Comparative metabolic flux analysis of lysine-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum cultured on glucose or fructose

A comprehensive approach to (13)C tracer studies, labeling measurements by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, metabolite balancing, and isotopomer modeling, was applied for comparative metabolic network analysis of lysine-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum on glucose or fructose. Significantly reduced yields of lysine and biomass and enhanced formation of dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and lactate in comparison to those for glucose resulted on fructose. Metabolic flux analysis revealed drastic differences in intracellular flux depending on the carbon source applied. On fructose, flux through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was only 14.4% of the total substrate uptake flux and therefore markedly decreased compared to that for glucose (62.0%). This result is due mainly to (i) the predominance of phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems for fructose uptake (PTS(Fructose)) (92.3%), resulting in a major entry of fructose via fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and (ii) the inactivity of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (0.0%). The uptake of fructose during flux via PTS(Mannose) was only 7.7%. In glucose-grown cells, the flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase (70.9%) was much less than that in fructose-grown cells (95.2%). Accordingly, flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was decreased on glucose. Normalized to that for glucose uptake, the supply of NADPH during flux was only 112.4% on fructose compared to 176.9% on glucose, which might explain the substantially lower lysine yield of C. glutamicum on fructose. Balancing NADPH levels even revealed an apparent deficiency of NADPH on fructose, which is probably overcome by in vivo activity of malic enzyme. Based on these results, potential targets could be identified for optimization of lysine production by C. glutamicum on fructose, involving (i) modification of flux through the two PTS for fructose uptake, (ii) amplification of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase to increase flux through the PPP, and (iii) knockout of a not-yet-annotated gene encoding dihydroxyacetone phosphatase or kinase activity to suppress overflow metabolism. Statistical evaluation revealed high precision of the estimates of flux, so the observed differences for metabolic flux are clearly substrate specific.     

在不同碳源培养条件下酿酒酵母的蛋白质组解析

为了分析酿酒酵母在不同培养条件下的代谢调控过程的差异,采用固相pH梯度-SDS聚丙烯酰胺双向凝胶电泳对其利用不同碳源时细胞的总蛋白进行了分离,银染显色,使用2D蛋白质图像分析系统Image Master-2D Elite对双向电泳图谱进行分析,查询SWISS-2D-PAGE蛋白质组数据库,识别了约500个蛋白质点。对与糖酵解途径、磷酸戊糖途径、三羧酸循环和几种回补反应相关的大部分关键的蛋白质进行了差异分析。探讨了酿酒酵母利用不同碳源时及生长的不同阶段代谢机理的变化和在蛋白质水平的调控。     

Metabolomics integrated with transcriptomics and proteomics: Evaluation of systems reaction to nitrogen deficiency stress in microalgae

Microalgae have higher productivity of biomass than the conventional crops of fuel and are therefore, considered a potential biofuel source. Lipid, an important precursor of biodiesel, can be overproduced in microalgae by nitrogen deprivation. During nitrogen deficiency, radicals are overproduced, and the antioxidant levels are insufficient to counteract the radicals. Thus, the increase in cellular oxidative stress level, consequently acts as a stimulus for lipid accumulation. Lipid accumulation requires an excess of acetyl CoA and NADPH that is made possible by the following mechanism. Glycolysis upregulation overproduces pyruvate, which could be further transformed into acetyl CoA by the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex; while the upregulation of the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle generates a high amount of NADPH. In addition to lipid overproduction, the lack of nitrogen often causes the accumulation of carbohydrates in selected species of microalgae, which could be used to generate biogas and bioethanol from the defatted biomass. By providing details on the differential regulation of the biochemical pathways leading to lipid and carbohydrate accumulation in nitrogen starved microalgae, the review opens up new possibilities in the microalgal biofuel production.     

