silico characterization of linoleic acid biotransformation to rumenic acid in food derived Lactobacillus plantarum YW11

Lactobacillus plantarum YW11 capability to convert linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid and other metabolites was studied in a dose-dependent manner by supplementing LA at different concentrations. L. plantarum YW11 displayed a uniform distinctive growth curve of CLA and other metabolites at concentrations of LA ranging from 1% (w/v) to 10% (w/v), with slightly increased growth at higher LA concentrations. The biotransformation capability of L. plantarum YW11 evaluated by GC-MS revealed a total of one CLA isomer, i.e. 9-cis,11-trans-octadecadienoic acid, also known as the rumenic acid (RA), one linoleic acid isomer (linoelaidic acid), and LA metabolites: (E)-9-octadecenoic acid ethyl ester, trans, trans-9,12-octadecadienoic acid, propyl ester and stearic acid. All the metabolites of linoleic acid were produced from 1 to 10% LA supplemented MRS media, while surprisingly the only conjugated linoleic acid compound was produced at 10% LA. To assess the presence of putative enzymes, responsible for conversion of LA into CLA, in silico characterization was carried out. The in silico characterization revealed presence of four enzymes (10-linoleic acid hydratase, linoleate isomerase, acetoacetate decarboxylase and dehydrogenase) that may be involved in the production of CLA (rumenic acid) and LA isomers. The biotransformation ability of L. plantarum YW11 to convert LA into RA has great prospects for biotechnological and industrial implications that could be exploited in the future scale-up experiments.