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Crowther TW, Rappuoli R, Corinaldesi C, Danovaro R, Donohue TJ, Huisman J, Stein LY, Timmis JK, Timmis K, Anderson MZ, Bakken LR, Baylis M, Behrenfeld MJ, Boyd PW, Brettell I, Cavicchioli R, Delavaux CS, Foreman CM, Jansson JK, Koskella B, Milligan-McClellan K, North JA, Peterson D, Pizza M, Ramos JL, Reay D, Remais JV, Rich VI, Ripple WJ, Singh BK, Smith GR, Stewart FJ, Sullivan MB, van den Hoogen J, van Oppen MJH, Webster NS, Zohner CM, van Galen LG. Scientists' call to action: Microbes, planetary health, and the Sustainable Development Goals. Cell 2024; 187:5195-5216. [PMID: 39303686 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Microorganisms, including bacteria, archaea, viruses, fungi, and protists, are essential to life on Earth and the functioning of the biosphere. Here, we discuss the key roles of microorganisms in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), highlighting recent and emerging advances in microbial research and technology that can facilitate our transition toward a sustainable future. Given the central role of microorganisms in the biochemical processing of elements, synthesizing new materials, supporting human health, and facilitating life in managed and natural landscapes, microbial research and technologies are directly or indirectly relevant for achieving each of the SDGs. More importantly, the ubiquitous and global role of microbes means that they present new opportunities for synergistically accelerating progress toward multiple sustainability goals. By effectively managing microbial health, we can achieve solutions that address multiple sustainability targets ranging from climate and human health to food and energy production. Emerging international policy frameworks should reflect the vital importance of microorganisms in achieving a sustainable future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas W Crowther
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland; Restor Eco AG, Zürich 8001, Switzerland.
| | - Rino Rappuoli
- Fondazione Biotecnopolo di Siena, Siena 53100, Italy.
| | - Cinzia Corinaldesi
- Department of Materials, Environmental Sciences and Urban Planning, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60131, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy
| | - Roberto Danovaro
- National Biodiversity Future Center, Palermo 90133, Italy; Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona 60131, Italy
| | - Timothy J Donohue
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Jef Huisman
- Department of Freshwater and Marine Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam 94240, the Netherlands
| | - Lisa Y Stein
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E9, Canada
| | - James Kenneth Timmis
- Institute of Political Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg 79085, Germany; Athena Institute for Research on Innovation and Communication in Health and Life Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam 1081, the Netherlands
| | - Kenneth Timmis
- Institute of Microbiology, Technical University of Braunschweig, Braunschweig 38106, Germany
| | - Matthew Z Anderson
- Center for Genomic Science Innovation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA; Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Lars R Bakken
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Aas 1433, Norway
| | - Matthew Baylis
- Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Cheshire, Neston CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Michael J Behrenfeld
- Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Philip W Boyd
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia
| | - Ian Brettell
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo Cavicchioli
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Camille S Delavaux
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Christine M Foreman
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and Center for Biofilm Engineering, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
| | - Janet K Jansson
- Biological Sciences Division, Earth and Biological Sciences Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Britt Koskella
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Kat Milligan-McClellan
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269-3125, USA
| | - Justin A North
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Devin Peterson
- Department of Food Science and Technology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Mariagrazia Pizza
- Department of Life Sciences, CBRB Center, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Juan L Ramos
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Estación Experimental del Zaidín, Granada 18008, Spain
| | - David Reay
- School of GeoSciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, UK
| | - Justin V Remais
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Virginia I Rich
- Center of Microbiome Science, Byrd Polar and Climate Research, and Microbiology Department, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43214, USA
| | - William J Ripple
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331-5704, USA
| | - Brajesh K Singh
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Gabriel Reuben Smith
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Frank J Stewart
- Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA
| | - Matthew B Sullivan
- Departments of Microbiology and Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, Center of Microbiome Science, and EMERGE Biology Integration Institute, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Johan van den Hoogen
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Madeleine J H van Oppen
- Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; School of Biosciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Nicole S Webster
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7004, Australia; Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, QLD 4810, Australia; Australian Centre for Ecogenomics, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Constantin M Zohner
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland
| | - Laura G van Galen
- Department of Environmental Systems Science, Institute of Integrative Biology, ETH Zürich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), Zürich 8092, Switzerland; Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), Dover, DE 19901, USA.
