Efficient biotransformation of vitamin D3 to 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 by a newly isolated Bacillus cereus strain

25-hydroxyvitamin D3 has attracted considerable attention due to its great medical value and huge market demand in animal husbandry. Microbial production of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 has been recognized as an alternative superior to traditional chemical synthesis. In this study, a Gram-positive bacteria zju 4-2 (CCTCC M 2019385) was isolated from the soil using vitamin D3 as the sole carbon source and was identified as Bacillus cereus according to its physiological characteristics and 16S rRNA analysis, which also showed a relatively high capacity for 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 production. Through systematic optimization of different catalytic conditions, the optimal solvent system of vitamin D3, vitamin D3 addition time and concentration, temperature, and pH were shown to be propylene glycol/ethanol (v/v = 9:1), early stationary phase, 2 g/L, 37 °C, and pH 7.2, respectively. With these optimal conditions, 796 mg/L of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 was achieved after 48 h bioconversion with zju 4-2 at the shake flask level. Finally, up to 830 mg/L 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 with a yield of 41.5% was obtained in a 5 L fermentation tank. Our developed biotransformation process with this newly isolated strain provides a platform to produce 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 efficiently at industrialization scale.