Combinatorial expression of bacterial whole mevalonate pathway for the production of β-carotene in E. coli

The increased synthesis of building blocks of IPP (isopentenyl diphosphate) and DMAPP (dimethylallyl diphosphate) through metabolic engineering is a way to enhance the production of carotenoids. Using E. coli as a host, IPP and DMAPP supply can be increased significantly through the introduction of foreign MVA (mevalonate) pathway into it. The MVA pathway is split into two parts with the top and bottom portions supplying mevalonate from acetyl-CoA, and IPP and DMAPP from mevalonate, respectively. The bottom portions of MVA pathway from Streptococcus pneumonia, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were compared with exogenous mevalonate supplementation for β-carotene production in recombinant Escherichia coli harboring β-carotene synthesis genes. The E. coli harboring the bottom MVA pathway of S. pneumoniae produced the highest amount of β-carotene. The top portions of MVA pathway were also compared and the top MVA pathway of E. faecalis was found out to be the most efficient for mevalonate production in E. coli. The whole MVA pathway was constructed by combining the bottom and top portions of MVA pathway of S. pneumoniae and E. faecalis, respectively. The recombinant E. coli harboring the whole MVA pathway and β-carotene synthesis genes produced high amount of β-carotene even without exogenous mevalonate supplementation. When comparing various E. coli strains – MG1655, DH5α, S17-1, XL1-Blue and BL21 – the DH5α was found to be the best β-carotene producer. Using glycerol as the carbon source for β-carotene production was found to be superior to glucose, galactose, xylose and maltose. The recombinant E. coli DH5α harboring the whole MVA pathway and β-carotene synthesis genes produced β-carotene of 465 mg/L at glycerol concentration of 2% (w/v).     

Functional characterization of a geraniol synthase-encoding gene from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Camptotheca acuminata</Emphasis> and its application in production of geraniol in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

Geraniol synthase (GES) catalyzes the conversion of geranyl diphosphate (GPP) into geraniol, an acyclic monoterpene alcohol that has been widely used in many industries. Here we report the functional characterization of CaGES from Camptotheca acuminata, a camptothecin-producing plant, and its application in production of geraniol in Escherichia coli. The full-length cDNA of CaGES was obtained from overlap extension PCR amplification. The intact and N-terminus-truncated CaGESs were overexpressed in E. coli and purified to homogeneity. Recombinant CaGES showed the conversion activity from GPP to geraniol. To produce geraniol in E. coli using tCaGES, the biosynthetic precursor GPP should be supplied and transferred to the catalytic pocket of tCaGES. Thus, ispA(S80F), a mutant of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthase, was prepared to produce GPP via the head-to-tail condensation of isoprenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). A slight increase of geraniol production was observed in the fermentation broth of the recombinant E. coli harboring tCaGES and ispA(S80F). To enhance the supply of IPP and DMAPP, the encoding genes involved in the whole mevalonic acid biosynthetic pathway were introduced to the E. coli harboring tCaGES and the ispA(S80F) and a significant increase of geraniol yield was observed. The geraniol production was enhanced to 5.85 ± 0.46 mg L^?1 when another copy of ispA(S80F) was introduced to the above recombinant strain. The following optimization of medium composition, fermentation time, and addition of metal ions led to the geraniol production of 48.5 ± 0.9 mg L^?1. The present study will be helpful to uncover the biosynthetic enigma of camptothecin and tCaGES will be an alternative to selectively produce geraniol in E. coli with other metabolic engineering approaches.     

代谢工程改造酿酒酵母提高法尼醇产量

【目的】法尼醇(FOH,C_(15)H_(26)O)是一种具有芳香气味的非环状倍半萜醇,被广泛应用于化妆品和医学药物的工业化生产,也可作为航空燃料的理想替代品。具有食品级安全性的酿酒酵母细胞能够合成内源性法尼醇,但其产量很低,无法满足工业生产的需要。因此,需要采用代谢工程手段,改造法尼醇合成途径,以有效提高法尼醇在酿酒酵母中的产量。【方法】以酿酒酵母工业菌株CEN.PK2-1D为底盘细胞,强化甲羟戊酸途径中关键酶的表达水平和弱化麦角固醇合成分支途径,以提高法尼醇合成所需的直接前体物质法尼基焦磷酸(FPP);并分别表达催化FPP合成法尼醇的五种内源磷酸酶和两种异源合酶,筛选能高效合成法尼醇的磷酸酶或合酶。【结果】通过在CEN.PK2-1D(法尼醇产量0.1mg/L)中强化表达甲羟戊酸途径中截短形式的HMG-CoA还原酶(tHMGR1)和FPP合酶(ERG20),使法尼醇产量提高约50.8倍,达到5.08 mg/L;使用HXT1启动子替换鲨烯合酶编码基因ERG9启动子以下调其表达水平,使法尼醇产量进一步提升47.1倍,达到239.17 mg/L。在此基础上,筛选发现,表达酿酒酵母内源性磷酸酶PAH1时,获得最高产量法尼醇,达到393.13 mg/L。【结论】采用代谢工程策略对酿酒酵母法尼醇合成途径进行改造,有效提高法尼醇产量至393.13 mg/L,为目前报道的在酿酒酵母中摇瓶培养条件下的最高产量。     

Metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for α-farnesene production

Sesquiterpenes are important materials in pharmaceuticals and industry. Metabolic engineering has been successfully used to produce these valuable compounds in microbial hosts. However, the microbial potential of sesquiterpene production is limited by the poor heterologous expression of plant sesquiterpene synthases and the deficient FPP precursor supply. In this study, we engineered E. coli to produce α-farnesene using a codon-optimized α-farnesene synthase and an exogenous MVA pathway. Codon optimization of α-farnesene synthase improved both the synthase expression and α-farnesene production. Augmentation of the metabolic flux for FPP synthesis conferred a 1.6- to 48.0-fold increase in α-farnesene production. An additional increase in α-farnesene production was achieved by the protein fusion of FPP synthase and α-farnesene synthase. The engineered E. coli strain was able to produce 380.0 mg/L of α-farnesene, which is an approximately 317-fold increase over the initial production of 1.2 mg/L.     

Farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase is the molecular target of nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates.

Bisphosphonates (Bps), inhibitors of osteoclastic bone resorption, are used in the treatment of skeletal disorders. Recent evidence indicated that farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase and/or isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) isomerase is the intracellular target(s) of bisphosphonate action. To examine which enzyme is specifically affected, we determined the effect of different Bps on incorporation of [(14)C]mevalonate (MVA), [(14)C]IPP, and [(14)C]dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) into polyisoprenyl pyrophosphates in a homogenate of bovine brain. HPLC analysis revealed that the three intermediates were incorporated into FPP and geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP). In contrast to clodronate, the nitrogen-containing Bps (NBps), alendronate, risedronate, olpadronate, and ibandronate, completely blocked FPP and GGPP formation and induced in incubations with [(14)C]MVA a 3- to 5-fold increase in incorporation of label into IPP and/or DMAPP. Using a method that could distinguish DMAPP from IPP on basis of their difference in stability in acid, we found that none of the NBps affected the conversion of [(14)C]IPP into DMAPP, catalyzed by IPP isomerase, excluding this enzyme as target of NBp action. On the basis of these and our previous findings, we conclude that none of the enzymes up- or downstream of FPP synthase are affected by NBps, and FPP synthase is, therefore, the exclusive molecular target of NBp action.     

Molecular cloning and expression of Chimonanthus praecox farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase gene and its possible involvement in the biosynthesis of floral volatile sesquiterpenoids

Farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase catalyzes the biosynthesis of FPP, which is the precursors of sesquiterpenoids such as floral scent volatiles, from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP). cDNA encoding wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox L.) FPP synthase was isolated by the RT-PCR and RACE methods. The deduced amino acid sequence showed a high identity to plant FPP synthases. Expression of the gene in Escherichia coli yielded FPPS activity that catalyzed the synthesis of FPP as a main product. Tissue-specific and developmental analyses of the mRNA levels of CpFPPS and volatile sesquiterpenoids levels in C. praecox flowers revealed that the FPPS may play a regulatory role in floral volatile sesquiterpenoids of wintersweet.     

