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Lee J. Lessons from Clostridial Genetics: Toward Engineering Acetogenic Bacteria. BIOTECHNOL BIOPROC E 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s12257-021-0062-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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2
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Cheng Y, Jiang Y, Ren Z, Fu Y, Xu C. Development of an in vivo methylation system for transformation of Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 132:1926-1935. [PMID: 34787948 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15367] [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: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Ruminiclostridium cellulolyticum, an anaerobic cellulolytic bacterium producing an efficient cellulolytic extracellular complex named cellulosome, is a promising host for biofuel production from lignocellulose. This study aims to develop a rapid transformation method for R. cellulolyticum avoiding its restriction system. METHODS AND RESULTS The CceI restriction system is a major barrier to introduction of foreign DNA into R. cellulolyticum cells. To improve the transformation efficiency of R. cellulolyticum, the gene encoding CceI methyltransferase (M.CceI) of R. cellulolyticum H10 was functionally expressed in Escherichia coli, resulting in an in vivo methylation system for transformation of R. cellulolyticum. The electrotransformation experiments of R. cellulolyticum H10 with the E. coli-Clostridium shuttle plasmid pMTC6 showed that the transformation efficiency reached up to 2.6 × 103 ±0.23 × 103 CFU per μg plasmid DNA. The results demonstrated that the system is able to confer the M.CceI-specific DNA methylation pattern to its resident plasmid, which makes the plasmid resistant to the CceI restriction and efficiently transferred into R. cellulolyticum. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we generated an in vivo methylation system of R. cellulolyticum, allowing interspecies DNA transfer and improving transformation efficiency. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This research result will greatly facilitate the metabolic engineering of R. cellulolyticum for biofuel production directly from cellulose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Yuanyuan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Zhenxing Ren
- Institute of Applied Chemistry, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Yuejun Fu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
| | - Chenggang Xu
- Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, Institute of Biotechnology, Shanxi University, Taiyuan, Shanxi Province, China
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Schneider M, Bäumler M, Lee NM, Weuster-Botz D, Ehrenreich A, Liebl W. Monitoring co-cultures of Clostridium carboxidivorans and Clostridium kluyveri by fluorescence in situ hybridization with specific 23S rRNA oligonucleotide probes. Syst Appl Microbiol 2021; 44:126271. [PMID: 34735802 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2021.126271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The development of co-cultures of clostridial strains which combine different physiological traits represents a promising strategy to achieve the environmentally friendly production of biofuels and chemicals. For the optimization of such co-cultures it is essential to monitor their composition and stability throughout fermentation. FISH is a quick and sensitive method for the specific labeling and quantification of cells within microbial communities. This technique is neither limited by the anaerobic fermenter environment nor by the need of prior genetic modification of strains. In this study, two specific 23S rRNA oligonucleotide probes, ClosKluy and ClosCarb, were designed for the monitoring of C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans, respectively. After the optimization of hybridization conditions for both probes, which was achieved at 30% (v/v) formamide, a high specificity was observed with epifluorescence microscopy using cells from different pure reference strains. The discriminating properties of the ClosKluy and ClosCarb probes was verified with samples from heterotrophic co-cultures in anaerobic flasks as well as autotrophic stirred-tank bioreactor co-cultures of C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans. Besides being suited to monitor defined co-cultures of these two species, the new specific FISH oligonucleotide probes for C. kluyveri and C. carboxidivorans additionally have potential to be applied in environmental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Schneider
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Science, Freising, Germany
| | - Miriam Bäumler
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Natuschka M Lee
- Department of Ecology and Environmental Science, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden; Research Infrastructure Fluorescence in Situ Hybridization (FISH), Chemical Biological Centre, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Dirk Weuster-Botz
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Institute of Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Munich, Garching, Germany
| | - Armin Ehrenreich
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Science, Freising, Germany.