Comparative Metabolic Flux Analysis of Lysine-Producing Corynebacterium glutamicum Cultured on Glucose or Fructose

A comprehensive approach to ¹³C tracer studies, labeling measurements by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, metabolite balancing, and isotopomer modeling, was applied for comparative metabolic network analysis of lysine-producing Corynebacterium glutamicum on glucose or fructose. Significantly reduced yields of lysine and biomass and enhanced formation of dihydroxyacetone, glycerol, and lactate in comparison to those for glucose resulted on fructose. Metabolic flux analysis revealed drastic differences in intracellular flux depending on the carbon source applied. On fructose, flux through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was only 14.4% of the total substrate uptake flux and therefore markedly decreased compared to that for glucose (62.0%). This result is due mainly to (i) the predominance of phosphoenolpyruvate-dependent phosphotransferase systems for fructose uptake (PTS_Fructose) (92.3%), resulting in a major entry of fructose via fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, and (ii) the inactivity of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (0.0%). The uptake of fructose during flux via PTS_Mannose was only 7.7%. In glucose-grown cells, the flux through pyruvate dehydrogenase (70.9%) was much less than that in fructose-grown cells (95.2%). Accordingly, flux through the tricarboxylic acid cycle was decreased on glucose. Normalized to that for glucose uptake, the supply of NADPH during flux was only 112.4% on fructose compared to 176.9% on glucose, which might explain the substantially lower lysine yield of C. glutamicum on fructose. Balancing NADPH levels even revealed an apparent deficiency of NADPH on fructose, which is probably overcome by in vivo activity of malic enzyme. Based on these results, potential targets could be identified for optimization of lysine production by C. glutamicum on fructose, involving (i) modification of flux through the two PTS for fructose uptake, (ii) amplification of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase to increase flux through the PPP, and (iii) knockout of a not-yet-annotated gene encoding dihydroxyacetone phosphatase or kinase activity to suppress overflow metabolism. Statistical evaluation revealed high precision of the estimates of flux, so the observed differences for metabolic flux are clearly substrate specific.     

The pentose phosphate pathway of glucose metabolism. Enzyme profiles and transient and steady-state content of intermediates of alternative pathways of glucose metabolism in Krebs ascites cells

1. The pentose phosphate pathway in Krebs ascites cells was investigated for regulatory reactions. For comparison, the glycolytic pathway was studied simultaneously. 2. Activities of the pentose phosphate pathway enzymes were low in contrast with those of the enzymes of glycolysis. The K(m) values of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase for both substrate and cofactor were about four times the reported upper limit for the enzyme from normal tissues. Fructose 1,6-diphosphate and NADPH competitively inhibited 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. 3. About 28% of the hexokinase activity was in the particulate fraction of the cells. The soluble enzyme was inhibited by fructose 1,6-diphosphate and ribose 5-phosphate, but not by 3-phosphoglycerate. The behaviour of the partially purified soluble enzyme in vitro in a system simulating the concentrations of ATP, glucose 6-phosphate and P(i) found in vivo is reported. 4. Kinetics of metabolite accumulation during the transient state after the addition of glucose to the cells indicated two phases of glucose phosphorylation, an initial rapid phase followed abruptly by a slow phase extending into the steady state. 5. Of the pentose phosphate pathway intermediates, accumulation of 6-phosphogluconate, sedoheptulose 7-phosphate and fructose 6-phosphate paralleled the accumulation of glucose 6-phosphate. Erythrose 4-phosphate reached the steady-state concentration by 2min., whereas the pentose phosphates accumulated linearly. 6. The mass-action ratios of the pentose phosphate pathway reactions were calculated. The transketolase reaction was at equilibrium by 30sec. and then progressively shifted away from equilibrium towards the steady-state ratio. The glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase was far from equilibrium at all times. 7. Investigation of the flux of [(14)C]glucose carbon confirmed the existence of an operative pentose phosphate pathway in ascites cells, contributing 1% of the total flux in control cells and 10% in cells treated with phenazine methosulphate. 8. The pentose phosphate formed by way of the direct oxidative route and estimated from the (14)CO(2) yields represented 20% of the total accumulated pentose phosphate, the other 80% being formed by the non-oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway. 9. The pentose phosphate pathway appears to function as two separate pathways, both operating towards pentose phosphate formation. Control of the two pathways is discussed.     

