scholarly journals Driving Forces Enable High-Titer Anaerobic 1-Butanol Synthesis in Escherichia coli

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 2905-2915 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire R. Shen ◽  
Ethan I. Lan ◽  
Yasumasa Dekishima ◽  
Antonino Baez ◽  
Kwang Myung Cho ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT1-Butanol, an important chemical feedstock and advanced biofuel, is produced byClostridiumspecies. Various efforts have been made to transfer the clostridial 1-butanol pathway into other microorganisms. However, in contrast to similar compounds, only limited titers of 1-butanol were attained. In this work, we constructed a modified clostridial 1-butanol pathway inEscherichia colito provide an irreversible reaction catalyzed bytrans-enoyl-coenzyme A (CoA) reductase (Ter) and created NADH and acetyl-CoA driving forces to direct the flux. We achieved high-titer (30 g/liter) and high-yield (70 to 88% of the theoretical) production of 1-butanol anaerobically, comparable to or exceeding the levels demonstrated by native producers. Without the NADH and acetyl-CoA driving forces, the Ter reaction alone only achieved about 1/10 the level of production. The engineered host platform also enables the selection of essential enzymes with better catalytic efficiency or expression by anaerobic growth rescue. These results demonstrate the importance of driving forces in the efficient production of nonnative products.

2016 ◽  
Vol 82 (7) ◽  
pp. 1992-2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pyung-Gang Lee ◽  
Joonwon Kim ◽  
Eun-Jung Kim ◽  
EunOk Jung ◽  
Bishnu Prasad Pandey ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT(S)-Equol, a gut bacterial isoflavone derivative, has drawn great attention because of its potent use for relieving female postmenopausal symptoms and preventing prostate cancer. Previous studies have reported on the dietary isoflavone metabolism of several human gut bacteria and the involved enzymes for conversion of daidzein to (S)-equol. However, the anaerobic growth conditions required by the gut bacteria and the low productivity and yield of (S)-equol limit its efficient production using only natural gut bacteria. In this study, the low (S)-equol biosynthesis of gut microorganisms was overcome by cloning the four enzymes involved in the biosynthesis fromSlackia isoflavoniconvertensintoEscherichia coliBL21(DE3). The reaction conditions were optimized for (S)-equol production from the recombinant strain, and this recombinant system enabled the efficient conversion of 200 μM and 1 mM daidzein to (S)-equol under aerobic conditions, achieving yields of 95% and 85%, respectively. Since the biosynthesis oftrans-tetrahydrodaidzein was found to be a rate-determining step for (S)-equol production, dihydrodaidzein reductase (DHDR) was subjected to rational site-directed mutagenesis. The introduction of the DHDR P212A mutation increased the (S)-equol productivity from 59.0 mg/liter/h to 69.8 mg/liter/h in the whole-cell reaction. The P212A mutation caused an increase in the (S)-dihydrodaidzein enantioselectivity by decreasing the overall activity of DHDR, resulting in undetectable activity for (R)-dihydrodaidzein, such that a combination of the DHDR P212A mutant with dihydrodaidzein racemase enabled the production of (3S,4R)-tetrahydrodaidzein with an enantioselectivity of >99%.


mBio ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Nielsen

ABSTRACT The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae is a widely used cell factory for the production of fuels, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. The use of this cell factory for cost-efficient production of novel fuels and chemicals requires high yields and low by-product production. Many industrially interesting chemicals are biosynthesized from acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), which serves as a central precursor metabolite in yeast. To ensure high yields in production of these chemicals, it is necessary to engineer the central carbon metabolism so that ethanol production is minimized (or eliminated) and acetyl-CoA can be formed from glucose in high yield. Here the perspective of generating yeast platform strains that have such properties is discussed in the context of a major breakthrough with expression of a functional pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in the cytosol.


2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (14) ◽  
pp. 4894-4904 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cong T. Trinh ◽  
Johnny Li ◽  
Harvey W. Blanch ◽  
Douglas S. Clark

