101
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Sánchez-Pascuala A, Fernández-Cabezón L, de Lorenzo V, Nikel PI. Functional implementation of a linear glycolysis for sugar catabolism in Pseudomonas putida. Metab Eng 2019; 54:200-211. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2019.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2019] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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102
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Economic feasibility and long-term sustainability criteria on the path to enable a transition from fossil fuels to biofuels. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 57:175-182. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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103
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Gonzalez de la Cruz J, Machens F, Messerschmidt K, Bar-Even A. Core Catalysis of the Reductive Glycine Pathway Demonstrated in Yeast. ACS Synth Biol 2019; 8:911-917. [PMID: 31002757 PMCID: PMC6528164 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.8b00464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
![]()
One-carbon (C1) compounds are attractive
microbial feedstocks as
they can be efficiently produced from widely available resources.
Formate, in particular, represents a promising growth substrate, as
it can be generated from electrochemical reduction of CO2 and fed to microorganisms in a soluble form. We previously identified
the synthetic reductive glycine pathway as the most efficient route
for aerobic growth on formate. We further demonstrated pathway activity
in Escherichia coli after expression of both
native and foreign genes. Here, we explore whether the reductive glycine
pathway could be established in a model microorganism using only native
enzymes. We used the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae as host and show that overexpression of only endogenous enzymes
enables glycine biosynthesis from formate and CO2 in a
strain that is otherwise auxotrophic for glycine. We find the pathway
to be highly active in this host, where 0.125 mM formate is sufficient
to support growth. Notably, the formate-dependent growth rate of the
engineered S. cerevisiae strain remained roughly
constant over a very wide range of formate concentrations, 1–500
mM, indicating both high affinity for formate use and high tolerance
toward elevated concentration of this C1 feedstock. Our results, as
well the availability of endogenous NAD-dependent formate dehydrogenase,
indicate that yeast might be an especially suitable host for engineering
growth on formate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fabian Machens
- Department Molecular Biology, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Katrin Messerschmidt
- University of Potsdam, Cell2Fab Research Unit, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24/25, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Arren Bar-Even
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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104
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Balasubramanian S, Subramanian R. Metabolic perturbation of acrylate pathway in Lactobacillus plantarum. BIOCATAL BIOTRANSFOR 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/10242422.2019.1606215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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105
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Amin SA, Endalur Gopinarayanan V, Nair NU, Hassoun S. Establishing synthesis pathway-host compatibility via enzyme solubility. Biotechnol Bioeng 2019; 116:1405-1416. [PMID: 30802311 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Current pathway synthesis tools identify possible pathways that can be added to a host to produce the desired target molecule through the exploration of abstract metabolic and reaction network space. However, not many of these tools explore gene-level information required to physically realize the identified synthesis pathways, and none explore enzyme-host compatibility. Developing tools that address this disconnect between abstract reactions/metabolic design space and physical genetic sequence design space will enable expedited experimental efforts that avoid exploring unprofitable synthesis pathways. This work describes a workflow, termed Probabilistic Pathway Assembly with Solubility Confidence Scores (ProPASS), which links synthesis pathway construction with the exploration of the physical design space as imposed by the availability of enzymes with predicted characterized activities within the host. Predicted protein solubility propensity scores are used as a confidence level to quantify the compatibility of each pathway enzyme with the host Escherichia coli (E. coli). This study also presents a database, termed Protein Solubility Database (ProSol DB), which provides solubility confidence scores in E. coli for 240,016 characterized enzymes obtained from UniProtKB/Swiss-Prot. The utility of ProPASS is demonstrated by generating genetic implementations of heterologous synthesis pathways in E. coli that target several commercially useful biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara A Amin
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | | | - Nikhil U Nair
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
| | - Soha Hassoun
- Department of Computer Science, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts.,Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts
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106
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Küken A, Nikoloski Z. Computational Approaches to Design and Test Plant Synthetic Metabolic Pathways. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 179:894-906. [PMID: 30647083 PMCID: PMC6393797 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.01273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Successfully designed and implemented plant-specific synthetic metabolic pathways hold promise to increase crop yield and nutritional value. Advances in synthetic biology have already demonstrated the capacity to design artificial biological pathways whose behavior can be predicted and controlled in microbial systems. However, the transfer of these advances to model plants and crops faces the lack of characterization of plant cellular pathways and increased complexity due to compartmentalization and multicellularity. Modern computational developments provide the means to test the feasibility of plant synthetic metabolic pathways despite gaps in the accumulated knowledge of plant metabolism. Here, we provide a succinct systematic review of optimization-based and retrobiosynthesis approaches that can be used to design and in silico test synthetic metabolic pathways in large-scale plant context-specific metabolic models. In addition, by surveying the existing case studies, we highlight the challenges that these approaches face when applied to plants. Emphasis is placed on understanding the effect that metabolic designs can have on native metabolism, particularly with respect to metabolite concentrations and thermodynamics of biochemical reactions. In addition, we discuss the computational developments that may help to transform the identified challenges into opportunities for plant synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Küken
- Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
| | - Zoran Nikoloski
- Bioinformatics, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
- Systems Biology and Mathematical Modelling, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam, Germany
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107
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Sun J, Sigler CL, Beaudoin GAW, Joshi J, Patterson JA, Cho KH, Ralat MA, Gregory JF, Clark DG, Deng Z, Colquhoun TA, Hanson AD. Parts-Prospecting for a High-Efficiency Thiamin Thiazole Biosynthesis Pathway. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 179:958-968. [PMID: 30337452 PMCID: PMC6393793 DOI: 10.1104/pp.18.01085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Plants synthesize the thiazole precursor of thiamin (cThz-P) via THIAMIN4 (THI4), a suicide enzyme that mediates one reaction cycle and must then be degraded and resynthesized. It has been estimated that this THI4 turnover consumes 2% to 12% of the maintenance energy budget and that installing an energy-efficient alternative pathway could substantially increase crop yield potential. Available data point to two natural alternatives to the suicidal THI4 pathway: (i) nonsuicidal prokaryotic THI4s that lack the active-site Cys residue on which suicide activity depends, and (ii) an uncharacterized thiazole synthesis pathway in flowers of the tropical arum lily Caladium bicolor that enables production and emission of large amounts of the cThz-P analog 4-methyl-5-vinylthiazole (MVT). We used functional complementation of an Escherichia coli ΔthiG strain to identify a nonsuicidal bacterial THI4 (from Thermovibrio ammonificans) that can function in conditions like those in plant cells. We explored whether C. bicolor synthesizes MVT de novo via a novel route, via a suicidal or a nonsuicidal THI4, or by catabolizing thiamin. Analysis of developmental changes in MVT emission, extractable MVT, thiamin level, and THI4 expression indicated that C. bicolor flowers make MVT de novo via a massively expressed THI4 and that thiamin is not involved. Functional complementation tests indicated that C. bicolor THI4, which has the active-site Cys needed to operate suicidally, may be capable of suicidal and - in hypoxic conditions - nonsuicidal operation. T. ammonificans and C. bicolor THI4s are thus candidate parts for rational redesign or directed evolution of efficient, nonsuicidal THI4s for use in crop improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Sun
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Cindy L Sigler
- Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | | | - Jaya Joshi
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Jenelle A Patterson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Keun H Cho
- Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Maria A Ralat
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Jesse F Gregory
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - David G Clark
- Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Zhanao Deng
- Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Wimauma, Florida 33598
| | - Thomas A Colquhoun
- Department of Environmental Horticulture, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
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108
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Hanson AD, Hibberd JM, Koffas MAG, Kopka J, Wurtzel ET. Focus Issue Editorial: Synthetic Biology. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 179:772-774. [PMID: 30808713 PMCID: PMC6393805 DOI: 10.1104/pp.19.00074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - Julian M Hibberd
