Brewers’ spent grain as carbon source for itaconate production with engineered Ustilago maydis

Brewers' spent grain (BSG) is produced worldwide in millions of tons during the beer brewing process. Due to its high content of structural carbohydrates, BSG is a promising material for being valorised in biorefineries. In this study three process routes for producing itaconate from BSG hydrolysates are presented using the previously engineered smut fungi UstilagomaydisMB215Δcyp3ΔPria1::Petef as whole-cell biocatalyst. Using a fermentation medium based on BSG hydrolysate a yield of 0.38gIta/gSugar and a productivity of 0.11gIta/(L·h) were achieved. The addition of detoxified hydrothermal supernatant to the fermentation medium did not result in improved performance parameters but resulted in a decreased yield (0.29gIta/gSugar) and productivity (0.053 gIta/(L·h)). Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation with hydrothermal pretreated BSG is possible, although at lower rate. In summary, the valorisation of BSG in fungal fermentations might complement the end-of-life options of this industrial side product.