Simultaneous operation of three catabolic pathways in the metabolism of glucose by Thiobacillus A2

Enzymes essential to the operation of the Embden-Meyerhof glycolytic pathway, the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and oxidative pentose phosphate pathway were present in Thiobacillus A2 grown on glucose and other sugars. Radiorespirometry under various conditions with Thiobacillus A2 oxidising glucose specifically labelled with ¹⁴C in carbon atoms 1, 2, 3, 3+4, 6 or universally labelled demonstrated the simultaneous operation of the Embden-Meyerhof (48%), Entner-Doudoroff (28%), and pentose phosphate (24%) pathways in release of carbon dioxide from glucose. Growth on succinate, or autotrophically on formate or thiosulphate resulted in repression of most enzymes of the pathways, but high aldolase levels were retained indicating its role in gluconeogenesis and the Calvin cycle. Different fructose diphosphatase activities were found in succinate- and thiosulphate-grown organisms. The results indicate that all three major catabolic pathways for glucose function in Thiobacillus A2 grown on sugars. Thiobacillus acidophilus showed a different radiorespirometric pattern and apparently used the Entner-Doudoroff (64.5%) and pentose phosphate (35.5%) pathways, but showed unusually high release of carbon atom 6, as was also found for T. ferrooxidans.Abbreviations EM Embden-Meyerhof - ED Entner-Doudoroff - EDTA ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid, disodium salt - FDP fructose 1,6-diphosphate - KDPG 2-keto-3-deoxy-6-phosphogluconate - 6-PG 6-phosphogluconate - Pa Pascal (10⁵ Pa=1 bar) - PP pentose phosphate - POPOP 1,4-di[2-(5-phenyloxazolyl)] benzene - PPO 2,5-diphenyloxazole     

Regulation of hexose phosphate metabolism in Acetobacter xylinum

The metabolism of glucose and fructose was studied in resting succinate-grown cells of Acetobacter xylinum. From fructose only cellulose and CO(2) were formed by the cells, whereas from glucose, gluconate was formed much more rapidly than these two products. The molar ratio of sugar converted into cellulose to sugar converted into CO(2) was significantly greater than unity for both hexoses. The pattern of label retention in the cellulose formed by the cells from specifically (14)C-labelled glucose, fructose or gluconate corresponded to that of hexose phosphate in a pentose cycle. On the other hand, the isotopic configuration of cellulose arising from variously singly (14)C-labelled pyruvate did not agree with the operation of a pentose cycle on gluconeogenic hexose phosphate. Readily oxidizable tricarboxylic acid-cycle intermediates such as acetate, pyruvate or succinate promoted cellulose synthesis from fructose and gluconate although retarding their oxidation to CO(2). The incorporation into cellulose of C-1 of fructose was greatly increased in the presence of these non-sugar substrates, although its oxidation to CO(2) was greatly diminished. It is suggested that the flow of hexose phosphate carbon towards cellulose or through the pentose cycle in A. xylinum is regulated by an energy-linked control mechanism.     

Poly-β-hydroxybutyrate biosynthesis and the regulation of glucose metabolism in Azotobacter beijerinckii

