Elevated 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde production from glycerol using a Citrobacter freundii mutant

A mutant strain of Citrobacter freundii capable of elevated 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde production from glycerol was isolated using chemical mutagenesis and a screening protocol. The protocol involved screening mutagenized bacterial cells on solid minimal medium containing 5 % (v/v) glycerol. Colonies were picked onto duplicate solid minimal medium plates and one plate was stained with 1 % (w/v) phloroglucinol. Those colonies staining red were further screened and a mutant, HPAO-1, was identified. The mutant strain produced a several-fold higher 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde concentration than did the parent strain when grown on 5 % (v/v) glycerol. The ratio of culture volume to flask volume influenced 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde production by the mutant cells compared to the parent cells. Aldehyde production was highest when the mutant strain was grown on 5 % (v/v) glycerol at a ratio of culture volume to flask volume of 1:3 or 1:12.5.     

弗氏柠檬酸菌甘油脱水酶基因在大肠杆菌中的克隆和表达

以弗氏柠檬酸菌（Citrobacter freundii）基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR得到甘油脱水酶（glycerol dehydratase）基因dhaB、dhaC、dhaE,克隆到表达载体pSE380上,得到重组质粒pSn-dhaBCE。将此重组质粒转化到E．coli JM109中,重组菌株SDS-PAGE结果显示有明显的61kD、22kD、16kD三条特异性蛋白条带出现。重组菌株经诱导表达,酶活力为11．59U／mL。     

Hydrogen production by Escherichia coli containing a cloned hydrogenase gene from Citrobacter freundii

Two hydrogenase genes of Citrobacter freundii complementing different Escherichia coli hyd mutations were cloned on the multicopy-plasmid pBR322. Recombinant plasmids pCBH2 and pCFH1 were obtained. Since hydrogenase activities of E. coli transformant HK-8 (pCBH2) and HK-7 (pCFH1) were much the same as E. coli C600 (wild type cells), the reduction in DNA size of recombinant plasmid pCBH2 (10.7 kb) was investigated. Reduced recombinant plasmids pCBH4 (6.2 kb) and pCBH6 (5.7 kb) were obtained, and a hydrogenase gene was found to be located on the 2.35 kb fragment between AvaI and EcoRI sites. Hydrogenase activity and hydrogen-evolving activity of E. coli HK-8 (pCBH4 or pCBH6) from sodium formate, sodium pyruvate or glucose were approximately 2-fold higher than those of E. coli C600 (wild type cells).On the other hand, a reduced recombinant plasmid pCBH10 (6.0 kb), which contained the adjacent DNA fragment (2.15 kb) to a hydrogenase gene, was obtained. Hydrogenase activity of E. coli C600 harboring pCBH10 was half that of E. coli C600. From these results we estimate that in plasmid pCBH2, the repressor gene suppressing the synthesis of hydrogenase might have been cloned together with a hydrogenase gene.     

Cloning and expression of the gene(s) for cephalosporinase production of Citrobacter freundii

The chromosomal gene(s) for cephalosporinase production of Citrobacter freundii GN346 has been cloned into vector plasmid pMK1, initially as a 7.3 kb EcoRI fragment. From the substrate profile and the response to anti-GN346 CSase serum of the enzyme produced, it was confirmed that the hybrid plasmid (pTY71) carries the relevant chromosomal cephalosporinase gene from C. freundii GN346. A restriction endonuclease cleavage map of cloned EcoRI fragments was constructed, and the structural gene of the cephalosporinase could be limited in the 1.5 kb BamHI fragment. The cloned gene(s) was expressed at an extremely low level in Escherichia coli. Furthermore, its expression was constitutive in E. coli, although inducible in its own cytoplasm.     

A cryptic melibiose transporter gene possessing a frameshift from Citrobacter freundii

Wild-type Citrobacter freundii cannot grow on melibiose as a sole source of carbon. The melibiose transporter gene melB was cloned from a C. freundii mutant M4 that could utilize melibiose as a sole carbon source. Although the cloned melB gene is closely similar to the melB genes of other bacteria, it is cryptic because of a frameshift mutation. Site-directed mutagenesis was used to construct a functional melB gene by deleting one nucleotide, resulting in the production of an active melibiose transporter. The active MelB transporter could utilize Na(+) and H(+) as coupling cations to melibiose transport. The amino acid sequence of the C. freundii MelB was found to be most similar to those of Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli MelB. These facts are consistent with the phylogenetic relationship of bacteria and the cation coupling properties of the melibiose transporters.     