| | - Wolfgang Liebl
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, TUM School of Life Science, Freising, Germany
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Development of a shuttle plasmid without host restriction sites for efficient transformation and heterologous gene expression in Clostridium cellulovorans. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 103:5391-5400. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-019-09882-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Kuehne SA, Rood JI, Lyras D. Clostridial Genetics: Genetic Manipulation of the Pathogenic Clostridia. Microbiol Spectr 2019; 7:10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0040-2018. [PMID: 31172914 PMCID: PMC11315012 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.gpp3-0040-2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The past 10 years have been revolutionary for clostridial genetics. The rise of next-generation sequencing led to the availability of annotated whole-genome sequences of the important pathogenic clostridia: Clostridium perfringens, Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile, and Clostridium botulinum, but also Paeniclostridium (Clostridium) sordellii and Clostridium tetani. These sequences were a prerequisite for the development of functional, sophisticated genetic tools for the pathogenic clostridia. A breakthrough came in the early 2000s with the development of TargeTron-based technologies specific for the clostridia, such as ClosTron, an insertional gene inactivation tool. The following years saw a plethora of new technologies being developed, mostly for C. difficile, but also for other members of the genus, including C. perfringens. A range of tools is now available, allowing researchers to precisely delete genes, change single nucleotides in the genome, complement deletions, integrate novel DNA into genomes, or overexpress genes. There are tools for forward genetics, including an inducible transposon mutagenesis system for C. difficile. As the latest addition to the tool kit, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-Cas9 technologies have also been adopted for the construction of single and multiple gene deletions in C. difficile. This article summarizes the key genetic technologies available to manipulate, study, and understand the pathogenic clostridia.
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Affiliation(s)
- S A Kuehne
- School of Dentistry and Institute for Microbiology and Infection, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - J I Rood
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3800
| | - D Lyras
- Infection and Immunity Program, Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute and Department of Microbiology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3800
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Foulquier C, Huang CN, Nguyen NPT, Thiel A, Wilding-Steel T, Soula J, Yoo M, Ehrenreich A, Meynial-Salles I, Liebl W, Soucaille P. An efficient method for markerless mutant generation by allelic exchange in Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium saccharobutylicum using suicide vectors. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:31. [PMID: 30809274 PMCID: PMC6375146 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1364-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium saccharobutylicum are Gram-positive, spore-forming, anaerobic bacterium capable of converting various sugars and polysaccharides into solvents (acetone, butanol, and ethanol). The sequencing of their genomes has prompted new approaches to genetic analysis, functional genomics, and metabolic engineering to develop industrial strains for the production of biofuels and bulk chemicals. RESULTS The method used in this paper to knock-out, knock-in, or edit genes in C. acetobutylicum and C. saccharobutylicum combines an improved electroporation method with the use of (i) restrictionless Δupp (which encodes uracil phosphoribosyl-transferase) strains and (ii) very small suicide vectors containing a markerless deletion/insertion cassette, an antibiotic resistance gene (for the selection of the first crossing-over) and upp (from C. acetobutylicum) for subsequent use as a counterselectable marker with the aid of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) to promote the second crossing-over. This method was successfully used to both delete genes and edit genes in both C. acetobutylicum and C. saccharobutylicum. Among the edited genes, a mutation in the spo0A gene that abolished solvent formation in C. acetobutylicum was introduced in C. saccharobutylicum and shown to produce the same effect. CONCLUSIONS The method described in this study will be useful for functional genomic studies and for the development of industrial strains for the production of biofuels and bulk chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Celine Foulquier
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Ching-Ning Huang
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University Munchen, Emil-Ramann-Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Ngoc-Phuong-Thao Nguyen
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
- Tan Tao University, School of Medicine, University Avenue, Tan Duc e-City, Duc Hoa, Vietnam
| | - Axel Thiel
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Tom Wilding-Steel
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Julie Soula
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
| | - Minyeong Yoo
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Blvd, Nottingham, NG7 2JE UK
| | - Armin Ehrenreich
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University Munchen, Emil-Ramann-Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | | | - Wolfgang Liebl
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University Munchen, Emil-Ramann-Str. 4, 85354 Freising, Germany
| | - Philippe Soucaille
- LISBP, INSA, University of Toulouse, 135 Avenue de Rangueil, 31077 Toulouse Cedex, France
- BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, Centre for Biomolecular Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Blvd, Nottingham, NG7 2JE UK