Azotobacter beijerinckii possesses the enzymes of both the Entner-Doudoroff and the oxidative pentose phosphate cycle pathways of glucose catabolism and both pathways are subject to feedback inhibition by products of glucose oxidation. The allosteric glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase utilizes both NADP(+) and NAD(+) as electron acceptors and is inhibited by ATP, ADP, NADH and NADPH. 6-Phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (NADP-specific) is unaffected by adenosine nucleotides but is strongly inhibited by NADH and NADPH. The formation of pyruvate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate from 6-phosphogluconate by the action of the Entner-Doudoroff enzymes is inhibited by ATP, citrate, isocitrate and cis-aconitate. Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase is unaffected by adenosine and nicotinamide nucleotides but the enzyme is non-specific with respect to NADP and NAD. Citrate synthase is strongly inhibited by NADH and the inhibition is reversed by the addition of AMP. Isocitrate dehydrogenase, a highly active NADP-specific enzyme, is inhibited by NADPH, NADH, ATP and by high concentrations of NADP(+). These findings are discussed in relation to the massive synthesis of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate that occurs under certain nutritional conditions. We propose that synthesis of this reserve material, to the extent of 70% of the dry weight of the organism, serves as an electron and carbon ;sink' when conditions prevail that would otherwise inhibit nitrogen fixation and growth.     

NADPH production in the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway as source of reducing equivalents in glycolysis of human red cells in vitro.

Studies have been carried out on human erythrocytes in vitro to clarify the deficit of pyruvate formation under conditions when 2,3 DPG is degraded. The results lead to the conclusion that there exist a cross connection between the glycolytic and the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway which is mediated by the NADP/NADPH couple. NADPH serves as additional reducing equivalent in the reaction of the LDH. In the absence of glucose the pool of the metabolites of the pentose phosphate pathway is able to supply glucose-6-phosphate for the production of NADPH by recombination. The reaction of NADPH at the LDH is probably of significance under in vivo conditions.     

Response of fluxome and metabolome to temperature-induced recombinant protein synthesis in Escherichia coli

The response of the central carbon metabolism of Escherichia coli to temperature-induced recombinant production of human fibroblast growth factor was studied on the level of metabolic fluxes and intracellular metabolite levels. During production, E. coli TG1:plambdaFGFB, carrying a plasmid encoded gene for the recombinant product, revealed stress related characteristics such as decreased growth rate and biomass yield and enhanced by-product excretion (acetate, pyruvate, lactate). With the onset of production, the adenylate energy charge dropped from 0.85 to 0.60, indicating the occurrence of a severe energy limitation. This triggered an increase of the glycolytic flux which, however, was not sufficient to compensate for the increased ATP demand. The activation of the glycolytic flux was also indicated by the readjustment of glycolytic pool sizes leading to an increased driving force for the reaction catalyzed by phosphofructokinase. Moreover, fluxes through the TCA cycle, into the pentose phosphate pathway and into anabolic pathways decreased significantly. The strong increase of flux into overflow pathways, especially towards acetate was most likely caused by a flux redirection from pyruvate dehydrogenase to pyruvate oxidase. The glyoxylate shunt, not active during growth, was the dominating anaplerotic pathway during production. Together with pyruvate oxidase and acetyl CoA synthase this pathway could function as a metabolic by-pass to overcome the limitation in the junction between glycolysis and TCA cycle and partly recycle the acetate formed back into the metabolism.     

The role of malic enzyme as the provider of NADPH in oleaginous microorganisms: a reappraisal and unsolved problems

Malic enzyme (ME; NADP⁺-dependent; EC 1.1.40) provides NADPH for lipid biosynthesis in oleaginous microorganisms. Its role in vivo depends on there being an adequate supply of NADH to drive malate dehydrogenase to convert oxaloacetate to malate as a component of a cycle of three reactions: pyruvate → oxaloacetate → malate and, by the action of ME, back to pyruvate. However, the availability of cytosolic NADH is limited and, consequently, ancillary means of producing NADPH are necessary. Stoichiometries are given for the conversion of glucose to triacylglycerols involving ME with and without the reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) as an additional source of NADPH. Some oleaginous microorganisms (such as Yarrowia lipolytica), however, lack a cytosolic ME and, if the PPP is the sole provider of NADPH, the theoretical yield of triacylglycerol from glucose falls to 27.6 % (w/w) from 31.6 % when ME is present. An alternative route for NADPH generation via a cytosolic isocitrate dehydrogenase (NADP⁺-dependent) is then discussed.     