Engineered isoprenoid pathway enhances astaxanthin production in Escherichia coli

The isoprenoid pathway is a versatile biosynthetic network leading to over 23,000 compounds. Similar to other biosynthetic pathways, the production of isoprenoids in microorganisms is controlled by the supply of precursors, among other factors. To engineer a host that has the capability to supply geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), a common precursor of isoprenoids, we cloned and overexpressed isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) isomerase (encoded by idi) from Escherichia coli and GGPP synthase (encoded by gps) from the archaebacterium Archaeoglobus fulgidus. The latter was shown to be a multifunctional enzyme converting dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) to GGPP. These two genes and the gene cluster (crtBIYZW) of the marine bacterium Agrobacterium aurantiacum were introduced into E. coli to produce astaxanthin, an orange pigment and antioxidant. This metabolically engineered strain produces astaxanthin 50 times higher than values reported before. To determine the rate-controlling steps in GGPP production, the IDI-GPS pathway was compared with another construct containing idi, ispA (encoding farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthase in E. coli), and crtE (encoding GGPP synthase from Erwinia uredovora). Results show that the conversion from FPP to GGPP is the first bottleneck, followed sequentially by IPP isomerization and FPP synthesis. Removal of these bottlenecks results in an E. coli strain providing sufficient precursors for in vivo synthesis of isoprenoids.     

Functional Characterization of the Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous Farnesyl Pyrophosphate Synthase and Geranylgeranyl Pyrophosphate Synthase Encoding Genes That Are Involved in the Synthesis of Isoprenoid Precursors

The yeast Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous synthesizes the carotenoid astaxanthin, which has applications in biotechnology because of its antioxidant and pigmentation properties. However, wild-type strains produce too low amounts of carotenoids to be industrially competitive. Considering this background, it is indispensable to understand how the synthesis of astaxanthin is controlled and regulated in this yeast. In this work, the steps leading to the synthesis of the carotenoid precursor geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate (GGPP, C₂₀) in X. dendrorhous from isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP, C₅) and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP, C₅) was characterized. Two prenyl transferase encoding genes, FPS and crtE, were expressed in E. coli. The enzymatic assays using recombinant E. coli protein extracts demonstrated that FPS and crtE encode a farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP, C₁₅) synthase and a GGPP-synthase, respectively. X. dendrorhous FPP-synthase produces geranyl pyrophosphate (GPP, C₁₀) from IPP and DMAPP and FPP from IPP and GPP, while the X. dendrorhous GGPP-synthase utilizes only FPP and IPP as substrates to produce GGPP. Additionally, the FPS and crtE genes were over-expressed in X. dendrorhous, resulting in an increase of the total carotenoid production. Because the parental strain is diploid, the deletion of one of the alleles of these genes did not affect the total carotenoid production, but the composition was significantly altered. These results suggest that the over-expression of these genes might provoke a higher carbon flux towards carotenogenesis, most likely involving an earlier formation of a carotenogenic enzyme complex. Conversely, the lower carbon flux towards carotenogenesis in the deletion mutants might delay or lead to a partial formation of a carotenogenic enzyme complex, which could explain the accumulation of astaxanthin carotenoid precursors in these mutants. In conclusion, the FPS and the crtE genes represent good candidates to manipulate to favor carotenoid biosynthesis in X. dendrorhous.     

Preparation, Characterization, and Optimization of an In Vitro C30 Carotenoid Pathway

The ispA gene encoding farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) synthase from Escherichia coli and the crtM gene encoding 4,4′-diapophytoene (DAP) synthase from Staphylococcus aureus were overexpressed and purified for use in vitro. Steady-state kinetics for FPP synthase and DAP synthase, individually and in sequence, were determined under optimized reaction conditions. For the two-step reaction, the DAP product was unstable in aqueous buffer; however, in situ extraction using an aqueous-organic two-phase system resulted in a 100% conversion of isopentenyl pyrophosphate and dimethylallyl pyrophosphate into DAP. This aqueous-organic two-phase system is the first demonstration of an in vitro carotenoid synthesis pathway performed with in situ extraction, which enables quantitative conversions. This approach, if extended to a wide range of isoprenoid-based pathways, could lead to the synthesis of novel carotenoids and their derivatives.     

Inhibition of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway; detection of intermediates by UPLC-MS/MS

The isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway provides the cell with a variety of compounds which are involved in multiple cellular processes. Inhibition of this pathway with statins and bisphosphonates is widely applied in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia and metabolic bone disease, respectively. In addition, since isoprenylation of proteins is an important therapeutic target in cancer research there is interest in interfering with isoprenoid biosynthesis, for which new inhibitors to block farnesylation and geranylgeranylation of small GTPases are being developed. We recently developed a sensitive method using UPLC-MS/MS that allows the direct detection and quantification of all intermediates of the mevalonate pathway from MVA to GGPP which can be used to verify the specificity of inhibitors of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway. We here investigated the specificity of several inhibitors of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway in HepG2 cells, fibroblasts and lymphoblasts. The nitrogen-containing bisphosphonates pamidronate and zoledronate specifically inhibit farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase indicated by the accumulation of IPP/DMAPP. However, zaragozic acid A, a squalene synthase inhibitor, causes an increase of MVA in addition to the expected increase of FPP. Analysis of isoprenoid intermediate profiles after incubation with 6-fluoromevalonate showed a very nonspecific result with an increase in MVA, MVAP, MVAPP and IPP/DMAPP. These results show that inhibitors of a particular enzyme of the isoprenoid biosynthesis pathway can have additional effects on other enzymes of the pathway either direct or indirect through accumulation of isoprenoid intermediates. Our method can be used to test new inhibitors and their effect on overall isoprenoid biosynthesis.     

