Systematic phenome analysis of Escherichia coli multiple‐knockout mutants reveals hidden reactions in central carbon metabolism |
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Authors: | Kenji Nakahigashi Yoshihiro Toya Nobuyoshi Ishii Tomoyoshi Soga Miki Hasegawa Hisami Watanabe Yuki Takai Masayuki Honma Hirotada Mori Masaru Tomita |
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Institution: | 1. Institute for Advanced Biosciences, Keio University, Tsuruoka, Yamagata, Japan;2. Systems Biology Program, Graduate School of Media and Governance, Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan;3. Graduate School of Biological Sciences, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, Nara, Japan |
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Abstract: | Central carbon metabolism is a basic and exhaustively analyzed pathway. However, the intrinsic robustness of the pathway might still conceal uncharacterized reactions. To test this hypothesis, we constructed systematic multiple‐knockout mutants involved in central carbon catabolism in Escherichia coli and tested their growth under 12 different nutrient conditions. Differences between in silico predictions and experimental growth indicated that unreported reactions existed within this extensively analyzed metabolic network. These putative reactions were then confirmed by metabolome analysis and in vitro enzymatic assays. Novel reactions regarding the breakdown of sedoheptulose‐7‐phosphate to erythrose‐4‐phosphate and dihydroxyacetone phosphate were observed in transaldolase‐deficient mutants, without any noticeable changes in gene expression. These reactions, triggered by an accumulation of sedoheptulose‐7‐phosphate, were catalyzed by the universally conserved glycolytic enzymes ATP‐dependent phosphofructokinase and aldolase. The emergence of an alternative pathway not requiring any changes in gene expression, but rather relying on the accumulation of an intermediate metabolite may be a novel mechanism mediating the robustness of these metabolic networks. |
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Keywords: | genetic interaction metabolic flux metabolomics system biology transaldolase |
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