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EA, United Kingdom
| | - Mattheos A G Koffas
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Department of Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York 12180
| | - Joachim Kopka
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Eleanore T Wurtzel
- Lehman College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York, Bronx, New York 10468
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109
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Erb TJ. Back to the future: Why we need enzymology to build a synthetic metabolism of the future. Beilstein J Org Chem 2019; 15:551-557. [PMID: 30873239 PMCID: PMC6404388 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.15.49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Biology is turning from an analytical into a synthetic discipline. This is especially apparent in the field of metabolic engineering, where the concept of synthetic metabolism has been recently developed. Compared to classical metabolic engineering efforts, synthetic metabolism aims at creating novel metabolic networks in a rational fashion from bottom-up. However, while the theoretical design of synthetic metabolic networks has made tremendous progress, the actual realization of such synthetic pathways is still lacking behind. This is mostly because of our limitations in enzyme discovery and engineering to provide the parts required to build synthetic metabolism. Here I discuss the current challenges and limitations in synthetic metabolic engineering and elucidate how modern day enzymology can help to build a synthetic metabolism of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias J Erb
- Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry & Synthetic Metabolism, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 10, D-35043 Marburg, Germany.,LOEWE Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Marburg, Germany
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110
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Amthor JS, Bar-Even A, Hanson AD, Millar AH, Stitt M, Sweetlove LJ, Tyerman SD. Engineering Strategies to Boost Crop Productivity by Cutting Respiratory Carbon Loss. THE PLANT CELL 2019; 31:297-314. [PMID: 30670486 PMCID: PMC6447004 DOI: 10.1105/tpc.18.00743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Roughly half the carbon that crop plants fix by photosynthesis is subsequently lost by respiration. Nonessential respiratory activity leading to unnecessary CO2 release is unlikely to have been minimized by natural selection or crop breeding, and cutting this large loss could complement and reinforce the currently dominant yield-enhancement strategy of increasing carbon fixation. Until now, however, respiratory carbon losses have generally been overlooked by metabolic engineers and synthetic biologists because specific target genes have been elusive. We argue that recent advances are at last pinpointing individual enzyme and transporter genes that can be engineered to (1) slow unnecessary protein turnover, (2) replace, relocate, or reschedule metabolic activities, (3) suppress futile cycles, and (4) make ion transport more efficient, all of which can reduce respiratory costs. We identify a set of engineering strategies to reduce respiratory carbon loss that are now feasible and model how implementing these strategies singly or in tandem could lead to substantial gains in crop productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arren Bar-Even
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32611
| | - A Harvey Millar
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, School of Molecular Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley 6009 WA, Australia
| | - Mark Stitt
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, D-14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Lee J Sweetlove
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3RB, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen D Tyerman
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Plant Energy Biology, Department of Plant Science, School of Agriculture, Food, and Wine, Waite Research Institute, University of Adelaide, Glen Osmond SA 5064, Australia
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111
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History, Current State, and Emerging Applications of Industrial Biotechnology. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019; 173:13-51. [PMID: 30671594 DOI: 10.1007/10_2018_81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The past 150 years have seen remarkable discoveries, rapidly growing biological knowledge, and giant technological leaps providing biotechnological solutions for healthcare, food production, and other societal needs. Genetic engineering, miniaturization, and ever-increasing computing power, in particular, have been key technological drivers for the past few decades. Looking ahead, the eventual transition from fossil resources to biomass and CO2 demands a shift toward a 'bio-economy' based on novel production processes and engineered organisms.
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112
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Trudeau DL, Tawfik DS. Protein engineers turned evolutionists-the quest for the optimal starting point. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2019; 60:46-52. [PMID: 30611116 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The advent of laboratory directed evolution yielded a fruitful crosstalk between the disciplines of molecular evolution and bio-engineering. Here, we outline recent developments in both disciplines with respect to how one can identify the best starting points for directed evolution, such that highly efficient and robust tailor-made enzymes can be obtained with minimal optimization. Directed evolution studies have highlighted essential features of engineer-able enzymes: highly stable, mutationally robust enzymes with the capacity to accept a broad range of substrates. Robust, evolvable enzymes can be inferred from the natural sequence record. Broad substrate spectrum relates to conformational plasticity and can also be predicted by phylogenetic analyses and/or by computational design. Overall, an increasingly powerful toolkit is becoming available for identifying optimal starting points including network analyses of enzyme superfamilies and other bioinformatics methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin L Trudeau
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot 7610001, Israel
| | - Dan S Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, 234 Herzl Street, Rehovot 7610001, Israel.
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113
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Calero P, Nikel PI. Chasing bacterial chassis for metabolic engineering: a perspective review from classical to non-traditional microorganisms. Microb Biotechnol 2019; 12:98-124. [PMID: 29926529 PMCID: PMC6302729 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 150] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The last few years have witnessed an unprecedented increase in the number of novel bacterial species that hold potential to be used for metabolic engineering. Historically, however, only a handful of bacteria have attained the acceptance and widespread use that are needed to fulfil the needs of industrial bioproduction - and only for the synthesis of very few, structurally simple compounds. One of the reasons for this unfortunate circumstance has been the dearth of tools for targeted genome engineering of bacterial chassis, and, nowadays, synthetic biology is significantly helping to bridge such knowledge gap. Against this background, in this review, we discuss the state of the art in the rational design and construction of robust bacterial chassis for metabolic engineering, presenting key examples of bacterial species that have secured a place in industrial bioproduction. The emergence of novel bacterial chassis is also considered at the light of the unique properties of their physiology and metabolism, and the practical applications in which they are expected to outperform other microbial platforms. Emerging opportunities, essential strategies to enable successful development of industrial phenotypes, and major challenges in the field of bacterial chassis development are also discussed, outlining the solutions that contemporary synthetic biology-guided metabolic engineering offers to tackle these issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Calero
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of Denmark2800Kongens LyngbyDenmark
| | - Pablo I. Nikel
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for BiosustainabilityTechnical University of Denmark2800Kongens LyngbyDenmark
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114
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Rational engineering of a malate dehydrogenase for microbial production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyric acid via homoserine pathway. Biochem J 2018; 475:3887-3901. [DOI: 10.1042/bcj20180765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
A synthetic pathway for the production of 2,4-dihydroxybutyric acid from homoserine (HMS), composed of two consecutive enzymatic reaction steps has been recently reported. An important step in this pathway consists in the reduction in 2-keto-4-hydroxybutyrate (OHB) into (l)-dihydroxybutyrate (DHB), by an enzyme with OHB reductase activity. In the present study, we used a rational approach to engineer an OHB reductase by using the cytosolic (l)-malate dehydrogenase from Escherichia coli (Ec-Mdh) as the template enzyme. Structural analysis of (l)-malate dehydrogenase and (l)-lactate dehydrogenase enzymes acting on sterically cognate substrates revealed key residues in the substrate and co-substrate-binding sites responsible for substrate discrimination. Accordingly, amino acid changes were introduced in a stepwise manner into these regions of the protein. This rational engineering led to the production of an Ec-Mdh-5E variant (I12V/R81A/M85E/G179D/D86S) with a turnover number (kcat) on OHB that was increased by more than 2000-fold (from 0.03 up to 65.0 s−1), which turned out to be 7-fold higher than that on its natural substrate oxaloacetate. Further kinetic analysis revealed the engineered enzyme to possess comparable catalytic efficiencies (kcat/Km) between natural and synthetic OHB substrates (84 and 31 s−1 mM−1, respectively). Shake-flask cultivation of a HMS-overproducing E. coli strain expressing this improved OHB reductase together with a transaminase encoded by aspC able to convert HMS to OHB resulted in 89% increased DHB production as compared with our previous report using a E. coli host strain expressing an OHB reductase derived from the lactate dehydrogenase A of Lactococcus lactis.