Production of β-carotene and acetate in recombinant Escherichia coli with or without mevalonate pathway at different culture temperature or pH

Natural β-carotene has received much attention as consumers have become more health conscious. Its production by various microorganisms including metabolically engineered Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae has been attempted. We successfully created a recombinant E. coli with an engineered whole mevalonate pathway in addition to β-carotene biosynthetic genes and evaluated the engineered cells from the aspects of metabolic balance between central metabolism and β-carotene production by comparison with conventional β-carotene producing recombinant E. coli (control) utilizing a native methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway using bioreactor cultures generated at different temperatures or pHs. Better production of β-carotene was obtained in E. coli cultured at 37°C than at 25°C. A two-fold higher titer and 2.9-fold higher volumetric productivity were obtained in engineered cells compared with control cells. Notably, a marginal amount of acetate was produced in actively growing engineered cells, whereas more than 8 g/L of acetate was produced in control cells with reduced cell growth at 37°C. The data indicated that the artificial operon of the whole mevalonate pathway operated efficiently in redirecting acetyl-CoA into isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP), thereby improving production of β-carotene, whereas the native MEP pathway did not convert a sufficient amount of pyruvate into IPP due to endogenous feedback regulation. Engineered cells also produced lycopene with a reduced amount of β-carotene in weak alkaline cultures, consistent with the inhibition of lycopene cyclase.     

Statistical Experimental Design Guided Optimization of a One-Pot Biphasic Multienzyme Total Synthesis of Amorpha-4,11-diene

In vitro synthesis of chemicals and pharmaceuticals using enzymes is of considerable interest as these biocatalysts facilitate a wide variety of reactions under mild conditions with excellent regio-, chemo- and stereoselectivities. A significant challenge in a multi-enzymatic reaction is the need to optimize the various steps involved simultaneously so as to obtain high-yield of a product. In this study, statistical experimental design was used to guide the optimization of a total synthesis of amorpha-4,11-diene (AD) using multienzymes in the mevalonate pathway. A combinatorial approach guided by Taguchi orthogonal array design identified the local optimum enzymatic activity ratio for Erg12:Erg8:Erg19:Idi:IspA to be 100∶100∶1∶25∶5, with a constant concentration of amorpha-4,11-diene synthase (Ads, 100 mg/L). The model also identified an unexpected inhibitory effect of farnesyl pyrophosphate synthase (IspA), where the activity was negatively correlated with AD yield. This was due to the precipitation of farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP), the product of IspA. Response surface methodology was then used to optimize IspA and Ads activities simultaneously so as to minimize the accumulation of FPP and the result showed that Ads to be a critical factor. By increasing the concentration of Ads, a complete conversion (∼100%) of mevalonic acid (MVA) to AD was achieved. Monovalent ions and pH were effective means of enhancing the specific Ads activity and specific AD yield significantly. The results from this study represent the first in vitro reconstitution of the mevalonate pathway for the production of an isoprenoid and the approaches developed herein may be used to produce other isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP)/dimethylallyl pyrophosphate (DMAPP) based products.     

Farnesol production in Escherichia coli through the construction of a farnesol biosynthesis pathway – application of PgpB and YbjG phosphatases

Farnesol is a sesquiterpenoid alcohol that has important industrial and medical potential. It is usually synthesized from farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) by farnesol synthase in plants. FPP accumulation can cause up‐regulation of phosphatases capable of FPP hydrolysis, resulting in farnesol production in Escherichia coli. We found that PgpB and YbjG, two integral membrane phosphatases, can hydrolyze FPP into farnesol. Overexpression of FPP synthase (IspA) and PgpB, along with a heterologous mevalonate pathway, enabled recombinant E. coli to produce 526.1 mg/L of farnesol. This result indicates that the phosphatases PgpB and YbjG can be used to construct a novel farnesol synthesis pathway for mass production in E. coli.     