Interrelationship and control of glucose metabolism and lipogenesis in isolated fat-cells. Control of pentose phosphate-cycle activity by cellular requirement for reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate

By using inhibitors and stimulators of different metabolic pathways the interdependence of the pentose phosphate cycle and lipogenesis in isolated fat-cells was studied. Rotenone, which is known to inhibit electron transport in the respiratory chain, blocked glucose breakdown at the site of pyruvate dehydrogenase. Consequently, because of the lack of acetyl-CoA, fatty acid synthesis was almost abolished. A concomitant decrease in pentose phosphate-cycle activity was observed. Phenazine methosulphate stimulated pentose phosphate-cycle activity about five- to ten-fold without a considerable effect on fatty acid synthesis. The influence of rotenone on both the pentose phosphate cycle and lipogenesis could be overcome by addition of phenazine methosulphate, indicating that rotenone has no direct effect on these pathways. The decreased rate of the pentose phosphate cycle in the presence of rotenone therefore has to be considered as a consequence of decreased fatty acid synthesis. The rate of glucose catabolism via the pentose phosphate cycle in adipocytes appears to be determined by the requirement of NADPH for lipogenesis. Treatment of cells with 6-aminonicotinamide caused an accumulation of 6-phosphogluconate, indicating an inhibition of 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase. The rate of glucose metabolism via the pentose phosphate cycle as well as the rate of fatty acid synthesis, however, was not affected by 6-aminonicotinamide treatment and could still be stimulated by addition of insulin. Since even in cells from starved animals, in which the pentose phosphate-cycle activity is extremely low, no accumulation of 6-phosphogluconate was observed, it is concluded that the control of this pathway is achieved by the rate of regeneration of NADP at the site of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase.     

A novel gnd mutation leading to increased L-lysine production in Corynebacterium glutamicum

Toward more efficient L-lysine production, we have been challenging genome-based strain breeding by the approach of assembling only relevant mutations in a single wild-type background. Following the creation of a new L-lysine producer Corynebacterium glutamicum AHP-3 that carried three useful mutations (lysC311, hom59, and pyc458) on the relevant downstream pathways, we shifted our target to the pentose phosphate pathway. Comparative genomic analysis for the pathway between a classically derived L-lysine producer and its parental wild-type identified several mutations. Among these mutations, a Ser-361-->Phe mutation in the 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase gene (gnd) was defined as a useful mutation for L-lysine production. Introduction of the gnd mutation into strain AHP-3 by allelic replacement led to approximately 15% increased L-lysine production. Enzymatic analysis revealed that the mutant enzyme was less sensitive than the wild-type enzyme to allosteric inhibition by intracellular metabolites, such as fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, D-glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate, phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate, ATP, and NADPH, which were known to inhibit this enzyme. Isotope-based metabolic flux analysis demonstrated that the gnd mutation resulted in 8% increased carbon flux through the pentose phosphate pathway during L-lysine production. These results indicate that the gnd mutation is responsible for diminished allosteric regulation and contributes to redirection of more carbon to the pentose phosphate pathway that was identified as the primary source for NADPH essential for L-lysine biosynthesis, thereby leading to improved product formation.     