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Charubin K, Bennett RK, Fast AG, Papoutsakis ET. Engineering Clostridium organisms as microbial cell-factories: challenges & opportunities. Metab Eng 2018; 50:173-191. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2018] [Revised: 07/18/2018] [Accepted: 07/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Huang CN, Liebl W, Ehrenreich A. Restriction-deficient mutants and marker-less genomic modification for metabolic engineering of the solvent producer Clostridium saccharobutylicum. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:264. [PMID: 30275904 PMCID: PMC6158908 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1260-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridium saccharobutylicum NCP 262 is a solventogenic bacterium that has been used for the industrial production of acetone, butanol, and ethanol. The lack of a genetic manipulation system for C. saccharobutylicum currently limits (i) the use of metabolic pathway engineering to improve the yield, titer, and productivity of n-butanol production by this microorganism, and (ii) functional genomics studies to better understand its physiology. RESULTS In this study, a marker-less deletion system was developed for C. saccharobutylicum using the codBA operon genes from Clostridium ljungdahlii as a counterselection marker. The codB gene encodes a cytosine permease, while codA encodes a cytosine deaminase that converts 5-fluorocytosine to 5-fluorouracil, which is toxic to the cell. To introduce a marker-less genomic modification, we constructed a suicide vector containing: the catP gene for thiamphenicol resistance; the codBA operon genes for counterselection; fused DNA segments both upstream and downstream of the chromosomal deletion target. This vector was introduced into C. saccharobutylicum by tri-parental conjugation. Single crossover integrants are selected on plates supplemented with thiamphenicol and colistin, and, subsequently, double-crossover mutants whose targeted chromosomal sequence has been deleted were identified by counterselection on plates containing 5-fluorocytosine. Using this marker-less deletion system, we constructed the restriction-deficient mutant C. saccharobutylicum ΔhsdR1ΔhsdR2ΔhsdR3, which we named C. saccharobutylicum Ch2. This triple mutant exhibits high transformation efficiency with unmethylated DNA. To demonstrate its applicability to metabolic engineering, the method was first used to delete the xylB gene to study its role in xylose and arabinose metabolism. Furthermore, we also deleted the ptb and buk genes to create a butyrate metabolism-negative mutant of C. saccharobutylicum that produces n-butanol at high yield. CONCLUSIONS The plasmid vectors and the method introduced here, together with the restriction-deficient strains described in this work, for the first time, allow for efficient marker-less genomic modification of C. saccharobutylicum and, therefore, represent valuable tools for the genetic and metabolic engineering of this industrially important solvent-producing organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching-Ning Huang
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, 85350 Germany
| | - Wolfgang Liebl
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, 85350 Germany
| | - Armin Ehrenreich
- Chair of Microbiology, Technical University of Munich, Freising, 85350 Germany
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Gyulev IS, Willson BJ, Hennessy RC, Krabben P, Jenkinson ER, Thomas GH. Part by Part: Synthetic Biology Parts Used in Solventogenic Clostridia. ACS Synth Biol 2018; 7:311-327. [PMID: 29186949 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.7b00327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The solventogenic Clostridia are of interest to the chemical industry because of their natural ability to produce chemicals such as butanol, acetone and ethanol from diverse feedstocks. Their use as whole cell factories presents multiple metabolic engineering targets that could lead to improved sustainability and profitability of Clostridium industrial processes. However, engineering efforts have been held back by the scarcity of genetic and synthetic biology tools. Over the past decade, genetic tools to enable transformation and chromosomal modifications have been developed, but the lack of a broad palette of synthetic biology parts remains one of the last obstacles to the rapid engineered improvement of these species for bioproduction. We have systematically reviewed existing parts that have been used in the modification of solventogenic Clostridia, revealing a narrow range of empirically chosen and nonengineered parts that are in current use. The analysis uncovers elements, such as promoters, transcriptional terminators and ribosome binding sites where increased fundamental knowledge is needed for their reliable use in different applications. Together, the review provides the most comprehensive list of parts used and also presents areas where an improved toolbox is needed for full exploitation of these industrially important bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan S. Gyulev
- Department
of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin J. Willson
- Department
of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Rosanna C. Hennessy
- Department
of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, 1871, Denmark
| | - Preben Krabben
- Green Biologics Limited, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4RU, United Kingdom
| | | | - Gavin H. Thomas
- Department
of Biology, University of York, Wentworth Way, York YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
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Genome Editing in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 with the CRISPR-Cas9 System. Appl Environ Microbiol 2017; 83:AEM.00233-17. [PMID: 28258147 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00233-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Accepted: 02/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4 is well known as a hyper-butanol-producing strain. However, the lack of genetic engineering tools hinders further elucidation of its solvent production mechanism and development of more robust strains. In this study, we set out to develop an efficient genome engineering system for this microorganism based on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated 9 (CRISPR-Cas9) system. First, the functionality of the CRISPR-Cas9 system previously customized for Clostridium beijerinckii was evaluated in C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum by targeting pta and buk, two essential genes for acetate and butyrate production, respectively. pta and buk single and double deletion mutants were successfully obtained based on this system. However, the genome engineering efficiency was rather low (the mutation rate is <20%). Therefore, the efficiency was further optimized by evaluating various promoters for guide RNA (gRNA) expression. With promoter P J23119 , we achieved a mutation rate of 75% for pta deletion without serial subculturing as suggested previously for C. beijerinckii Thus, this developed CRISPR-Cas9 system is highly