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Vilbert AC, Kontur WS, Gille D, Noguera DR, Donohue TJ. Engineering Novosphingobium aromaticivorans to produce cis,cis-muconic acid from biomass aromatics. Appl Environ Microbiol 2024; 90:e0166023. [PMID: 38117061 PMCID: PMC10807440 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01660-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The platform chemical cis,cis-muconic acid (ccMA) provides facile access to a number of monomers used in the synthesis of commercial plastics. It is also a metabolic intermediate in the β-ketoadipic acid pathway of many bacteria and, therefore, a current target for microbial production from abundant renewable resources via metabolic engineering. This study investigates Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444 as a chassis for the production of ccMA from biomass aromatics. The N. aromaticivorans genome predicts that it encodes a previously uncharacterized protocatechuic acid (PCA) decarboxylase and a catechol 1,2-dioxygenase, which would be necessary for the conversion of aromatic metabolic intermediates to ccMA. This study confirmed the activity of these two enzymes in vitro and compared their activity to ones that have been previously characterized and used in ccMA production. From these results, we generated one strain that is completely derived from native genes and a second that contains genes previously used in microbial engineering synthesis of this compound. Both of these strains exhibited stoichiometric production of ccMA from PCA and produced greater than 100% yield of ccMA from the aromatic monomers that were identified in liquor derived from alkaline pretreated biomass. Our results show that a strain completely derived from native genes and one containing homologs from other hosts are both capable of stoichiometric production of ccMA from biomass aromatics. Overall, this work combines previously unknown aspects of aromatic metabolism in N. aromaticivorans and the genetic tractability of this organism to generate strains that produce ccMA from deconstructed biomass.IMPORTANCEThe production of commodity chemicals from renewable resources is an important goal toward increasing the environmental and economic sustainability of industrial processes. The aromatics in plant biomass are an underutilized and abundant renewable resource for the production of valuable chemicals. However, due to the chemical composition of plant biomass, many deconstruction methods generate a heterogeneous mixture of aromatics, thus making it difficult to extract valuable chemicals using current methods. Therefore, recent efforts have focused on harnessing the pathways of microorganisms to convert a diverse set of aromatics into a single product. Novosphingobium aromaticivorans DSM12444 has the native ability to metabolize a wide range of aromatics and, thus, is a potential chassis for conversion of these abundant compounds to commodity chemicals. This study reports on new features of N. aromaticivorans that can be used to produce the commodity chemical cis,cis-muconic acid from renewable and abundant biomass aromatics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avery C. Vilbert
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Wayne S. Kontur
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Derek Gille
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel R. Noguera
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy J. Donohue
- Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Laboratory evolution reveals general and specific tolerance mechanisms for commodity chemicals. Metab Eng 2023; 76:179-192. [PMID: 36738854 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Although strain tolerance to high product concentrations is a barrier to the economically viable biomanufacturing of industrial chemicals, chemical tolerance mechanisms are often unknown. To reveal tolerance mechanisms, an automated platform was utilized to evolve Escherichia coli to grow optimally in the presence of 11 industrial chemicals (1,2-propanediol, 2,3-butanediol, glutarate, adipate, putrescine, hexamethylenediamine, butanol, isobutyrate, coumarate, octanoate, hexanoate), reaching tolerance at concentrations 60%-400% higher than initial toxic levels. Sequencing genomes of 223 isolates from 89 populations, reverse engineering, and cross-compound tolerance profiling were employed to uncover tolerance mechanisms. We show that: 1) cells are tolerized via frequent mutation of membrane transporters or cell wall-associated proteins (e.g., ProV, KgtP, SapB, NagA, NagC, MreB), transcription and translation machineries (e.g., RpoA, RpoB, RpoC, RpsA, RpsG, NusA, Rho), stress signaling proteins (e.g., RelA, SspA, SpoT, YobF), and for certain chemicals, regulators and enzymes in metabolism (e.g., MetJ, NadR, GudD, PurT); 2) osmotic stress plays a significant role in tolerance when chemical concentrations exceed a general threshold and mutated genes frequently overlap with those enabling chemical tolerance in membrane transporters and cell wall-associated proteins; 3) tolerization to a specific chemical generally improves tolerance to structurally similar compounds whereas a tradeoff can occur on dissimilar chemicals, and 4) using pre-tolerized starting isolates can hugely enhance the subsequent production of chemicals when a production pathway is inserted in many, but not all, evolved tolerized host strains, underpinning the need for evolving multiple parallel populations. Taken as a whole, this study provides a comprehensive genotype-phenotype map based on identified mutations and growth phenotypes for 223 chemical tolerant isolates.