Mechanism of aminobisphosphonate action: characterization of alendronate inhibition of the isoprenoid pathway

Alendronate (ALN), an aminobisphosphonate compound used for the treatment of osteoporosis and other disorders of bone resorption, has been suggested to act by inhibition of the formation of GGPP. In the present study we used an S(10) homogenate fraction of rat liver to show that ALN causes a dose-dependent inhibition of [(3)H]MVA incorporation into sterols and a concomitant increase in incorporation of radiolabel into IPP and DMAPP. We further show that ALN is a potent inhibitor of cytosolic trans-prenyltransferase (FPP synthase). The inhibition is competitive with respect to allylic pyrophosphate substrates, but not IPP, suggesting that ALN acts as an allylic pyrophosphate analog and binds to the free enzyme. The K(i) is in the 0.5 microM range.     

Engineering linear,branched‐chain triterpene metabolism in monocots

Triterpenes are thirty‐carbon compounds derived from the universal five‐carbon prenyl precursors isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP). Normally, triterpenes are synthesized via the mevalonate (MVA) pathway operating in the cytoplasm of eukaryotes where DMAPP is condensed with two IPPs to yield farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), catalyzed by FPP synthase (FPS). Squalene synthase (SQS) condenses two molecules of FPP to generate the symmetrical product squalene, the first committed precursor to sterols and most other triterpenes. In the green algae Botryococcus braunii, two FPP molecules can also be condensed in an asymmetric manner yielding the more highly branched triterpene, botryococcene. Botryococcene is an attractive molecule because of its potential as a biofuel and petrochemical feedstock. Because B. braunii, the only native host for botryococcene biosynthesis, is difficult to grow, there have been efforts to move botryococcene biosynthesis into organisms more amenable to large‐scale production. Here, we report the genetic engineering of the model monocot, Brachypodium distachyon, for botryococcene biosynthesis and accumulation. A subcellular targeting strategy was used, directing the enzymes (botryococcene synthase [BS] and FPS) to either the cytosol or the plastid. High titres of botryococcene (>1 mg/g FW in T₀ mature plants) were obtained using the cytosolic‐targeting strategy. Plastid‐targeted BS + FPS lines accumulated botryococcene (albeit in lesser amounts than the cytosolic BS + FPS lines), but they showed a detrimental phenotype dependent on plastid‐targeted FPS, and could not proliferate and survive to set seed under phototrophic conditions. These results highlight intriguing differences in isoprenoid metabolism between dicots and monocots.     

Evidence of Isoprenoid Precursor Toxicity in Bacillus subtilis

The mevalonic acid (MVA) and methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathways for isoprenoid biosynthesis both culminate in the production of the two-five carbon prenyl diphosphates: dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP) and isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP). These are the building blocks for higher isoprenoids, including many that have industrial and pharmaceutical applications. With growing interest in producing commercial isoprenoids through microbial engineering, reports have appeared of toxicity associated with the accumulation of prenyl diphosphates in Escherichia coli expressing a heterologous MVA pathway. Here we explored whether similar prenyl diphosphate toxicity, related to MEP pathway flux, could also be observed in the bacterium Bacillus subtilis. After genetic and metabolic manipulations of the endogenous MEP pathway in B. subtilis, measurements of cell growth, MEP pathway flux, and DMAPP contents suggested cytotoxicity related to prenyl diphosphate accumulation. These results have implications as to understanding the factors impacting isoprenoid biosynthesis in microbial systems.     

Mechanism of cis-prenyltransferase reaction probed by substrate analogues

Undecaprenyl pyrophosphate synthase (UPPS) is a cis-type prenyltransferases which catalyzes condensation reactions of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) with eight isopentenyl pyrophosphate (IPP) units to generate C₅₅ product. In this study, we used two analogues of FPP, 2-fluoro-FPP and [1,1-²H₂]FPP, to probe the reaction mechanism of Escherichia coli UPPS. The reaction rate of 2-fluoro-FPP with IPP under single-turnover condition is similar to that of FPP, consistent with the mechanism without forming a farnesyl carbocation intermediate. Moreover, the deuterium secondary KIE of 0.985 ± 0.022 measured for UPPS reaction using [1,1-²H₂]FPP supports the associative transition state. Unlike the sequential mechanism used by trans-prenyltransferases, our data demonstrate E. coli UPPS utilizes the concerted mechanism.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In silico</Emphasis> analysis and experimental improvement of taxadiene heterologous biosynthesis in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis>