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115
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Abstract
Microbial transglutaminase is heavily used in the food processing industries to improve food qualities. Being a protein's glue, by cross-linking it creates neoepitope complexes that are immunogenic and potentially pathogenic in celiac disease. Despite low sequence identity, it imitates functionally its family member, the endogenous tissue transglutaminase, which is the autoantigen of celiac disease. The present comprehensive review highlights the enzyme characteristics, endogenous and exogenous intestinal sources, its cross-talks with gluten and gliadin, its immunogenicity and potential pathogenicity and risks for the gluten induced conditions. If substantiated, it might represent a new environmental inducer of celiac disease. The present findings might affect nutritional product labeling, processed food additive policies and consumer health education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lerner Aaron
- B. Rappaport School of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel; AESKU.KIPP Institute, Wendelsheim, Germany.
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116
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Abstract
Synthetic biology has undergone dramatic advancements for over a decade, during which it has expanded our understanding on the systems of life and opened new avenues for microbial engineering. Many biotechnological and computational methods have been developed for the construction of synthetic systems. Achievements in synthetic biology have been widely adopted in metabolic engineering, a field aimed at engineering micro-organisms to produce substances of interest. However, the engineering of metabolic systems requires dynamic redistribution of cellular resources, the creation of novel metabolic pathways, and optimal regulation of the pathways to achieve higher production titers. Thus, the design principles and tools developed in synthetic biology have been employed to create novel and flexible metabolic pathways and to optimize metabolic fluxes to increase the cells’ capability to act as production factories. In this review, we introduce synthetic biology tools and their applications to microbial cell factory constructions.
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117
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Abstract
Photorespiration limits plant carbon fixation by releasing CO2 and using cellular resources to recycle the product of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) oxygenation, 2-phosphoglycolate. We systematically designed synthetic photorespiration bypasses that combine existing and new-to-nature enzymatic activities and that do not release CO2. Our computational model shows that these bypasses could enhance carbon fixation rate under a range of physiological conditions. To realize the designed bypasses, a glycolate reduction module, which does not exist in nature, is needed to be engineered. By reshaping the substrate and cofactor specificity of two natural enzymes, we established glycolate reduction to glycolaldehyde. With the addition of three natural enzymes, we observed recycling of glycolate to the key Calvin Cycle intermediate ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate with no carbon loss. Photorespiration recycles ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) oxygenation product, 2-phosphoglycolate, back into the Calvin Cycle. Natural photorespiration, however, limits agricultural productivity by dissipating energy and releasing CO2. Several photorespiration bypasses have been previously suggested but were limited to existing enzymes and pathways that release CO2. Here, we harness the power of enzyme and metabolic engineering to establish synthetic routes that bypass photorespiration without CO2 release. By defining specific reaction rules, we systematically identified promising routes that assimilate 2-phosphoglycolate into the Calvin Cycle without carbon loss. We further developed a kinetic–stoichiometric model that indicates that the identified synthetic shunts could potentially enhance carbon fixation rate across the physiological range of irradiation and CO2, even if most of their enzymes operate at a tenth of Rubisco’s maximal carboxylation activity. Glycolate reduction to glycolaldehyde is essential for several of the synthetic shunts but is not known to occur naturally. We, therefore, used computational design and directed evolution to establish this activity in two sequential reactions. An acetyl-CoA synthetase was engineered for higher stability and glycolyl-CoA synthesis. A propionyl-CoA reductase was engineered for higher selectivity for glycolyl-CoA and for use of NADPH over NAD+, thereby favoring reduction over oxidation. The engineered glycolate reduction module was then combined with downstream condensation and assimilation of glycolaldehyde to ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate, thus providing proof of principle for a carbon-conserving photorespiration pathway.
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118
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Hu G, Li Y, Ye C, Liu L, Chen X. Engineering Microorganisms for Enhanced CO 2 Sequestration. Trends Biotechnol 2018; 37:532-547. [PMID: 30447878 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2018] [Revised: 10/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Microbial CO2 sequestration not only provides a green and sustainable approach for ameliorating global warming but also simultaneously produces biofuels and chemicals. However, the efficiency of microbial CO2 fixation is still very low. In addition, concomitant microbial CO2 emission decreases the carbon yield of desired chemicals. To address these issues, strategies including engineering CO2-fixing pathways and energy-harvesting systems have been developed to improve the efficiency of CO2 fixation in autotrophic and heterotrophic microorganisms. Furthermore, metabolic pathways and energy metabolism can be rewired to reduce microbial CO2 emissions and increase the carbon yield of value-added products. This review highlights the potential of biotechnology to promote microbial CO2 sequestration and provides guidance for the broader use of microorganisms as attractive carbon sinks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guipeng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; http://www.fmme.cn/
| | - Yin Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Microbial Physiological and Metabolic Engineering, State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Chao Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; http://www.fmme.cn/
| | - Liming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Cereal Fermentation Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; http://www.fmme.cn/
| | - Xiulai Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China; http://www.fmme.cn/.