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Noroozi K, Jarboe LR. Strategic nutrient sourcing for biomanufacturing intensification. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 50:kuad011. [PMID: 37245065 PMCID: PMC10549214 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuad011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The successful design of economically viable bioprocesses can help to abate global dependence on petroleum, increase supply chain resilience, and add value to agriculture. Specifically, bioprocessing provides the opportunity to replace petrochemical production methods with biological methods and to develop novel bioproducts. Even though a vast range of chemicals can be biomanufactured, the constraints on economic viability, especially while competing with petrochemicals, are severe. There have been extensive gains in our ability to engineer microbes for improved production metrics and utilization of target carbon sources. The impact of growth medium composition on process cost and organism performance receives less attention in the literature than organism engineering efforts, with media optimization often being performed in proprietary settings. The widespread use of corn steep liquor as a nutrient source demonstrates the viability and importance of "waste" streams in biomanufacturing. There are other promising waste streams that can be used to increase the sustainability of biomanufacturing, such as the use of urea instead of fossil fuel-intensive ammonia and the use of struvite instead of contributing to the depletion of phosphate reserves. In this review, we discuss several process-specific optimizations of micronutrients that increased product titers by twofold or more. This practice of deliberate and thoughtful sourcing and adjustment of nutrients can substantially impact process metrics. Yet the mechanisms are rarely explored, making it difficult to generalize the results to other processes. In this review, we will discuss examples of nutrient sourcing and adjustment as a means of process improvement. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY The potential impact of nutrient adjustments on bioprocess performance, economics, and waste valorization is undervalued and largely undercharacterized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimia Noroozi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Laura R Jarboe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
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Santoscoy MC, Jarboe LR. Production of cholesterol-like molecules impacts Escherichia coli robustness, production capacity, and vesicle trafficking. Metab Eng 2022; 73:134-143. [PMID: 35842218 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The economic viability of bioprocesses is constrained by the limited range of operating conditions that can be tolerated by the cell factory. Engineering of the microbial cell membrane is one strategy that can increase robustness and thus alter this range. In this work, we targeted cellular components that contribute to maintenance of appropriate membrane function, such as: flotillin-like proteins, membrane structural proteins, and membrane lipids. Specifically, we exploited the promiscuity of squalene hopene cyclase (SHC) to produce polycyclic terpenoids with properties analogous to cholesterol. Strains producing these cholesterol-like molecules were visualized by AFM and height features were observed. Production of these cholesterol-like molecules was associated with increased tolerance towards a diversity of chemicals, particularly alcohols, and membrane trafficking processes such as lipid droplet accumulation and production of extracellular vesicles. This engineering approach improved the production titers for wax-esters and ethanol by 80- and 10-fold, respectively. Expression of SHC resulted in the production of steroids. Strains engineered to also express truncated squalene synthase (tERG9) produced diplopterol and generally did not perform as well. Increased expression of several membrane-associated proteins, such as YqiK, was observed to impact vesicle trafficking and further improve tolerance relative to SHC alone, but did not improve bio-production. Deletion of YbbJ increased lipid droplet accumulation as well as production of intracellular wax esters. This work serves as a proof of concept for engineering strategies targeting membrane physiology and trafficking to expand the production capacity of microbial cell factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel C Santoscoy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Laura R Jarboe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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Wadler CS, Wolters JF, Fortney NW, Throckmorton KO, Zhang Y, Miller CR, Schneider RM, Wendt-Pienkowski E, Currie CR, Donohue TJ, Noguera DR, Hittinger CT, Thomas MG. Utilization of lignocellulosic biofuel conversion residue by diverse microorganisms. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:70. [PMID: 35751080 PMCID: PMC9233362 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02168-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lignocellulosic conversion residue (LCR) is the material remaining after deconstructed lignocellulosic biomass is subjected to microbial fermentation and treated to remove the biofuel. Technoeconomic analyses of biofuel refineries have shown that further microbial processing of this LCR into other bioproducts may help offset the costs of biofuel generation. Identifying organisms able to metabolize LCR is an important first step for harnessing the full chemical and economic potential of this material. In this study, we investigated the aerobic LCR utilization capabilities of 71 Streptomyces and 163 yeast species that could be engineered to produce valuable bioproducts. The LCR utilization by these individual microbes was compared to that of an aerobic mixed microbial consortium derived from a wastewater treatment plant as representative of a consortium with the highest potential for degrading the LCR components and a source of genetic material for future engineering efforts. RESULTS We analyzed several batches of a model LCR by chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chromatography-based assays and determined that the major components of LCR were oligomeric and monomeric sugars and other organic compounds. Many of the Streptomyces and yeast species tested were able to grow in LCR, with some individual microbes capable of utilizing over 40% of the soluble COD. For comparison, the maximum total soluble COD utilized by the mixed microbial consortium was about 70%. This represents an upper limit on how much of the LCR could be valorized by engineered Streptomyces or yeasts into bioproducts. To investigate the utilization of specific components in LCR and have a defined media for future experiments, we developed a synthetic conversion residue (SynCR) to mimic our model LCR and used it to show lignocellulose-derived inhibitors (LDIs) had little effect on the ability of the Streptomyces species to metabolize SynCR. CONCLUSIONS We found that LCR is rich in carbon sources for microbial utilization and has vitamins, minerals, amino acids and other trace metabolites necessary to support growth. Testing diverse collections of Streptomyces and yeast species confirmed that these microorganisms were capable of growth on LCR and revealed a phylogenetic correlation between those able to best utilize LCR. Identification and quantification of the components of LCR enabled us to develop a synthetic LCR (SynCR) that will be a useful tool for examining how individual components of LCR contribute to microbial growth and as a substrate for future engineering efforts to use these microorganisms to generate valuable bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caryn S Wadler
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - John F Wolters
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425-g Henry Mall, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Nathaniel W Fortney
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Kurt O Throckmorton
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Yaoping Zhang
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Caroline R Miller
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425-g Henry Mall, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Rachel M Schneider
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425-g Henry Mall, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Evelyn Wendt-Pienkowski
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Cameron R Currie
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Timothy J Donohue
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Daniel R Noguera
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Chris Todd Hittinger
- Wisconsin Energy Institute, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
- Laboratory of Genetics, Center for Genomic Science Innovation, J. F. Crow Institute for the Study of Evolution, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 425-g Henry Mall, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA
| | - Michael G Thomas
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1550 Linden Dr, Madison, WI, 53706, USA.
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI, 53726, USA.
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iNovo479: Metabolic Modeling Provides a Roadmap to Optimize Bioproduct Yield from Deconstructed Lignin Aromatics by Novosphingobium aromaticivorans. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12040366. [PMID: 35448553 PMCID: PMC9028409 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12040366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lignin is an abundant renewable source of aromatics and precursors for the production of other organic chemicals. However, lignin is a heterogeneous polymer, so the mixture of aromatics released during its depolymerization can make its conversion to chemicals challenging. Microbes are a potential solution to this challenge, as some can catabolize multiple aromatic substrates into one product. Novosphingobium aromaticivorans has this ability, and its use as a bacterial chassis for lignin valorization could be improved by the ability to predict product yields based on thermodynamic and metabolic inputs. In this work, we built a genome-scale metabolic model of N. aromaticivorans, iNovo479, to guide the engineering of strains for aromatic conversion into products. iNovo479 predicted product yields from single or multiple aromatics, and the impact of combinations of aromatic and non-aromatic substrates on product yields. We show that enzyme reactions from other organisms can be added to iNovo479 to predict the feasibility and profitability of producing additional products by engineered strains. Thus, we conclude that iNovo479 can help guide the design of bacteria to convert lignin aromatics into valuable chemicals.
