An energetic model for oxygen-limited metabolism

Molecular weight and guluronic/mannuronic ratio of alginate produced by Azotobacter vinelandii at two bioreactor scales under diazotrophic conditions

Alginates can be used to elaborate hydrogels, and their properties depend on the molecular weight (MW) and the guluronic (G) and mannuronic (M) composition. In this study, the MW and G/M ratio were evaluated in cultures of Azotobacter vinelandii to 3 and 30 L scales at different oxygen transfer rates (OTRs) under diazotrophic conditions. An increase in the maximum OTR (OTR_max) improved the alginate production, reaching 3.3 ± 0.2 g L^-1. In the cultures conducted to an OTR of 10.4 mmol L^-1 h^-1 (500 rpm), the G/M increased during the cell growth phase and decreased during the stationary phase; whereas, in the cultures at 19.2 mmol L^-1 h^-1 was constant throughout the cultivation. A higher alginate MW (520 ± 43 kDa) and G/M ratio (0.86 ± 0.01) were obtained in the cultures conducted at 10.4 mmol L^-1 h^-1. The OTR as a criterion to scale up alginate production allowed to replicate the concentration and the alginate production rate; however, it was not possible reproduce the MW and G/M ratio. Under a similar specific oxygen uptake rate (qO₂) (approximately 65 mmol g^-1 h^-1) the alginate MW was similar (approximately 365 kDa) in both scales. The evidences revealed that the qO₂ can be a parameter adequate to produce alginate MW similar in two bioreactor scales. Overall, the results have shown that the alginate composition could be affected by cellular respiration, and from a technological perspective the evidences contribute to the design process based on oxygen consumption to produce alginates defined.

Genome-scale reconstruction and in silico analysis of Klebsiella oxytoca for 2,3-butanediol production

Background

Klebsiella oxytoca, a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, and facultative anaerobic bacterium, is one of the most promising 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) producers. In order to improve the metabolic performance of K. oxytoca as an efficient biofactory, it is necessary to assess its metabolic characteristics with a system-wide scope, and to optimize the metabolic pathways at a systems level. Provision of the complete genome sequence of K. oxytoca enabled the construction of genome-scale metabolic model of K. oxytoca and its in silico analyses.

Results

The genome-scale metabolic model of K. oxytoca was constructed using the annotated genome with biochemical and physiological information. The stoichiometric model, KoxGSC1457, is composed of 1,457 reactions and 1,099 metabolites. The model was further refined by applying biomass composition equations and comparing in silico results with experimental data based on constraints-based flux analyses. Then, the model was applied to in silico analyses to understand the properties of K. oxytoca and also to improve its capabilities for 2,3-BD production according to genetic and environmental perturbations. Firstly, in silico analysis, which tested the effect of augmenting the metabolic flux pool of 2,3-BD precursors, elucidated that increasing the pyruvate pool is primarily important for 2,3-BD synthesis. Secondly, we performed in silico single gene knockout simulation for 2,3-BD overproduction, and investigated the changes of the in silico flux solution space of a ldhA gene knockout mutant in comparison with that of the wild-type strain. Finally, the KoxGSC1457 model was used to optimize the oxygen levels during fermentation for 2,3-BD production.

Conclusions

The genome-scale metabolic model, KoxGSC1457, constructed in this study successfully investigated metabolic characteristics of K. oxytoca at systems level. The KoxGSC1457 model could be employed as an useful tool to analyze its metabolic capabilities, to predict its physiological responses according to environmental and genetic perturbations, and to design metabolic engineering strategies to improve its metabolic performance.