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119
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Nikel PI, de Lorenzo V. Pseudomonas putida as a functional chassis for industrial biocatalysis: From native biochemistry to trans-metabolism. Metab Eng 2018; 50:142-155. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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120
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Yewdall NA, Mason AF, van Hest JCM. The hallmarks of living systems: towards creating artificial cells. Interface Focus 2018; 8:20180023. [PMID: 30443324 PMCID: PMC6227776 DOI: 10.1098/rsfs.2018.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the astonishing diversity and complexity of living systems, they all share five common hallmarks: compartmentalization, growth and division, information processing, energy transduction and adaptability. In this review, we give not only examples of how cells satisfy these requirements for life and the ways in which it is possible to emulate these characteristics in engineered platforms, but also the gaps that remain to be bridged. The bottom-up synthesis of life-like systems continues to be driven forward by the advent of new technologies, by the discovery of biological phenomena through their transplantation to experimentally simpler constructs and by providing insights into one of the oldest questions posed by mankind, the origin of life on Earth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jan C. M. van Hest
- Eindhoven University of Technology, PO Box 513 (STO 3.31), Eindhoven, MB, The Netherlands
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121
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Schwille P, Spatz J, Landfester K, Bodenschatz E, Herminghaus S, Sourjik V, Erb TJ, Bastiaens P, Lipowsky R, Hyman A, Dabrock P, Baret JC, Vidakovic-Koch T, Bieling P, Dimova R, Mutschler H, Robinson T, Tang TYD, Wegner S, Sundmacher K. MaxSynBio: Wege zur Synthese einer Zelle aus nicht lebenden Komponenten. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201802288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schwille
- Zelluläre und molekulare Biophysik; MPI für Biochemie; Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Deutschland
| | - Joachim Spatz
- MPI für medizinische Forschung; Jahnstraße 29 69120 Heidelberg Deutschland
| | | | - Eberhard Bodenschatz
- MPI für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation; Am Fassberg 17 37077 Göttingen Deutschland
| | - Stephan Herminghaus
- MPI für Dynamik und Selbstorganisation; Am Fassberg 17 37077 Göttingen Deutschland
| | - Victor Sourjik
- MPI für terrestrische Mikrobiologie; Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 16 35043 Marburg Deutschland
| | - Tobias J. Erb
- MPI für terrestrische Mikrobiologie; Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 16 35043 Marburg Deutschland
| | - Philippe Bastiaens
- MPI für molekulare Physiologie; Otto-Hahn-Str. 11 44227 Dortmund Deutschland
| | - Reinhard Lipowsky
- MPI für Kolloide und Grenzflächen; Wissenschaftspark Golm 14424 Potsdam Deutschland
| | - Anthony Hyman
- MPI für molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik; Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Deutschland
| | - Peter Dabrock
- Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg; Fachbereich Theologie; Kochstraße 6 91054 Erlangen Deutschland
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- University of Bordeaux - Centre de Recherches Paul Pascal; 115 Avenue Schweitze 33600 Pessac Frankreich
| | - Tanja Vidakovic-Koch
- MPI für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme; Sandtorstraße 1 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
| | - Peter Bieling
- MPI für molekulare Physiologie; Otto-Hahn-Str. 11 44227 Dortmund Deutschland
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- MPI für Kolloide und Grenzflächen; Wissenschaftspark Golm 14424 Potsdam Deutschland
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Zelluläre und molekulare Biophysik; MPI für Biochemie; Am Klopferspitz 18 82152 Martinsried Deutschland
| | - Tom Robinson
- MPI für Kolloide und Grenzflächen; Wissenschaftspark Golm 14424 Potsdam Deutschland
| | - T.-Y. Dora Tang
- MPI für molekulare Zellbiologie und Genetik; Pfotenhauerstraße 108 01307 Dresden Deutschland
| | - Seraphine Wegner
- MPI für Polymerforschung; Ackermannweg 10 55128 Mainz Deutschland
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- MPI für Dynamik komplexer technischer Systeme; Sandtorstraße 1 39106 Magdeburg Deutschland
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122
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Schwille P, Spatz J, Landfester K, Bodenschatz E, Herminghaus S, Sourjik V, Erb TJ, Bastiaens P, Lipowsky R, Hyman A, Dabrock P, Baret JC, Vidakovic-Koch T, Bieling P, Dimova R, Mutschler H, Robinson T, Tang TYD, Wegner S, Sundmacher K. MaxSynBio: Avenues Towards Creating Cells from the Bottom Up. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2018; 57:13382-13392. [PMID: 29749673 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201802288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 190] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A large German research consortium mainly within the Max Planck Society ("MaxSynBio") was formed to investigate living systems from a fundamental perspective. The research program of MaxSynBio relies solely on the bottom-up approach to synthetic biology. MaxSynBio focuses on the detailed analysis and understanding of essential processes of life through modular reconstitution in minimal synthetic systems. The ultimate goal is to construct a basic living unit entirely from non-living components. The fundamental insights gained from the activities in MaxSynBio could eventually be utilized for establishing a new generation of biotechnological processes, which would be based on synthetic cell constructs that replace the natural cells currently used in conventional biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Schwille
- Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Joachim Spatz
- MPI for Medical Research, Jahnstraße 29, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Eberhard Bodenschatz
- MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Stephan Herminghaus
- MPI for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Fassberg 17, 37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Victor Sourjik
- MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tobias J Erb
- MPI for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch-Str. 16, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Philippe Bastiaens
- MPI for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Reinhard Lipowsky
- MPI of Colloids and Interfaces, Wissenschaftspark Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Anthony Hyman
- MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Peter Dabrock
- Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Department of Theology, Kochstraße 6, 91054, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Baret
- University of Bordeaux -Centre de Recherches Paul Pascal, 115 Avenue Schweitze, 33600, Pessac, France
| | - Tanja Vidakovic-Koch
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Peter Bieling
- MPI for Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Str. 11, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rumiana Dimova
- MPI of Colloids and Interfaces, Wissenschaftspark Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Hannes Mutschler
- Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Tom Robinson
- MPI of Colloids and Interfaces, Wissenschaftspark Golm, 14424, Potsdam, Germany
| | - T-Y Dora Tang
- MPI of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Seraphine Wegner
- MPI for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, 55128, Mainz, Germany
| | - Kai Sundmacher
- Process Systems Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Sandtorstraße 1, 39106, Magdeburg, Germany
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123
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Frazão CR, Maton V, François JM, Walther T. Development of a Metabolite Sensor for High-Throughput Detection of Aldehydes in Escherichia Coli. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2018; 6:118. [PMID: 30191150 PMCID: PMC6115493 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2018.00118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
We have developed a fluorescence-based metabolite sensor enabling in vivo detection of various aldehydes of biotechnological interest in Escherichia coli. YqhC is a transcriptional regulator that is known to be involved in the upregulation of the yqhD-dgkA operon in the presence of aldehydes. We took advantage of this property by constructing a bi-modular biosensor, in which a sensing module constitutively expresses yqhC while a reporter module drives the expression of the syfp2 reporter gene that is put under control of the yqhD promoter. The sensitivity of the sensor has been optimized by engineering the 5′-UTRs of both the sensing and the reporter modules resulting in a 70-fold gain of fluorescence in response to the model compound glycolaldehyde at 5 mM. The optimized sensor further responded to other aldehydes when supplemented to the cultivation medium at concentrations of 1–10 mM. We furthermore showed that this metabolite sensor was functional in vivo as it responded to the presence of glycoladehyde that is specifically produced upon induction of a synthetic xylulose-1-phosphate pathway expressed in E. coli. This bi-modular sensor can therefore be employed as an exquisite tool for FACS-based ultra-high-throughput screening of aldehyde (over) producing enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cláudio R Frazão
- LISBP, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Victor Maton
- LISBP, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | - Jean M François
- LISBP, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France.,Toulouse White Biotechnology (TWB), Toulouse, France
| | - Thomas Walther
- LISBP, CNRS, INRA, INSA, Université de Toulouse, Toulouse, France
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124
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Jeffryes JG, Seaver SMD, Faria JP, Henry CS. A pathway for every product? Tools to discover and design plant metabolism. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 273:61-70. [PMID: 29907310 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.03.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 03/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The vast diversity of plant natural products is a powerful indication of the biosynthetic capacity of plant metabolism. Synthetic biology seeks to capitalize on this ability by understanding and reconfiguring the biosynthetic pathways that generate this diversity to produce novel products with improved efficiency. Here we review the algorithms and databases that presently support the design and manipulation of metabolic pathways in plants, starting from metabolic models of native biosynthetic pathways, progressing to novel combinations of known reactions, and finally proposing new reactions that may be carried out by existing enzymes. We show how these tools are useful for proposing new pathways as well as identifying side reactions that may affect engineering goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- James G Jeffryes
- Argonne National Laboratory, Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne, IL, United States
| | - Samuel M D Seaver
- Argonne National Laboratory, Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne, IL, United States
| | - José P Faria
- Argonne National Laboratory, Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne, IL, United States
| | - Christopher S Henry
- Argonne National Laboratory, Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne, IL, United States.