弗氏柠檬酸菌dhaT基因的克隆表达、序列分析、酶的纯化及特性研究

1,3-丙二醇（1,3-propanediol,1,3-PD）是一种重要的化工原料,越来越受到广泛的关注。以弗氏柠檬酸菌(Citrobacter freundii)基因组DNA为模板,通过PCR得到1,3-丙二醇氧化还原酶(1,3-propanediol dehydrogenase,PDOR) 的基因dhaT,序列显示与来源于C.freundii DSM 30040 (Genbank U09771)相应基因的相似性为78%。将此基因构建于表达载体pSE380,得到重组质粒pSE-dhaT。重组质粒转化到宿主菌E.coli JM109中进行了表达,重组酶通过镍柱及Sephacral S-300进行纯化,重组酶SDS-PAGE结果显示有非常明显的单一的42kDa特异性蛋白条带出现。以丙醛为底物测定重组酶还原反应的最适温度为37℃、最适pH为8.0,对丙醛的Km值为10.05mmol/L,最大反应速度Vmax为37.27umol/ min /mg;以1,3-PD为底物测定重组酶氧化反应的最适温度为25℃、最适pH为10.5,对1,3-PD的Km值为1.28mmol/L,最大反应速度Vmax为25.55umol/min/mg。重组酶的还原反应比活为49.50U/mg,氧化反应比活为79.72U/mg。该酶同样具有假定的结合Fe2+的G-X-X-H-X-X-A-H-X-X-G-X-X-X-X-X-P-H-G模体保守结构。此研究为工程菌高效生产1,3-PD奠定了基础。     

Isolation of the tyrosine phenol lyase gene from Citrobacter freundii

Summary The gene for the enzyme tyrosine phenol-lyase (TPL) was initially isolated on a 45 kbp fragment of Citrobacter freundii genomic DNA contained in a cosmid. Subsequent restriction enzyme digestion and sub-cloning resulted in the gene being contained on a 2.4 kbp DNA fragment.     

Biohydrogen production by dark fermentation of glycerol using Enterobacter and Citrobacter Sp

Glycerol is an attractive substrate for biohydrogen production because, in theory, it can produce 3 mol of hydrogen per mol of glycerol. Moreover, glycerol is produced in substantial amounts as a byproduct of producing biodiesel, the demand for which has increased in recent years. Therefore, hydrogen production from glycerol was studied by dark fermentation using three strains of bacteria: namely, Enterobacter spH1, Enterobacter spH2, and Citrobacter freundii H3 and a mixture thereof (1:1:1). It was found that, when an initial concentration of 20 g/L of glycerol was used, all three strains and their mixture produced substantial amounts of hydrogen ranging from 2400 to 3500 mL/L, being highest for C. freundii H3 (3547 mL/L) and Enterobacter spH1 (3506 mL/L). The main nongaseous fermentation products were ethanol and acetate, albeit in different ratios. For Enterobacter spH1, Enterobacter spH2, C. freundii H3, and the mixture (1:1:1), the ethanol yields (in mol EtOH/mol glycerol consumed) were 0.96, 0.67, 0.31, and 0.66, respectively. Compared to the individual strains, the mixture (1:1:1) did not show a significantly higher hydrogen level, indicating that there was no synergistic effect. Enterobacter spH1 was selected for further investigation because of its higher yield of hydrogen and ethanol. © 2012 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Biotechnol. Prog., 2013     

新一代高产甘油重组菌的构建及其初步发酵

产甘油假丝酵母(Candida glycerinogenes WL2002-5)是一株发酵生产甘油的工业化菌株。为进一步提高其产甘油能力,本研究利用前期研究中成功克隆的产甘油假丝酵母中甘油合成关键酶3-磷酸甘油脱氢酶基因CgGPD1,构建根癌农杆菌双元载体pCAM3300-zeocin-CgGPD1后,电击转化根癌农杆菌LBA4404,通过根癌农杆菌介导法(ATMT)转化产甘油假丝酵母,构建了产甘油假丝酵母重组菌。并从中筛选出一株酶活力和产甘油性能较好的产甘油假丝酵母重组菌株C.g-G8。以葡萄糖为底物摇瓶发酵96h后,重组菌C.g-G8的甘油产量比野生型菌株Candida glycerinogene提高18.06%,平均耗糖速率提高12.97%,平均酶活力提高27.55%。本研究成功利用ATMT法转化产甘油假丝酵母构建新一代高产甘油菌株。     

A comparative study of solvent-assisted pretreatment of biodiesel derived crude glycerol on growth and 1,3-propanediol production from Citrobacter freundii