The biosynthesis of terpenoids in heterologous hosts has become increasingly popular. Isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) is the central precursor of all isoprenoids, and the synthesis can proceed via two separate pathways in different organisms: The 1-deoxylulose 5-phosphate (DXP) pathway and the mevalonate (MVA) pathway. In this study, an in silico comparison was made between the maximum theoretical IPP yields and the thermodynamic properties of the DXP and MVA pathways using different hosts and carbon sources. We found that Escherichia coli and its DXP pathway have the most potential for IPP production. Consequently, codon usage redesign, and combinations of chromosomal engineering and various strains were considered for optimizing taxadiene biosynthesis through the endogenic DXP pathway. A high production strain yielding 876 ± 60 mg/L taxadiene, with an overall volumetric productivity of 8.9 mg/(L × h), was successfully obtained by combining the chromosomal engineered upstream DXP pathway and the downstream taxadiene biosynthesis pathway. This is the highest yield thus far reported for taxadiene production in a heterologous host. These results indicate that genetic manipulation of the DXP pathway has great potential to be used for production of terpenoids, and that chromosomal engineering is a powerful tool for heterologous biosynthesis of natural products.     

强化类球红细菌辅因子NADPH再生以提高法尼醇的产量

法尼醇(Farnesol,FOH)是由焦磷酸异戊烯基(IPP)和焦磷酸二甲基烯丙基(DMAPP)合成的法尼酰基焦磷酸盐(FPP)去焦磷酸化作用生成的。在类球红细菌中IPP和DMAPP是由MEP途径生成,而完整的MEP途径需要消耗大量的辅因子NADPH,增加胞内NADPH的量有可能强化FOH的合成。文中从增加NADPH的生成和降低NADPH的消耗这两个策略出发,分别干扰了编码6-磷酸葡萄糖异构酶基因(pgi)和谷氨酸脱氢酶基因(gdhA)的表达,同时强化了磷酸戊糖途径中6-葡萄糖磷酸脱氢酶基因(zwf)和6-葡萄糖酸磷酸脱氢酶基因(gnd)的表达。实验结果表明,经改造的菌株NADPH含量显著增加,干扰菌株中菌株RSpgii的产量较高,为3.91 mg/g,在过表达的菌株中同时过表达zwf和gnd基因的重组菌株(RSzg)的FOH产量提高到了3.43 mg/g。为了获得FOH产量更高的菌株,以RSpgii为出发菌株,分别与zwf和gnd组合调控,获得的菌株RSzgpi的产量达到了最高量为4.48 mg/g,是出发菌株RS-GY2产率的2.24倍。     

Engineering the lycopene synthetic pathway in <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> by comparison of the carotenoid genes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pantoea agglomerans</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pantoea ananatis</Emphasis>

The lycopene synthetic pathway was engineered in Escherichia coli using the carotenoid genes (crtE, crtB, and crtI) of Pantoea agglomerans and Pantoea ananatis. E. coli harboring the P. agglomerans crt genes produced 27 mg/l of lycopene in 2YT medium without isopropyl-beta-d-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) induction, which was twofold higher than that produced by E. coli harboring the P. ananatis crt genes (12 mg/l lycopene) with 0.1 mM IPTG induction. The crt genes of P. agglomerans proved better for lycopene production in E. coli than those of P. ananatis. The crt genes of the two bacteria were also compared in E. coli harboring the mevalonate bottom pathway, which was capable of providing sufficient carotenoid building blocks, isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) and dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMAPP), with exogenous mevalonate supplementation. Lycopene production significantly increased using the mevalonate bottom pathway and 60 mg/l of lycopene was obtained with the P. agglomerans crt genes, which was higher than that obtained with the P. ananatis crt genes (35 mg/l lycopene). When crtE among the P. ananatis crt genes was replaced with P. agglomerans crtE or Archaeoglobus fulgidus gps, both lycopene production and cell growth were similar to that obtained with P. agglomerans crt genes. The crtE gene was responsible for the observed difference in lycopene production and cell growth between E. coli harboring the crt genes of P. agglomerans and P. ananatis. As there was no significant difference in lycopene production between E. coli harboring P. agglomerans crtE and A. fulgidus gps, farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) synthesis was not rate-limiting in E. coli. Sang-Hwal Yoon and Ju-Eun Kim: These authors contributed equally to this work.