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125
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Hanson AD, Amthor JS, Sun J, Niehaus TD, Gregory JF, Bruner SD, Ding Y. Redesigning thiamin synthesis: Prospects and potential payoffs. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 273:92-99. [PMID: 29907313 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2018.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Thiamin is essential for plant growth but is short-lived in vivo and energetically very costly to produce - a combination that makes thiamin biosynthesis a prime target for improvement by redesign. Thiamin consists of thiazole and pyrimidine moieties. Its high biosynthetic cost stems from use of the suicide enzyme THI4 to form the thiazole and the near-suicide enzyme THIC to form the pyrimidine. These energetic costs lower biomass yield potential and are likely compounded by environmental stresses that destroy thiamin and hence increase the rate at which it must be made. The energy costs could be slashed by refactoring the thiamin biosynthesis pathway to eliminate the suicidal THI4 and THIC reactions. To substantiate this design concept, we first document the energetic costs of the THI4 and THIC steps in the pathway and explain how cutting these costs could substantially increase crop biomass and grain yields. We then show that a refactored pathway must produce thiamin itself rather than a stripped-down analog because the thiamin molecule cannot be simplified without losing biological activity. Lastly, we consider possible energy-efficient alternatives to the inefficient natural THI4- and THIC-mediated steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | | | - Jiayi Sun
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas D Niehaus
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jesse F Gregory
- Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Steven D Bruner
- Chemistry Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yousong Ding
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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126
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Bar-Even A. Daring metabolic designs for enhanced plant carbon fixation. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2018; 273:71-83. [PMID: 29907311 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/16/2017] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Increasing agricultural productivity is one of the major challenges our society faces. While multiple strategies to enhance plant carbon fixation have been suggested, and partially implemented, most of them are restricted to relatively simple modifications of endogenous metabolism, i.e., "low hanging fruit". Here, I portray the next generation of metabolic solutions to increase carbon fixation rate and yield. These strategies involve major rewiring of central metabolism, including dividing Rubisco's catalysis between several enzymes, replacing Rubisco with a different carboxylation reaction, substituting the Calvin Cycle with alternative carbon fixation pathways, and engineering photorespiration bypass routes that do not release carbon. While the barriers for implementing these elaborated metabolic architectures are quite significant, if we truly want to revolutionize carbon fixation, only daring engineering efforts will lead the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arren Bar-Even
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany.
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127
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Yu JL, Qian ZG, Zhong JJ. Advances in bio-based production of dicarboxylic acids longer than C4. Eng Life Sci 2018; 18:668-681. [PMID: 32624947 DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201800023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing concerns of environmental pollution and fossil resource shortage are major driving forces for bio-based production of chemicals traditionally from petrochemical industry. Dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) are important platform chemicals with large market and wide applications, and here the recent advances in bio-based production of straight-chain DCAs longer than C4 from biological approaches, especially by synthetic biology, are reviewed. A couple of pathways were recently designed and demonstrated for producing DCAs, even those ranging from C5 to C15, by employing respective starting units, extending units, and appropriate enzymes. Furthermore, in order to achieve higher production of DCAs, enormous efforts were made in engineering microbial hosts that harbored the biosynthetic pathways and in improving properties of biocatalytic elements to enhance metabolic fluxes toward target DCAs. Here we summarize and discuss the current advantages and limitations of related pathways, and also provide perspectives on synthetic pathway design and optimization for hyper-production of DCAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Le Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Zhi-Gang Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai P. R. China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology (SCICBT) East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai P. R. China
| | - Jian-Jiang Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic and Developmental Sciences, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology Shanghai Jiao Tong University Shanghai P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Biotechnology East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai P. R. China.,Shanghai Collaborative Innovation Center for Biomanufacturing Technology (SCICBT) East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai P. R. China
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128
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Optimisation of enzyme cascades for chiral amino alcohol synthesis in aid of host cell integration using a statistical experimental design approach. J Biotechnol 2018; 281:150-160. [PMID: 30009844 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Chiral amino alcohols are compounds of pharmaceutical interest as they are building blocks of sphingolipids, antibiotics, and antiviral glycosidase inhibitors. Due to the challenges of chemical synthesis we recently developed two TK-TAm reaction cascades using natural and low cost feedstocks as substrates: a recycling cascade comprising of 2 enzymes and a sequential 3-step enzyme cascade yielding 30% and 1% conversion, respectively. In order to improve the conversion yield and aid the future host strain engineering for whole cell biocatalysis, we used a combination of microscale experiments and statistical experimental design. For this we implemented a full factorial design to optimise pH, temperature and buffer type, followed by the application of Response Surface Methodology for the optimisation of substrates and enzymes concentrations. Using purified enzymes we achieved 60% conversion for the recycling cascade and 3-fold improvement using the sequential pathway. Based on the results, limiting steps and individual requirements for host cell metabolic integration were identified expanding the understanding of the cascades without implementing extensive optimisation modelling. Therefore, the approach described here is well suited for optimising reaction conditions as well as defining the relative enzyme expression levels required for construction of microbial cell factories.
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129
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The Smell of Synthetic Biology: Engineering Strategies for Aroma Compound Production in Yeast. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation4030054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Yeast—especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae—have long been a preferred workhorse for the production of numerous recombinant proteins and other metabolites. S. cerevisiae is a noteworthy aroma compound producer and has also been exploited to produce foreign bioflavour compounds. In the past few years, important strides have been made in unlocking the key elements in the biochemical pathways involved in the production of many aroma compounds. The expression of these biochemical pathways in yeast often involves the manipulation of the host strain to direct the flux towards certain precursors needed for the production of the given aroma compound. This review highlights recent advances in the bioengineering of yeast—including S. cerevisiae—to produce aroma compounds and bioflavours. To capitalise on recent advances in synthetic yeast genomics, this review presents yeast as a significant producer of bioflavours in a fresh context and proposes new directions for combining engineering and biology principles to improve the yield of targeted aroma compounds.
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130
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The Multiplanetary Future of Plant Synthetic Biology. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9070348. [PMID: 29996548 PMCID: PMC6071031 DOI: 10.3390/genes9070348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The interest in human space journeys to distant planets and moons has been re-ignited in recent times and there are ongoing plans for sending the first manned missions to Mars in the near future. In addition to generating oxygen, fixing carbon, and recycling waste and water, plants could play a critical role in producing food and biomass feedstock for the microbial manufacture of materials, chemicals, and medicines in long-term interplanetary outposts. However, because life on Earth evolved under the conditions of the terrestrial biosphere, plants will not perform optimally in different planetary habitats. The construction or transportation of plant growth facilities and the availability of resources, such as sunlight and liquid water, may also be limiting factors, and would thus impose additional challenges to efficient farming in an extraterrestrial destination. Using the framework of the forthcoming human missions to Mars, here we discuss a series of bioengineering endeavors that will enable us to take full advantage of plants in the context of a Martian greenhouse. We also propose a roadmap for research on adapting life to Mars and outline our opinion that synthetic biology efforts towards this goal will contribute to solving some of the main agricultural and industrial challenges here on Earth.