ABSTRACTFermentation enables the production of reduced metabolites, such as the biofuels ethanol and butanol, from fermentable sugars. This work demonstrates a general approach for designing and constructing a production host that uses a heterologous pathway as an obligately fermentative pathway to produce reduced metabolites, specifically, the biofuel isobutanol. Elementary mode analysis was applied to design anEscherichia colistrain optimized for isobutanol production under strictly anaerobic conditions. The central metabolism ofE. coliwas decomposed into 38,219 functional, unique, and elementary modes (EMs). The model predictions revealed that during anaerobic growthE. colicannot produce isobutanol as the sole fermentative product. By deleting 7 chromosomal genes, the total 38,219 EMs were constrained to 12 EMs, 6 of which can produce high yields of isobutanol in a range from 0.29 to 0.41 g isobutanol/g glucose under anaerobic conditions. The remaining 6 EMs rely primarily on the pyruvate dehydrogenase enzyme complex (PDHC) and are typically inhibited under anaerobic conditions. The redesignedE. colistrain was constrained to employ the anaerobic isobutanol pathways through deletion of 7 chromosomal genes, addition of 2 heterologous genes, and overexpression of 5 genes. Here we present the design, construction, and characterization of an isobutanol-producingE. colistrain to illustrate the approach. The model predictions are evaluated in relation to experimental data and strategies proposed to improve anaerobic isobutanol production. We also show that the endogenous alcohol/aldehyde dehydrogenase AdhE is the key enzyme responsible for the production of isobutanol and ethanol under anaerobic conditions. The glycolytic flux can be controlled to regulate the ratio of isobutanol to ethanol production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (14) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daisuke Koma ◽  
Takahiro Kishida ◽  
Eisuke Yoshida ◽  
Hiroyuki Ohashi ◽  
Hayato Yamanaka ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Many phenylalanine- and tyrosine-producing strains have used plasmid-based overexpression of pathway genes. The resulting strains achieved high titers and yields of phenylalanine and tyrosine. Chromosomally engineered, plasmid-free producers have shown lower titers and yields than plasmid-based strains, but the former are advantageous in terms of cultivation cost and public health/environmental risk. Therefore, we engineered here the Escherichia coli chromosome to create superior phenylalanine- and tyrosine-overproducing strains that did not depend on plasmid-based expression. Integration into the E. coli chromosome of two central metabolic pathway genes (ppsA and tktA) and eight shikimate pathway genes (aroA, aroB, aroC, aroD, aroE, aroGfbr, aroL, and pheAfbr), controlled by the T7lac promoter, resulted in excellent titers and yields of phenylalanine; the superscript “fbr” indicates that the enzyme encoded by the gene was feedback resistant. The generated strain could be changed to be a superior tyrosine-producing strain by replacing pheAfbr with tyrAfbr. A rational approach revealed that integration of seven genes (ppsA, tktA, aroA, aroB, aroC, aroGfbr, and pheAfbr) was necessary as the minimum gene set for high-yield phenylalanine production in E. coli MG1655 (tyrR, adhE, ldhA, pykF, pflDC, and ascF deletant). The phenylalanine- and tyrosine-producing strains were further applied to generate phenyllactic acid-, 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid-, tyramine-, and tyrosol-producing strains; yield of these aromatic compounds increased proportionally to the increase in phenylalanine and tyrosine yields. IMPORTANCE Plasmid-free strains for aromatic compound production are desired in the aspect of industrial application. However, the yields of phenylalanine and tyrosine have been considerably lower in plasmid-free strains than in plasmid-based strains. The significance of this research is that we succeeded in generating superior plasmid-free phenylalanine- and tyrosine-producing strains by engineering the E. coli chromosome, which was comparable to that in plasmid-based strains. The generated strains have a potential to generate superior strains for the production of aromatic compounds. Actually, we demonstrated that four kinds of aromatic compounds could be produced from glucose with high yields (e.g., 0.28 g tyrosol/g glucose).


Author(s):  
Zhijian Ni ◽  
Zhongkui Li ◽  
Jinyong Wu ◽  
Yuanfei Ge ◽  
Yingxue Liao ◽  
...  

2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL), one of the simplest but most abundant oligosaccharides in human milk, has been demonstrated to have many positive benefits for the healthy development of newborns. However, the high-cost production and limited availability restrict its widespread use in infant nutrition and further research on its potential functions. In this study, on the basis of previous achievements, we developed a powerful cell factory by using a lacZ-mutant Escherichia coli C41 (DE3)ΔZ to ulteriorly increase 2′-FL production by feeding inexpensive glycerol. Initially, we co-expressed the genes for GDP-L-fucose biosynthesis and heterologous α-1,2-fucosyltransferase in C41(DE3)ΔZ through different plasmid-based expression combinations, functionally constructing a preferred route for 2′-FL biosynthesis. To further boost the carbon flux from GDP-L-fucose toward 2′-FL synthesis, deletion of chromosomal genes (wcaJ, nudD, and nudK) involved in the degradation of the precursors GDP-L-fucose and GDP-mannose were performed. Notably, the co-introduction of two heterologous positive regulators, RcsA and RcsB, was confirmed to be more conducive to GDP-L-fucose formation and thus 2′-FL production. Further a genomic integration of an individual copy of α-1,2-fucosyltransferase gene, as well as the preliminary optimization of fermentation conditions enabled the resulting engineered strain to achieve a high titer and yield. By collectively taking into account the intracellular lactose utilization, GDP-L-fucose availability, and fucosylation activity for 2′-FL production, ultimately a highest titer of 2′-FL in our optimized conditions reached 6.86 g/L with a yield of 0.92 mol/mol from lactose in the batch fermentation. Moreover, the feasibility of mass production was demonstrated in a 50-L fed-batch fermentation system in which a maximum titer of 66.80 g/L 2′-FL was achieved with a yield of 0.89 mol 2′-FL/mol lactose and a productivity of approximately 0.95 g/L/h 2′-FL. As a proof of concept, our preliminary 2′-FL production demonstrated a superior production performance, which will provide a promising candidate process for further industrial production.