Carbon dioxide assimilation in oxygenic and anoxygenic photosynthesis

This article represents a summary of our contemporary understanding of carbon dioxide assimilation in photosynthesis, including both the oxygen-evolving (oxygenic) type characteristic of cyanobacteria, algae and higher plants, and the non-oxygen-evolving (anoxygenic) type characteristic of other bacteria. Mechanisms functional in the regulation of the reductive pentose phosphate cycle of oxygenic photosynthesis are emphasized, as is the reductive carboxylic acid cycle-the photosynthetic carbon pathway functional in anoxygenic green sulfur bacteria. Thioredoxins, an ubiquitous group of low molecular weight proteins with catalytically active thiols, are also described in some detail, notably their role in regulating the reductive pentose phosphate cycle of oxygenic photosynthesis and their potential use as markers to trace the evolutionary development of photosynthesis.Abbreviations NADP-GAPDH-NADP glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase - FBPase fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase - FTR ferredoxin-thioredoxin reductase - Rubisco ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase - SBPase sedoheptulos 1,7-bisphosphatase - PRK phosphoribulokinase - NADP-MDH-NADP malate dehydrogenase - CF1-ATPase chloroplast coupling factor - G6PDH glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase Most of the references cited in this article are reviews. For references to specific material, readers should consult the appropriate review.     

Quantitative measurement of the L-type pentose phosphate cycle with [2-14C]glucose and [5-14C]glucose in isolated hepatocytes.

1. Investigations of the mechanism of the non-oxidative segment of the pentose phosphate cycle in isolatd hepatocytes by prediction-labelling studies following the metabolism of [2-14C]-, [5-14C]- and [4,5,6-14C]glucose are reported. The 14C distribution patterns in glucose 6-phosphate show that the reactions of the L-type pentose pathway in hepatocytes. 2. Estimates of the quantitative contribution of the L-type pentose cycle are the exclusive form of the pentose cycle to glucose metabolism have been made. The contribution of the L-type pentose cycle to the metabolism of glucose lies between 22 and 30% in isolated hepatocytes. 3. The distribution of 14C in the carbon atoms of glucose 6-phosphate following the metabolism of [4,5,6-14C]- and [2-14C]glucose indicate that gluconeogenesis from triose phosphate and non-oxidative formation of pentose 5-phosphate do not contribute significantly to randomization of 14C in isolated hepatocytes. The transaldolase exchange reaction between fructose 6-phosphate and glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate is very active in these cells.     

Over-expression of glucose dehydrogenase improves cell growth and riboflavin production in Bacillus subtilis

Ribulose 5-phosphate is a precursor for riboflavin biosynthesis. Alteration of carbon flow into the pentose phosphate pathway will affect the availability of ribulose 5-phosphate and the riboflavin yield. We have modulated carbon flow in Bacillus subtilis through the gluconate bypass by over-expression of glucose dehydrogenase under the control of the constitutively expressed P43 promoter. Over-expression of glucose dehydrogenase resulted in low acid production (acetate and pyruvate). The substantial reduction in acid production is accompanied by increased riboflavin production and an increased rate of growth while glucose consumption remained unchanged. Metabolic analysis indicated that over-expression of glucose dehydrogenase increased intracellular pool of ribulose 5-phosphate. The high concentrations of ribulose 5-phosphate could explain the increased riboflavin production.     

Metabolic control of hepatic gluconeogenesis during exercise.

Prolonged exercise increased the concentrations of the hexose phosphates and phosphoenolpyruvate and depressed those of fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, triose phosphates and pyruvate in the liver of the rat. Since exercise increases gluconeogenic flux, these changes in metabolite concentrations suggest that metabolic control is exerted, at least, at the fructose 6-phosphate/fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and phosphoenolpyruvate/pyruvate substrate cycles. Exercise increased the maximal activities of glucose 6-phosphatase, fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase, pyruvate kinase and pyruvate carboxylase in the liver, but there were no changes in those of glucokinase, 6-phosphofructokinase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase. Exercise changed the concentrations of several allosteric effectors of the glycolytic or gluconeogenic enzymes in liver; the concentrations of acetyl-CoA, ADP and AMP were increased, whereas those of ATP, fructose 1,6-bisphosphate and fructose 2,6-bisphosphate were decreased. The effect of exercise on the phosphorylation-dephosphorylation state of pyruvate kinase was investigated by measuring the activities under conditions of saturating and subsaturating concentrations of substrate. The submaximal activity of pyruvate kinase (0.5 mM-phosphoenolpyruvate), expressed as percentage of Vmax., decreased in the exercised animals to less than half that found in the controls. These changes suggest that hepatic pyruvate kinase is less active during exercise, possibly owing to phosphorylation of the enzyme, and this may play a role in increasing the rate of gluconeogenesis.     