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131
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Lieven C, Herrgård MJ, Sonnenschein N. Microbial Methylotrophic Metabolism: Recent Metabolic Modeling Efforts and Their Applications In Industrial Biotechnology. Biotechnol J 2018; 13:e1800011. [PMID: 29917330 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201800011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Developing methylotrophic bacteria into cell factories that meet the chemical demand of the future could be both economical and environmentally friendly. Methane is not only an abundant, low-cost resource but also a potent greenhouse gas, the capture of which could help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Rational strain design workflows rely on the availability of carefully combined knowledge often in the form of genome-scale metabolic models to construct high-producer organisms. In this review, the authors present the most recent genome-scale metabolic models in aerobic methylotrophy and their applications. Further, the authors present models for the study of anaerobic methanotrophy through reverse methanogenesis and suggest organisms that may be of interest for expanding one-carbon industrial biotechnology. Metabolic models of methylotrophs are scarce, yet they are important first steps toward rational strain-design in these organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Lieven
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Markus J Herrgård
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nikolaus Sonnenschein
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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132
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Estrada P, Morita M, Hao Y, Schmidt EW, Nair SK. A Single Amino Acid Switch Alters the Isoprene Donor Specificity in Ribosomally Synthesized and Post-Translationally Modified Peptide Prenyltransferases. J Am Chem Soc 2018; 140:8124-8127. [PMID: 29924593 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b05187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mutation at a single amino acid alters the isoprene donor specificity of prenyltransferases involved in the modification of ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). Though most characterized RiPP prenyltransferases carry out the regiospecific transfer of C5 dimethylallyl donor to the side chain atoms on macrocyclic acceptor substrates, the elucidation of the cyanobactin natural product piricyclamide 70005E1 identifies an O-geranyl modification on Tyr, a reaction with little prior biochemical precedence. Reconstitution and kinetic studies of the presumptive geranyltransferase PirF shows that the enzyme utilizes a C10 donor, with no C5 transferase activity. The crystal structure of PirF reveals a single amino acid difference in the vicinity of the isoprene-binding pocket, relative to the C5 utilizing enzymes. Remarkably, only a single amino acid mutation is necessary to completely switch the donor specificity from a C5 to a C10 prenyltransferase, and vice versa. Lastly, we demonstrate that these enzymes may be used for the chemospecific attachment of C5 or C10 lipid groups on lanthipeptides, an unrelated class of RiPP natural products. These studies represent a rare example where prenyl donor specificity can be discretely altered, which expands the arsenal of synthetic biology tools for tuning biological activities of peptide natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maho Morita
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112 , United States
| | | | - Eric W Schmidt
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry , University of Utah , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112 , United States
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133
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Hans S, Gimpel M, Glauche F, Neubauer P, Cruz-Bournazou MN. Automated Cell Treatment for Competence and Transformation of Escherichia coli in a High-Throughput Quasi-Turbidostat Using Microtiter Plates. Microorganisms 2018; 6:E60. [PMID: 29941834 PMCID: PMC6163857 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms6030060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2018] [Revised: 06/10/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic engineering and genome editing strategies often lead to large strain libraries of a bacterial host. Nevertheless, the generation of competent cells is the basis for transformation and subsequent screening of these strains. While preparation of competent cells is a standard procedure in flask cultivations, parallelization becomes a challenging task when working with larger libraries and liquid handling stations as transformation efficiency depends on a distinct physiological state of the cells. We present a robust method for the preparation of competent cells and their transformation. The strength of the method is that all cells on the plate can be maintained at a high growth rate until all cultures have reached a defined cell density regardless of growth rate and lag phase variabilities. This allows sufficient transformation in automated high throughput facilities and solves important scheduling issues in wet-lab library screenings. We address the problem of different growth rates, lag phases, and initial cell densities inspired by the characteristics of continuous cultures. The method functions on a fully automated liquid handling platform including all steps from the inoculation of the liquid cultures to plating and incubation on agar plates. The key advantage of the developed method is that it enables cell harvest in 96 well plates at a predefined time by keeping fast growing cells in the exponential phase as in turbidostat cultivations. This is done by a periodic monitoring of cell growth and a controlled dilution specific for each well. With the described methodology, we were able to transform different strains in parallel. The transformants produced can be picked and used in further automated screening experiments. This method offers the possibility to transform any combination of strain- and plasmid library in an automated high-throughput system, overcoming an important bottleneck in the high-throughput screening and the overall chain of bioprocess development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Hans
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, D-13357 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Matthias Gimpel
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, D-13357 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Florian Glauche
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, D-13357 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Peter Neubauer
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, D-13357 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Mariano Nicolas Cruz-Bournazou
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Ackerstraße 76, D-13357 Berlin, Germany.
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134
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Noda-Garcia L, Liebermeister W, Tawfik DS. Metabolite–Enzyme Coevolution: From Single Enzymes to Metabolic Pathways and Networks. Annu Rev Biochem 2018; 87:187-216. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biochem-062917-012023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
How individual enzymes evolved is relatively well understood. However, individual enzymes rarely confer a physiological advantage on their own. Judging by its current state, the emergence of metabolism seemingly demanded the simultaneous emergence of many enzymes. Indeed, how multicomponent interlocked systems, like metabolic pathways, evolved is largely an open question. This complexity can be unlocked if we assume that survival of the fittest applies not only to genes and enzymes but also to the metabolites they produce. This review develops our current knowledge of enzyme evolution into a wider hypothesis of pathway and network evolution. We describe the current models for pathway evolution and offer an integrative metabolite–enzyme coevolution hypothesis. Our hypothesis addresses the origins of new metabolites and of new enzymes and the order of their recruitment. We aim to not only survey established knowledge but also present open questions and potential ways of addressing them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianet Noda-Garcia
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel;,
| | - Wolfram Liebermeister
- INRA, Unité MaIAGE, 78352 Jouy en Josas, France
- Institute of Biochemistry, Charité Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dan S. Tawfik
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel;,
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135
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Abstract
Directed evolution is a powerful technique for generating tailor-made enzymes for a wide range of biocatalytic applications. Following the principles of natural evolution, iterative cycles of mutagenesis and screening or selection are applied to modify protein properties, enhance catalytic activities, or develop completely new protein catalysts for non-natural chemical transformations. This review briefly surveys the experimental methods used to generate genetic diversity and screen or select for improved enzyme variants. Emphasis is placed on a key challenge, namely how to generate novel catalytic activities that expand the scope of natural reactions. Two particularly effective strategies, exploiting catalytic promiscuity and rational design, are illustrated by representative examples of successfully evolved enzymes. Opportunities for extending these approaches to more complex biocatalytic systems are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen Zeymer
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland;,
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland;,
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136
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Bathellier C, Tcherkez G, Lorimer GH, Farquhar GD. Rubisco is not really so bad. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2018; 41:705-716. [PMID: 29359811 DOI: 10.1111/pce.13149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is the most widespread carboxylating enzyme in autotrophic organisms. Its kinetic and structural properties have been intensively studied for more than half a century. Yet important aspects of the catalytic mechanism remain poorly understood, especially the oxygenase reaction. Because of its relatively modest turnover rate (a few catalytic events per second) and the competitive inhibition by oxygen, Rubisco is often viewed as an inefficient catalyst for CO2 fixation. Considerable efforts have been devoted to improving its catalytic efficiency, so far without success. In this review, we re-examine Rubisco's catalytic performance by comparison with other chemically related enzymes. We find that Rubisco is not especially slow. Furthermore, considering both the nature and the complexity of the chemical reaction, its kinetic properties are unremarkable. Although not unique to Rubisco, oxygenation is not systematically observed in enolate and enamine forming enzymes and cannot be considered as an inevitable consequence of the mechanism. It is more likely the result of a compromise between chemical and metabolic imperatives. We argue that a better description of Rubisco mechanism is still required to better understand the link between CO2 and O2 reactivity and the rationale of Rubisco diversification and evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Bathellier