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Santoscoy MC, Jarboe LR. A systematic framework for using membrane metrics for strain engineering. Metab Eng 2021; 66:98-113. [PMID: 33813035 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2021.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The cell membrane plays a central role in the fitness and performance of microbial cell factories and therefore it is an attractive engineering target. The goal of this work is to develop a systematic framework for identifying membrane features for use as engineering targets. The metrics that describe the composition of the membrane can be visualized as "knobs" that modulate various "outcomes", such as physical properties of the membrane and metabolic activity in the form of growth and productivity, with these relationships varying depending on the condition. We generated a set of strains with altered membrane lipid composition via expression of des, fabA and fabB and performed a rigorous characterization of these knobs and outcomes across several individual inhibitory conditions. Here, the knobs are the relative abundance of unsaturated lipids and lipids containing cyclic rings; the average lipid length, and the ratio of linear and non-linear lipids (L/nL ratio). The outcomes are membrane permeability, hydrophobicity, fluidity, and specific growth rate. This characterization identified significant correlations between knobs and outcomes that were specific to individual inhibitors, but also were significant across all tested conditions. For example, across all conditions, the L/nL ratio is positively correlated with the cell surface hydrophobicity, and the average lipid length is positively correlated with specific growth rate. A subsequent analysis of the data with the individual inhibitors identified pairs of lipid metrics and membrane properties that were predicted to impact cell growth in seven modeled scenarios with two or more inhibitors. The L/nL ratio and the membrane hydrophobicity were predicted to impact cell growth with the highest frequency. We experimentally validated this prediction in the combined condition of 42 °C, 2.5 mM furfural and 2% v/v ethanol in minimal media. Membrane hydrophobicity was confirmed to be a significant predictor of ethanol production. This work demonstrates that membrane physical properties can be used to predict the performance of biocatalysts in single and multiple inhibitory conditions, and possibly as an engineering target. In this manner, membrane properties can possibly be used as screening or selection metrics for library- or evolution-based strain engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel C Santoscoy
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Laura R Jarboe
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
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Danielson N, McKay S, Bloom P, Dunn J, Jakel N, Bauer T, Hannon J, Jewett MC, Shanks B. Industrial Biotechnology—An Industry at an Inflection Point. Ind Biotechnol (New Rochelle N Y) 2020. [DOI: 10.1089/ind.2020.29230.nda] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Sarah McKay
- National Corn Growers Association, St. Charles, MO, USA
| | - Paul Bloom
- Archer Daniels Midland Co., Decatur, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer Dunn
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Northwestern Argonne Institute of Science and Engineering, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Neal Jakel
- Fluid Quip Technologies, Cedar Rapids, IA, USA
| | | | | | - Michael C. Jewett
- Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Northwestern Argonne Institute of Science and Engineering, Evanston, IL, USA
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10
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Huo J, Shanks BH. Bioprivileged Molecules: Integrating Biological and Chemical Catalysis for Biomass Conversion. Annu Rev Chem Biomol Eng 2020; 11:63-85. [PMID: 32155351 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-chembioeng-101519-121127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Further development of biomass conversions to viable chemicals and fuels will require improved atom utilization, process efficiency, and synergistic allocation of carbon feedstock into diverse products, as is the case in the well-developed petroleum industry. The integration of biological and chemical processes, which harnesses the strength of each type of process, can lead to advantaged processes over processes limited to one or the other. This synergy can be achieved through bioprivileged molecules that can be leveraged to produce a diversity of products, including both replacement molecules and novel molecules with enhanced performance properties. However, important challenges arise in the development of bioprivileged molecules. This review discusses the integration of biological and chemical processes and its use in the development of bioprivileged molecules, with a further focus on key hurdles that must be overcome for successful implementation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajie Huo
- Center for Biorenewable Chemicals and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA;
| | - Brent H Shanks
- Center for Biorenewable Chemicals and Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa 50011, USA;
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11