Autotrophic CO2 fixation in Acetobacterium woodii

Earlier labeling experiments have shown that autotrophically grown Acetobacterium woodii assimilates cell carbon via direct acetyl CoA formation from 2 CO₂, rather than via the Calvin cycle. Cell extracts contained the enzymes required for biosynthesis starting from acetyl CoA and CO₂. Notably, pyruvate synthase, pyruvate phosphate dikinase, and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxytransphosphorylase were present in sufficiently high activities. Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase activity could not be detected. The observed enzyme pattern was consistent with the postulated biosynthetic pathway as deduced from ¹⁴C-labeling experiments.     

C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Citrate and Glucose Cometabolism by Lactococcus lactis

C nuclear magnetic resonance (C-NMR) was used to investigate the metabolism of citrate plus glucose and pyruvate plus glucose by nongrowing cells of Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis 19B under anaerobic conditions. The metabolism of citrate plus glucose during growth was also monitored directly by in vivo NMR. Although pyruvate is a common intermediate metabolite in the metabolic pathways of both citrate and glucose, the origin of the carbon atoms in the fermentation products was determined by using selectively labeled substrates, e.g., [2,4-C]citrate, [3-C]pyruvate, and [2-C]glucose. The presence of an additional substrate caused a considerable stimulation in the rates of substrate utilization, and the pattern of end products was changed. Acetate plus acetoin and butanediol represented more than 80% (molar basis) of the end products of the metabolism of citrate (or pyruvate) alone, but when glucose was also added, 80% of the citrate (or pyruvate) was converted to lactate. This result can be explained by the activation of lactate dehydrogenase by fructose 1,6-bisphosphate, an intermediate in glucose metabolism. The effect of different concentrations of glucose on the metabolism of citrate by dilute cell suspensions was also probed by using analytical methods other than NMR. Pyruvate dehydrogenase (but not pyruvate formate-lyase) was active in the conversion of pyruvate to acetyl coenzyme A. alpha-Acetolactate was detected as an intermediate metabolite of citrate or pyruvate metabolism, and the labeling pattern of the end products agrees with the alpha-acetolactate pathway. It was demonstrated that the contribution of the acetyl coenzyme A pathway for the synthesis of diacetyl, should it exist, is lower than 10%. Evidence for the presence of internal carbon reserves in L. lactis is presented.     

Improved polyhydroxybutyrate production by Saccharomyces cerevisiae through the use of the phosphoketolase pathway

The metabolic pathways of the central carbon metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae are well studied and consequently S. cerevisiae has been widely evaluated as a cell factory for many industrial biological products. In this study, we investigated the effect of engineering the supply of precursor, acetyl‐CoA, and cofactor, NADPH, on the biosynthesis of the bacterial biopolymer polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB), in S. cerevisiae. Supply of acetyl‐CoA was engineered by over‐expression of genes from the ethanol degradation pathway or by heterologous expression of the phophoketolase pathway from Aspergillus nidulans. Both strategies improved the production of PHB. Integration of gapN encoding NADP⁺‐dependent glyceraldehyde‐3‐phosphate dehydrogenase from Streptococcus mutans into the genome enabled an increased supply of NADPH resulting in a decrease in glycerol production and increased production of PHB. The strategy that resulted in the highest PHB production after 100 h was with a strain harboring the phosphoketolase pathway to supply acetyl‐CoA without the need of increased NADPH production by gapN integration. The results from this study imply that during the exponential growth on glucose, the biosynthesis of PHB in S. cerevisiae is likely to be limited by the supply of NADPH whereas supply of acetyl‐CoA as precursor plays a more important role in the improvement of PHB production during growth on ethanol. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2013; 110: 2216–2224. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.