desirable for efficient genome editing in C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum Batch fermentation results revealed that both the acid and solvent production profiles were altered due to the disruption of acid production pathways; however, neither acetate nor butyrate production was eliminated with the deletion of the corresponding gene. The butanol production, yield, and selectivity were improved in mutants, depending on the fermentation medium. In the pta buk double deletion mutant, the butanol production in P2 medium reached 19.0 g/liter, which is one of the highest levels ever reported from batch fermentations.IMPORTANCE An efficient CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering system was developed for C. saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4. This paves the way for elucidating the solvent production mechanism in this hyper-butanol-producing microorganism and developing strains with desirable butanol-producing features. This tool can be easily adapted for use in closely related microorganisms. As also reported by others, here we demonstrated with solid data that the highly efficient expression of gRNA is the key factor determining the efficiency of CRISPR-Cas9 for genome editing. The protocol developed in this study can provide essential references for other researchers who work in the areas of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. The developed mutants can be used as excellent starting strains for development of more robust ones for desirable solvent production.
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Lee SH, Yun EJ, Kim J, Lee SJ, Um Y, Kim KH. Biomass, strain engineering, and fermentation processes for butanol production by solventogenic clostridia. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2016; 100:8255-71. [PMID: 27531513 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-7760-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 07/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Butanol is considered an attractive biofuel and a commercially important bulk chemical. However, economical production of butanol by solventogenic clostridia, e.g., via fermentative production of acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE), is hampered by low fermentation performance, mainly as a result of toxicity of butanol to microorganisms and high substrate costs. Recently, sugars from marine macroalgae and syngas were recognized as potent carbon sources in biomass feedstocks that are abundant and do not compete for arable land with edible crops. With the aid of systems metabolic engineering, many researchers have developed clostridial strains with improved performance on fermentation of these substrates. Alternatively, fermentation strategies integrated with butanol recovery processes such as adsorption, gas stripping, liquid-liquid extraction, and pervaporation have been designed to increase the overall titer of butanol and volumetric productivity. Nevertheless, for economically feasible production of butanol, innovative strategies based on recent research should be implemented. This review describes and discusses recent advances in the development of biomass feedstocks, microbial strains, and fermentation processes for butanol production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang-Hyun Lee
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Eun Ju Yun
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Jungyeon Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea
| | - Sang Jun Lee
- Biosystems and Bioengineering Program, University of Science and Technology and Microbiomics and Immunity Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Daejeon, 34141, South Korea
| | - Youngsoon Um
- Clean Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Seoul, 02792, South Korea
| | - Kyoung Heon Kim
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, South Korea.
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Minton NP, Ehsaan M, Humphreys CM, Little GT, Baker J, Henstra AM, Liew F, Kelly ML, Sheng L, Schwarz K, Zhang Y. A roadmap for gene system development in Clostridium. Anaerobe 2016; 41:104-112. [PMID: 27234263 PMCID: PMC5058259 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2016.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Clostridium species are both heroes and villains. Some cause serious human and animal diseases, those present in the gut microbiota generally contribute to health and wellbeing, while others represent useful industrial chassis for the production of chemicals and fuels. To understand, counter or exploit, there is a fundamental requirement for effective systems that may be used for directed or random genome modifications. We have formulated a simple roadmap whereby the necessary gene systems maybe developed and deployed. At its heart is the use of ‘pseudo-suicide’ vectors and the creation of a pyrE mutant (a uracil auxotroph), initially aided by ClosTron technology, but ultimately made using a special form of allelic exchange termed ACE (Allele-Coupled Exchange). All mutants, regardless of the mutagen employed, are made in this host. This is because through the use of ACE vectors, mutants can be rapidly complemented concomitant with correction of the pyrE allele and restoration of uracil prototrophy. This avoids the phenotypic effects frequently observed with high copy number plasmids and dispenses with the need to add antibiotic to ensure plasmid retention. Once available, the pyrE host may be used to stably insert all manner of application specific modules. Examples include, a sigma factor to allow deployment of a mariner transposon, hydrolases involved in biomass deconstruction and therapeutic genes in cancer delivery vehicles. To date, provided DNA transfer is obtained, we have not encountered any clostridial species where this technology cannot be applied. These include, Clostridium difficile, Clostridium acetobutylicum, Clostridium beijerinckii, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, Clostridium sporogenes, Clostridium pasteurianum, Clostridium ljungdahlii, Clostridium autoethanogenum and even Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius. A simple roadmap for the development and deployment of gene systems in clostridia. Allelic exchange using pyrE alleles and pseudo-suicide vectors. Knock-out and knock-in using allele-coupled exchange (ACE). Complementation studies through genome insertion. Genome insertion of application specific modules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel P Minton
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Nottingham Digestive Disease Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK.