2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dolores Linde ◽  
Andrés Olmedo ◽  
Alejandro González-Benjumea ◽  
María Estévez ◽  
Chantal Renau-Mínguez ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Unspecific peroxygenases (UPOs) constitute a new family of fungal heme-thiolate enzymes in which there is high biotechnological interest. Although several thousand genes encoding hypothetical UPO-type proteins have been identified in sequenced fungal genomes and other databases, only a few UPO enzymes have been experimentally characterized to date. Therefore, gene screening and heterologous expression from genetic databases are a priority in the search for ad hoc UPOs for oxyfunctionalization reactions of interest. Very recently, Escherichia coli production of a previously described basidiomycete UPO (as a soluble and active enzyme) has been reported. Here, we explored this convenient heterologous expression system to obtain the protein products from available putative UPO genes. In this way, two UPOs from the ascomycetes Collariella virescens (syn., Chaetomium virescens) and Daldinia caldariorum were successfully obtained, purified, and characterized. Comparison of their kinetic constants for oxidation of model substrates revealed 10- to 20-fold-higher catalytic efficiency of the latter enzyme in oxidizing simple aromatic compounds (such as veratryl alcohol, naphthalene, and benzyl alcohol). Homology molecular models of these enzymes showed three conserved and two differing residues in the distal side of the heme (the latter representing two different positions of a phenylalanine residue). Interestingly, replacement of the C. virescens UPO Phe88 by the homologous residue in the D. caldariorum UPO resulted in an F88L variant with 5- to 21-fold-higher efficiency in oxidizing these aromatic compounds. IMPORTANCE UPOs catalyze regio- and stereoselective oxygenations of both aromatic and aliphatic compounds. Similar reactions were previously described for cytochrome P450 monooxygenases, but UPOs have the noteworthy biotechnological advantage of being stable enzymes requiring only H2O2 to be activated. Both characteristics are related to the extracellular nature of UPOs as secreted proteins. In the present study, the limited repertoire of UPO enzymes available for organic synthesis and other applications is expanded with the description of two new ascomycete UPOs obtained by Escherichia coli expression of the corresponding genes as soluble and active enzymes. Moreover, directed mutagenesis in E. coli, together with enzyme molecular modeling, provided relevant structure-function information on aromatic substrate oxidation by these two new biocatalysts.


2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (18) ◽  
pp. 6441-6450 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huilin Zhu ◽  
Ramon Gonzalez ◽  
Thomas A. Bobik

ABSTRACTEscherichia coliK-12 strain MG1655 was engineered to coproduce acetaldehyde and hydrogen during glucose fermentation by the use of exogenous acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) reductase (for the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetaldehyde) and the native formate hydrogen lyase. A putative acetaldehyde dehydrogenase/acetyl-CoA reductase fromSalmonella enterica(SeEutE) was cloned, produced at high levels, and purified by nickel affinity chromatography.In vitroassays showed that this enzyme had both acetaldehyde dehydrogenase activity (68.07 ± 1.63 μmol min−1mg−1) and the desired acetyl-CoA reductase activity (49.23 ± 2.88 μmol min−1mg−1). TheeutEgene was engineered into anE. colimutant lacking native glucose fermentation pathways (ΔadhE, ΔackA-pta, ΔldhA, and ΔfrdC). The engineered strain (ZH88) produced 4.91 ± 0.29 mM acetaldehyde while consuming 11.05 mM glucose but also produced 6.44 ± 0.26 mM ethanol. Studies showed that ethanol was produced by an unknown alcohol dehydrogenase(s) that converted the acetaldehyde produced by SeEutE to ethanol. Allyl alcohol was used to select for mutants with reduced alcohol dehydrogenase activity. Three allyl alcohol-resistant mutants were isolated; all produced more acetaldehyde and less ethanol than ZH88. It was also found that modifying the growth medium by adding 1 g of yeast extract/liter and lowering the pH to 6.0 further increased the coproduction of acetaldehyde and hydrogen. Under optimal conditions, strain ZH136 converted glucose to acetaldehyde and hydrogen in a 1:1 ratio with a specific acetaldehyde production rate of 0.68 ± 0.20 g h−1g−1dry cell weight and at 86% of the maximum theoretical yield. This specific production rate is the highest reported thus far and is promising for industrial application. The possibility of a more efficient “no-distill” ethanol fermentation procedure based on the coproduction of acetaldehyde and hydrogen is discussed.