- Research School of Biology, College of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - Guillaume Tcherkez
- Research School of Biology, College of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
| | - George H Lorimer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, 27042, USA
| | - Graham D Farquhar
- Research School of Biology, College of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, 2601, ACT, Australia
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137
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Thuan NH, Dhakal D, Pokhrel AR, Chu LL, Van Pham TT, Shrestha A, Sohng JK. Genome-guided exploration of metabolic features of Streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952: past, current, and prospect. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:4355-4370. [PMID: 29602983 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Streptomyces peucetius ATCC 27952 produces two major anthracyclines, doxorubicin (DXR) and daunorubicin (DNR), which are potent chemotherapeutic agents for the treatment of several cancers. In order to gain detailed insight on genetics and biochemistry of the strain, the complete genome was determined and analyzed. The result showed that its complete sequence contains 7187 protein coding genes in a total of 8,023,114 bp, whereas 87% of the genome contributed to the protein coding region. The genomic sequence included 18 rRNA, 66 tRNAs, and 3 non-coding RNAs. In silico studies predicted ~ 68 biosynthetic gene clusters (BCGs) encoding diverse classes of secondary metabolites, including non-ribosomal polyketide synthase (NRPS), polyketide synthase (PKS I, II, and III), terpenes, and others. Detailed analysis of the genome sequence revealed versatile biocatalytic enzymes such as cytochrome P450 (CYP), electron transfer systems (ETS) genes, methyltransferase (MT), glycosyltransferase (GT). In addition, numerous functional genes (transporter gene, SOD, etc.) and regulatory genes (afsR-sp, metK-sp, etc.) involved in the regulation of secondary metabolites were found. This minireview summarizes the genome-based genome mining (GM) of diverse BCGs and genome exploration (GE) of versatile biocatalytic enzymes, and other enzymes involved in maintenance and regulation of metabolism of S. peucetius. The detailed analysis of genome sequence provides critically important knowledge useful in the bioengineering of the strain or harboring catalytically efficient enzymes for biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Huy Thuan
- Center for Molecular Biology, Institute of Research and Development, Duy Tan University, 03 Quang Trung Street, Da Nang City, Vietnam
| | - Dipesh Dhakal
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Anaya Raj Pokhrel
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Luan Luong Chu
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Thi Thuy Van Pham
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Anil Shrestha
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Kyung Sohng
- Department of Life Science and Biochemical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea.
- Department of BT-Convergent Pharmaceutical Engineering, Sun Moon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si, Chungnam, 31460, Republic of Korea.
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138
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Liang F, Englund E, Lindberg P, Lindblad P. Engineered cyanobacteria with enhanced growth show increased ethanol production and higher biofuel to biomass ratio. Metab Eng 2018; 46:51-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Revised: 12/14/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
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139
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Mori Y, Shirai T. Designing artificial metabolic pathways, construction of target enzymes, and analysis of their function. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 54:41-44. [PMID: 29452926 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2018.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Revised: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Artificial design of metabolic pathways is essential for the production of useful compounds using microbes. Based on this design, heterogeneous genes are introduced into the host, and then various analysis and evaluation methods are conducted to ensure that the target enzyme reactions are functionalized within the cell. In this chapter, we list successful examples of useful compounds produced by designing artificial metabolic pathways, and describe the methods involved in analyzing, evaluating, and optimizing the target enzyme reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaro Mori
- Biomass Engineering Research Division, Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
| | - Tomokazu Shirai
- Biomass Engineering Research Division, Center for Sustainable Resource Science, RIKEN, 1-7-22, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan.
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140
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Torres-Salas P, Bernal V, López-Gallego F, Martínez-Crespo J, Sánchez-Murcia PA, Barrera V, Morales-Jiménez R, García-Sánchez A, Mañas-Fernández A, Seoane JM, Sagrera Polo M, Miranda JD, Calvo J, Huertas S, Torres JL, Alcalde-Bascones A, González-Barrera S, Gago F, Morreale A, González-Barroso MDM. Engineering Erg10 Thiolase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a Synthetic Toolkit for the Production of Branched-Chain Alcohols. Biochemistry 2018; 57:1338-1348. [PMID: 29360348 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.7b01186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Thiolases catalyze the condensation of acyl-CoA thioesters through the Claisen condensation reaction. The best described enzymes usually yield linear condensation products. Using a combined computational/experimental approach, and guided by structural information, we have studied the potential of thiolases to synthesize branched compounds. We have identified a bulky residue located at the active site that blocks proper accommodation of substrates longer than acetyl-CoA. Amino acid replacements at such a position exert effects on the activity and product selectivity of the enzymes that are highly dependent on a protein scaffold. Among the set of five thiolases studied, Erg10 thiolase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae showed no acetyl-CoA/butyryl-CoA branched condensation activity, but variants at position F293 resulted the most active and selective biocatalysts for this reaction. This is the first time that a thiolase has been engineered to synthesize branched compounds. These novel enzymes enrich the toolbox of combinatorial (bio)chemistry, paving the way for manufacturing a variety of α-substituted synthons. As a proof of concept, we have engineered Clostridium's 1-butanol pathway to obtain 2-ethyl-1-butanol, an alcohol that is interesting as a branched model compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Torres-Salas
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vicente Bernal
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Fernando López-Gallego
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain.,CIC biomaGUNE , Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain.,ARAID Foundation , Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Javier Martínez-Crespo
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Pedro A Sánchez-Murcia
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas and "Unidad Asociada IQM-CSIC", Universidad de Alcalá , E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Victor Barrera
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío Morales-Jiménez
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana García-Sánchez
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Aurora Mañas-Fernández
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Seoane
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Sagrera Polo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (CSIC) , Calle Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juande D Miranda
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Calvo
- CIC biomaGUNE , Paseo de Miramón 182, 20014 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Sonia Huertas
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - José L Torres
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Alcalde-Bascones
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio González-Barrera
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
| | - Federico Gago
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas and "Unidad Asociada IQM-CSIC", Universidad de Alcalá , E-28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Morreale
- Centro de Tecnología de Repsol, REPSOL S. A. Calle Agustín de Betancourt , s/n, 28935 Móstoles, Madrid, Spain
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141
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Yu S, Tian L. Breeding Major Cereal Grains through the Lens of Nutrition Sensitivity. MOLECULAR PLANT 2018; 11:23-30. [PMID: 28827167 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2017.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Cereal grains are the common food staples that collectively provide over 50% of dietary calories and proteins for the world's population. Although the Green Revolution has greatly increased the yield of commercial cereal crops, they often lack nutrients essential for human health in the edible tissues. In developing nutrition-sensitive agriculture, the nutritional quality of cereal grains has been a major target for improvement using breeding and biotechnology approaches. This review examines recent progress on biofortification of micronutrients (provitamin A and folates) and an essential amino acid (lysine) in three major cereal grains, wheat, rice, and maize, through plant breeding. In addition, how natural variations, induced mutations, and the advanced genome-editing technologies can be applied to improving the nutrient content and stability in these cereal grains are discussed. High-yield cereal crops pyramided with improved (micro)nutrient contents hold great promise to meet the increasing demand of nutritionally limited populations and to contribute to achieving sustainable nutrition security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Yu
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Li Tian
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; Shanghai Chenshan Plant Science Research Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201602, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Plant Functional Genomics and Resources, Shanghai Chenshan Botanical Garden, Shanghai 201602, China.
