High-level production of γ-aminobutyric acid via efficient co-expression of the key genes of glutamate decarboxylase system in Escherichia coli

•A double promoter PT7lac and PBAD expression system was constructed for tunable control of GadB and GadC overexpression.•Broadening the active pH range of GadB and GadC towards neutral pH improving the GABA productivity.•A high efficient GABA synthesis system using engineered E. coli Lemo21(DE3) cells as the biocatalysts has been developed. Biosynthesis of the functional factor γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in bacteria involves two key proteins an intracellular glutamate decarboxylase (GadB) and a membrane-bound antiporter (GadC). Efficient co-expression of suitable GadB and GadC candidates is crucial for improving GABA productivity. In this study, gadBΔC11 of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and gadCΔC41 of Escherichia coli were inserted into the designed double promoter (PT7lac and PBAD) expression system. Then, E. coli Lemo21(DE3) was chosen as the host to minimize the toxic effects of GadCΔC41 overexpression. Furthermore, a green and high-efficiency GABA synthesis system using dormant engineered Lemo21(DE3) cells as biocatalysts was developed. The total GABA yield reached 829.08 g/L with a 98.7% conversion ratio within 13 h, when engineered E. coli Lemo21(DE3) cells were concentrated to an OD600 of 20 and reused for three cycles in a 3 M L-glutamate solution at 37 °C, which represented the highest GABA productivity ever reported. Overall, expanding the active pH ranges of GadB and GadC toward physiological pH and employing a tunable expression host for membrane-bound GadC production is a promising strategy for high-level GABA biosynthesis in E. coli. [Display omitted]