2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (22) ◽  
pp. 7071-7078 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelia Große ◽  
Grit Schleuder ◽  
Christin Schmole ◽  
Dietrich H. Nies

ABSTRACTBacteria are rapidly killed on solid copper surfaces, so this material could be useful to limit the spread of multiple-drug-resistant bacteria in hospitals. InEscherichia coli, the DNA-protecting Dps protein and the NADH:ubiquinone oxidoreductase II Ndh were not involved in tolerance to copper ions or survival on solid copper surfaces. Decreased copper tolerance under anaerobic growth conditions in the presence of ascorbate and with melibiose as the carbon source indicated that sodium-dependent symport systems may provide an import route for CuIinto the cytoplasm. Glutathione-free ΔcopAΔgshAdouble mutants ofE. coliwere more rapidly inactivated on solid copper surfaces than glutathione-containing wild-type cells. Therefore, while DNA protection by Dps was not required, glutathione was needed to protect the cytoplasm and the DNA against damage mediated by solid copper surfaces, which may explain the differences in the molecular mechanisms of killing between glutathione-containing Gram-negative and glutathione-free Gram-positive bacteria.


2017 ◽  
Vol 199 (16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian M. Meehan ◽  
Cristina Landeta ◽  
Dana Boyd ◽  
Jonathan Beckwith

ABSTRACT Disulfide bonds are critical to the stability and function of many bacterial proteins. In the periplasm of Escherichia coli, intramolecular disulfide bond formation is catalyzed by the two-component disulfide bond forming (DSB) system. Inactivation of the DSB pathway has been shown to lead to a number of pleotropic effects, although cells remain viable under standard laboratory conditions. However, we show here that dsb strains of E. coli reversibly filament under aerobic conditions and fail to grow anaerobically unless a strong oxidant is provided in the growth medium. These findings demonstrate that the background disulfide bond formation necessary to maintain the viability of dsb strains is oxygen dependent. LptD, a key component of the lipopolysaccharide transport system, fails to fold properly in dsb strains exposed to anaerobic conditions, suggesting that these mutants may have defects in outer membrane assembly. We also show that anaerobic growth of dsb mutants can be restored by suppressor mutations in the disulfide bond isomerization system. Overall, our results underscore the importance of proper disulfide bond formation to pathways critical to E. coli viability under conditions where oxygen is limited. IMPORTANCE While the disulfide bond formation (DSB) system of E. coli has been studied for decades and has been shown to play an important role in the proper folding of many proteins, including some associated with virulence, it was considered dispensable for growth under most laboratory conditions. This work represents the first attempt to study the effects of the DSB system under strictly anaerobic conditions, simulating the environment encountered by pathogenic E. coli strains in the human intestinal tract. By demonstrating that the DSB system is essential for growth under such conditions, this work suggests that compounds inhibiting Dsb enzymes might act not only as antivirulents but also as true antibiotics.


2015 ◽  
Vol 81 (21) ◽  
pp. 7496-7508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Michel ◽  
Abigail Koch-Koerfges ◽  
Karin Krumbach ◽  
Melanie Brocker ◽  
Michael Bott

ABSTRACTCorynebacterium glutamicum, a model organism in microbial biotechnology, is known to metabolize glucose under oxygen-deprived conditions tol-lactate, succinate, and acetate without significant growth. This property is exploited for efficient production of lactate and succinate. Our detailed analysis revealed that marginal growth takes place under anaerobic conditions with glucose, fructose, sucrose, or ribose as a carbon and energy source but not with gluconate, pyruvate, lactate, propionate, or acetate. Supplementation of glucose minimal medium with tryptone strongly enhanced growth up to a final optical density at 600 nm (OD600) of 12, whereas tryptone alone did not allow growth. Amino acids with a high ATP demand for biosynthesis and amino acids of the glutamate family were particularly important for growth stimulation, indicating ATP limitation and a restricted carbon flux into the oxidative tricarboxylic acid cycle toward 2-oxoglutarate. Anaerobic cultivation in a bioreactor with constant nitrogen flushing disclosed that CO2is required to achieve maximal growth and that the pH tolerance is reduced compared to that under aerobic conditions, reflecting a decreased capability for pH homeostasis. Continued growth under anaerobic conditions indicated the absence of an oxygen-requiring reaction that is essential for biomass formation. The results provide an improved understanding of the physiology ofC. glutamicumunder anaerobic conditions.


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