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142
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Wilding KM, Schinn SM, Long EA, Bundy BC. The emerging impact of cell-free chemical biosynthesis. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 53:115-121. [PMID: 29310029 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biomanufacturing has emerged as a promising alternative to chemocatalysis for green, renewable, complex synthesis of biofuels, medicines, and fine chemicals. Cell-free chemical biosynthesis offers additional advantages over in vivo production, enabling plug-and-play assembly of separately produced enzymes into an optimal cascade, versatile reaction conditions, and direct access to the reaction environment. In order for these advantages to be realized on the larger scale of industry, strategies are needed to reduce costs of biocatalyst generation, improve biocatalyst stability, and enable economically sustainable continuous cascade operation. Here we overview the advantages and remaining challenges of applying cell-free chemical biosynthesis for commodity production, and discuss recent advances in cascade engineering, enzyme immobilization, and enzyme encapsulation which constitute important steps towards addressing these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen M Wilding
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Song-Min Schinn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Emily A Long
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States
| | - Bradley C Bundy
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, United States.
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143
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de Lorenzo V, Schmidt M. Biological standards for the Knowledge-Based BioEconomy: What is at stake. N Biotechnol 2018; 40:170-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 05/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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144
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145
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Snyder BER, Bols ML, Schoonheydt RA, Sels BF, Solomon EI. Iron and Copper Active Sites in Zeolites and Their Correlation to Metalloenzymes. Chem Rev 2017; 118:2718-2768. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.7b00344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin E. R. Snyder
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Max L. Bols
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Robert A. Schoonheydt
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bert F. Sels
- Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, Centre for Surface Chemistry and Catalysis, KU Leuven—University of Leuven, Celestijnenlaan 200F, B-3001 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Edward I. Solomon
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
- Photon Science, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, 2575 Sand Hill Road, Menlo Park, California 94025, United States
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146
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Park SY, Yang D, Ha SH, Lee SY. Metabolic Engineering of Microorganisms for the Production of Natural Compounds. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/adbi.201700190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Seon Young Park
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Plus Program); Institute for the BioCentury; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Dongsoo Yang
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Plus Program); Institute for the BioCentury; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Shin Hee Ha
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Plus Program); Institute for the BioCentury; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Yup Lee
- Metabolic and Biomolecular Engineering National Research Laboratory; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (BK21 Plus Program); Institute for the BioCentury; Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST); Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
- BioProcess Engineering Research Center; KAIST; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
- BioInformatics Research Center; KAIST; Daejeon 34141 Republic of Korea
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147
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Jeschek M, Panke S, Ward TR. Artificial Metalloenzymes on the Verge of New-to-Nature Metabolism. Trends Biotechnol 2017; 36:60-72. [PMID: 29061328 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2017.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2017] [Revised: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Residing at the interface of chemistry and biotechnology, artificial metalloenzymes (ArMs) offer an attractive technology to combine the versatile reaction repertoire of transition metal catalysts with the exquisite catalytic features of enzymes. While earlier efforts in this field predominantly comprised studies in well-defined test-tube environments, a trend towards exploiting ArMs in more complex environments has recently emerged. Integration of these artificial biocatalysts in enzymatic cascades and using them in whole-cell biotransformations and in vivo opens up entirely novel prospects for both preparative chemistry and synthetic biology. We highlight selected recent developments with a particular focus on challenges and opportunities in the in vivo application of ArMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Jeschek
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Sven Panke
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Thomas R Ward
- Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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148
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Hammer SC, Kubik G, Watkins E, Huang S, Minges H, Arnold FH. Anti-Markovnikov alkene oxidation by metal-oxo–mediated enzyme catalysis. Science 2017; 358:215-218. [DOI: 10.1126/science.aao1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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149
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Sun J, Jeffryes JG, Henry CS, Bruner SD, Hanson AD. Metabolite damage and repair in metabolic engineering design. Metab Eng 2017; 44:150-159. [PMID: 29030275 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The necessarily sharp focus of metabolic engineering and metabolic synthetic biology on pathways and their fluxes has tended to divert attention from the damaging enzymatic and chemical side-reactions that pathway metabolites can undergo. Although historically overlooked and underappreciated, such metabolite damage reactions are now known to occur throughout metabolism and to generate (formerly enigmatic) peaks detected in metabolomics datasets. It is also now known that metabolite damage is often countered by dedicated repair enzymes that undo or prevent it. Metabolite damage and repair are highly relevant to engineered pathway design: metabolite damage reactions can reduce flux rates and product yields, and repair enzymes can provide robust, host-independent solutions. Herein, after introducing the core principles of metabolite damage and repair, we use case histories to document how damage and repair processes affect efficient operation of engineered pathways - particularly those that are heterologous, non-natural, or cell-free. We then review how metabolite damage reactions can be predicted, how repair reactions can be prospected, and how metabolite damage and repair can be built into genome-scale metabolic models. Lastly, we propose a versatile 'plug and play' set of well-characterized metabolite repair enzymes to solve metabolite damage problems known or likely to occur in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Sun
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - James G Jeffryes
- Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA
| | - Christopher S Henry
- Mathematics and Computer Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL, USA; Computation Institute, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Steven D Bruner
- Department of Chemistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Andrew D Hanson
- Horticultural Sciences Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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150
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Yishai O, Goldbach L, Tenenboim H, Lindner SN, Bar-Even A. Engineered Assimilation of Exogenous and Endogenous Formate in Escherichia coli. ACS Synth Biol 2017; 6:1722-1731. [PMID: 28558223 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Decoupling biorefineries from land use and agriculture is a major challenge. As formate can be produced from various sources, e.g., electrochemical reduction of CO2, microbial formate-assimilation has the potential to become a sustainable feedstock for the bioindustry. However, organisms that naturally grow on formate are limited by either a low biomass yield or by a narrow product spectrum. The engineering of a model biotechnological microbe for growth on formate via synthetic pathways represents a promising approach to tackle this challenge. Here, we achieve a critical milestone for two such synthetic formate-assimilation pathways in Escherichia coli. Our engineering strategy involves the division of the pathways into metabolic modules; the activity of each module-providing at least one essential building block-is selected for in an appropriate auxotrophic strain. We demonstrate that formate can serve as a sole source of all cellular C1-compounds, including the beta-carbon of serine. We further show that by overexpressing the native threonine cleavage enzymes, the entire cellular glycine requirement can be provided by threonine biosynthesis and degradation. Together, we confirm the simultaneous activity of all pathway segments of the synthetic serine-threonine cycle. We go beyond the formate bioeconomy concept by showing that, under anaerobic conditions, formate produced endogenously by pyruvate formate-lyase can replace exogenous formate. The resulting prototrophic strain constitutes a substantial rewiring of central metabolism in which C1, glycine, and serine metabolism proceed via a unique set of pathways. This strain can serve as a platform for future metabolic-engineering efforts and could further pave the way for investigating the plasticity of metabolic networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oren Yishai
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Leander Goldbach
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Hezi Tenenboim
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Steffen N. Lindner
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Arren Bar-Even
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
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