| | - Muhammad Ehsaan
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Christopher M Humphreys
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Gareth T Little
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Jonathan Baker
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Anne M Henstra
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Fungmin Liew
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Michelle L Kelly
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Nottingham Digestive Disease Centre, NIHR Biomedical Research Unit, The University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, UK
| | - Lili Sheng
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Katrin Schwarz
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Ying Zhang
- Clostridia Research Group, BBSRC/EPSRC Synthetic Biology Research Centre, School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
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13
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Restriction modification system analysis and development of in vivo methylation for the transformation of Clostridium cellulovorans. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2015; 100:2289-99. [PMID: 26590584 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-015-7141-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium cellulovorans, a cellulolytic bacterium producing butyric and acetic acids as main fermentation products, is a promising host for biofuel production from cellulose. However, the transformation method of C. cellulovorans was not available, hindering its genetic engineering. To overcome this problem, its restriction modification (RM) systems were analyzed and a novel in vivo methylation was established for its successful transformation in the present study. Specifically, two RM systems, Cce743I and Cce743II, were determined. R. Cce743I has the same specificity as LlaJI, recognizing 5'-GACGC-3' and 5'-GCGTC-3', while M. Cce743I methylates the external cytosine in the strand (5'-GACG(m)C-3'). R. Cce743II, has the same specificity as LlaI, recognizing 5'-CCAGG-3' and 5'-CCTGG-3', while M. Cce743II methylates the external cytosine of both strands. An in vivo methylation system, expressing M. Cce743I and M. Cce743II from C. cellulovorans in Escherichia coli, was then established to protect plasmids used in electrotransformation. Transformants expressing an aldehyde/alcohol dehydrogenase (adhE2), which converted butyryl-CoA to n-butanol and acetyl-CoA to ethanol, were obtained. For the first time, an effective transformation method was developed for metabolic engineering of C. cellulovorans for biofuel production directly from cellulose.
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Utturkar SM, Klingeman DM, Bruno-Barcena JM, Chinn MS, Grunden AM, Köpke M, Brown SD. Sequence data for Clostridium autoethanogenum using three generations of sequencing technologies. Sci Data 2015; 2:150014. [PMID: 25977818 PMCID: PMC4409012 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2015.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
During the past decade, DNA sequencing output has been mostly dominated by the second generation sequencing platforms which are characterized by low cost, high throughput and shorter read lengths for example, Illumina. The emergence and development of so called third generation sequencing platforms such as PacBio has permitted exceptionally long reads (over 20 kb) to be generated. Due to read length increases, algorithm improvements and hybrid assembly approaches, the concept of one chromosome, one contig and automated finishing of microbial genomes is now a realistic and achievable task for many microbial laboratories. In this paper, we describe high quality sequence datasets which span three generations of sequencing technologies, containing six types of data from four NGS platforms and originating from a single microorganism, Clostridium autoethanogenum. The dataset reported here will be useful for the scientific community to evaluate upcoming NGS platforms, enabling comparison of existing and novel bioinformatics approaches and will encourage interest in the development of innovative experimental and computational methods for NGS data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagar M Utturkar
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37919, USA
| | - Dawn M Klingeman
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
| | - José M Bruno-Barcena
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Mari S Chinn
- Department of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | - Amy M Grunden
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, North Carolina State University , Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, USA
| | | | - Steven D Brown
- Graduate School of Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37919, USA ; Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, USA
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