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Wu W, Yenkie KM, Maravelias CT. Synthesis and analysis of separation processes for extracellular chemicals generated from microbial conversions. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1186/s42480-019-0022-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Recent advances in metabolic engineering have enabled the production of chemicals via bio-conversion using microbes. However, downstream separation accounts for 60–80% of the total production cost in many cases. Previous work on microbial production of extracellular chemicals has been mainly restricted to microbiology, biochemistry, metabolomics, or techno-economic analysis for specific product examples such as succinic acid, xanthan gum, lycopene, etc. In these studies, microbial production and separation technologies were selected apriori without considering any competing alternatives. However, technology selection in downstream separation and purification processes can have a major impact on the overall costs, product recovery, and purity. To this end, we apply a superstructure optimization based framework that enables the identification of critical technologies and their associated parameters in the synthesis and analysis of separation processes for extracellular chemicals generated from microbial conversions. We divide extracellular chemicals into three categories based on their physical properties, such as water solubility, physical state, relative density, volatility, etc. We analyze three major extracellular product categories (insoluble light, insoluble heavy and soluble) in detail and provide suggestions for additional product categories through extension of our analysis framework. The proposed analysis and results provide significant insights for technology selection and enable streamlined decision making when faced with any microbial product that is released extracellularly. The parameter variability analysis for the product as well as the associated technologies and comparison with novel alternatives is a key feature which forms the basis for designing better bioseparation strategies that have potential for commercial scalability and can compete with traditional chemical production methods.
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12
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Helal A, Kreimerman R, Gutiérrez S, Torres AI. A market‐driven algorithm for the assessment of promising bio‐based chemicals. AIChE J 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/aic.16775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Agustín Helal
- Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Roberto Kreimerman
- Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay
- Departamento de Inserción Social del Ingeniero, Facultad de IngenieríaUniversidad de la República Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Soledad Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay
| | - Ana I. Torres
- Instituto de Ingeniería Química, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de la República, Montevideo Uruguay
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13
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Streamlined assessment of membrane permeability and its application to membrane engineering of Escherichia coli for octanoic acid tolerance. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 46:843-853. [DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02158-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The economic viability of bio-production processes is often limited by damage to the microbial cell membrane and thus there is a demand for strategies to increase the robustness of the cell membrane. Damage to the microbial membrane is also a common mode of action by antibiotics. Membrane-impermeable DNA-binding dyes are often used to assess membrane integrity in conjunction with flow cytometry. We demonstrate that in situ assessment of the membrane permeability of E. coli to SYTOX Green is consistent with flow cytometry, with the benefit of lower experimental intensity, lower cost, and no need for a priori selection of sampling times. This method is demonstrated by the characterization of four membrane engineering strategies (deletion of aas, deletion of cfa, increased expression of cfa, and deletion of bhsA) for their effect on octanoic acid tolerance, with the finding that deletion of bhsA increased tolerance and substantially decreased membrane leakage.
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14
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Identifying the Characteristics of Promising Renewable Replacement Chemicals. iScience 2019; 15:136-146. [PMID: 31048148 PMCID: PMC6495092 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2019.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several “renewable” strategies have been recently proposed to produce high-volume as well as new (replacement) chemicals, the identification of good targets for such strategies remains challenging. Such chemicals that are expensive to obtain today from fossil fuel feedstocks would have an advantage if produced cheaply using alternative methods in the future. In this work we identify the characteristics of such potentially promising replacement chemicals. We also identify the characteristic of promising bio-based replacement chemicals that are relatively easy to obtain through bio-conversions. This work provides insights into the development of renewable chemicals to support a sustainable economy. Identified molecular characteristics of potentially promising replacement chemicals Key characteristics: number of carbon and oxygen atoms and functional groups Proposed metric for evaluating bio-based production efficiency of various chemicals
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