The rapidly growing biodiesel industry has created a scenario, where it is both important and challenging to deal with the enormous amount of crude glycerol generated as an inherent by-product. With every 100 gallons of biodiesel produced, 5-10 gallons of the crude glycerol is left behind containing several impurities which makes its disposal difficult. The objective of the present investigation was to evaluate the impact of biodiesel-derived crude glycerol upon microbial growth and production of 1,3-propanediol by Citrobacter freundii. Five different grades of crude glycerol (obtained from biodiesel preparation using jatropha, soybean, sunflower, rice bran and linseed oils) were used. Crude glycerol caused significant inhibition of microbial growth and subsequently 1,3-propanediol production as compared to pure glycerol. Therefore, a process was developed for the treatment of crude glycerol using solvents before fermentation wherein four different non-polar solvents were examined yielding different grades of pretreated glycerol. Subsequently, the potential toxic effects of pretreated glycerol on the growth and 1,3-propanediol production by C. freundii was evaluated. In case of petroleum ether-treated crude glycerol obtained from jatropha & linseed and hexane-treated crude glycerol obtained from rice bran, the yields obtained were comparable to the pure glycerol. Similarly, soybean-derived glycerol gave comparable results after treatment with either hexane or petroleum ether.     

Cloning of a haemolysin from Citrobacter freundii and its expression in phylogenetically related bacteria

Abstract The determinants for a haemolysin from an extraintestinal isolate of Citrobacter freundii have been cloned and expressed in both Escherichia coli K12 and phylogenetically related bacteria. Compared with E. coli , where the haemolytic determinants are encoded in 7.5 kb, the hemolysin determinants of C. freundii are located on a 2.5-kb Hin dIII fragment in the recombinant plasmid PJP71. Chicken embryo tests indicate that this haemolysin does contribute to the pathogenicity of C. freundii .     

Localization and phenotypic expression of a Tol marker in Citrobacter freundii

Among colicin-A-tolerant mutants of Citrobacter freundii we characterized some as Tol-2 mutants. The Tol-2 mutation results in insensitivity to bacteriocin S6 and an enhanced sensitivity to deoxycholate (DOC), ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and to ampicillin. The Tol-2 mutation was mapped close near gal and the gene order pro-tol-gal was established in crosses between C. freundii Hfr tol ⁺ donor strains and C. freundii tol ^- acceptor strains. In these crosses a difference was observed in phenotypic expression of the pleiotropic properties of this tol ⁺ gene. Expression of resistance to DOC is substantially slower than the expression of EDTA-resistance. This phenomenon may play a disturbing role in those studies on cell envelope mutants, in which resistance to DOC is used as a selected marker. The differences in expression of DOC-and EDTA-resistance are discussed.     

Cloning and heterologous expression of the violacein biosynthesis gene cluster fromChromobacterium violaceum

The entire biosynthetic pathway for the synthesis of the antibiotic pigment violacein is encoded on a 14.5 kilobase (kb) fragment of theChromobacterium violaceum genome. When cloned intoEscherichia coli, pigment synthesis is strongly expressed, as it is in a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria. Transposon mutagenesis resulted in a number of different phenotypes that correlated with transposon insertion sites in the gene cluster.     

Fed-batch fermentation for the production of alpha-amylase by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens

Fed-batch cultures were performed to maximize the alpha-amylase activity in a bioreactor. Kinetic equations containing a catabolite repression effect were used to model the enzyme formation from Bacillus amyloliquefaciens. Fed-batch culture experiments were performed using maltose to implement the optimal feeding strategy. Optimal fed-batch culture based on sequential parameter estimation was performed successfully using off-line analysis while the fermentation was in progress. The enzyme activity from the fed-batch culture employing maltose was higher than that of the batch culture by 60%. Enzyme production using starch showed similar trends to those obtained using maltose.     

Isolation and identification of a bacteriocin with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity from Citrobacter freundii

Multi- and pan-antibiotic-resistant bacteria area major health challenge in hospital settings. Furthermore,when susceptible bacteria establish surface-attached biofilm populations, they become recalcitrant to antimicrobial therapy. Therefore, there is a need for novel antimicrobials that are effective against multi-drug-resistant and surface-attached bacteria. A screen to identify prokaryote-derived antimicrobials from a panel of over 100 bacterial strains was performed. One compound isolated from Citrobacter freundii exhibited antimicrobial activity against a wide range of Gram-negative bacteria and was effective against biofilms. Random transposon mutagenesis was performed to find mutants unable to produce the antimicrobial compound.Transposons mapped to a bacteriocin gene located on a small plasmid capable of replication in Escherichia coli. The plasmid was sequenced and found to be highly similar to a previously described colicinogenic plasmid.Expression of the predicted bacteriocin immunity gene conferred bacteriocin immunity to E. coli. The predicted bacteriocin gene, colA-43864, expressed in E. coli was sufficient to generate anti-microbial activity, and purified recombinant ColA-43864 was highly effective in killing E. coli, Citrobacter species, and Klebsiella pneumoniae cells in a planktonic and biofilm state. This study suggests that bacteriocins can be an effective way to control surface-attached pathogenic bacteria.