Whole-genome sequence of an evolved Clostridium pasteurianum strain reveals Spo0A deficiency responsible for increased butanol production and superior growth

Autotrophic adaptive laboratory evolution of the acetogen Clostridium autoethanogenum delivers the gas-fermenting strain LAbrini with superior growth, products, and robustness

Microbes able to convert gaseous one-carbon (C1) waste feedstocks are increasingly important to transition to the sustainable production of renewable chemicals and fuels. Acetogens are interesting biocatalysts since gas fermentation using Clostridium autoethanogenum has been commercialised. However, most acetogen strains need complex nutrients, display slow growth, and are not robust for bioreactor fermentations. In this work, we used three different and independent adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) strategies to evolve the wild-type C. autoethanogenum to grow faster, without yeast extract and to be robust in operating continuous bioreactor cultures. Multiple evolved strains with improved phenotypes were isolated on minimal media with one strain, named "LAbrini", exhibiting superior performance regarding the maximum specific growth rate, product profile, and robustness in continuous cultures. Whole-genome sequencing of the evolved strains identified 25 mutations. Of particular interest are two genes that acquired seven different mutations across the three ALE strategies, potentially as a result of convergent evolution. Reverse genetic engineering of mutations in potentially sporulation-related genes CLAU_3129 (spo0A) and CLAU_1957 recovered all three superior features of our ALE strains through triggering significant proteomic rearrangements. This work provides a robust C. autoethanogenum strain "LAbrini" to accelerate phenotyping and genetic engineering and to better understand acetogen metabolism.

DNA transfer between two different species mediated by heterologous cell fusion in Clostridium coculture

Prokaryotic evolution is driven by random mutations and horizontal gene transfer (HGT). HGT occurs via transformation, transduction, or conjugation. We have previously shown that in syntrophic cocultures of Clostridium acetobutylicum and Clostridium ljungdahlii, heterologous cell fusion leads to a large-scale exchange of proteins and RNA between the two organisms. Here, we present evidence that heterologous cell fusion facilitates the exchange of DNA between the two organisms. Using selective subculturing, we isolated C. acetobutylicum cells which acquired and integrated into their genome portions of plasmid DNA from a plasmid-carrying C. ljungdahlii strain. Limiting-dilution plating and DNA methylation data based on PacBio Single-Molecule Real Time (SMRT) sequencing support the existence of hybrid C. acetobutylicum/C. ljungdahlii cells. These findings expand our understanding of multi-species microbiomes, their survival strategies, and evolution.IMPORTANCEInvestigations of natural multispecies microbiomes and synthetic microbial cocultures are attracting renewed interest for their potential application in biotechnology, ecology, and medical fields. Previously, we have shown the syntrophic coculture of C. acetobutylicum and C. ljungdahlii undergoes heterologous cell-to-cell fusion, which facilitates the exchange of cytoplasmic protein and RNA between the two organisms. We now show that heterologous cell fusion between the two Clostridium organisms can facilitate the exchange of DNA. By applying selective pressures to this coculture system, we isolated clones of wild-type C. acetobutylicum which acquired the erythromycin resistance (erm) gene from the C. ljungdahlii strain carrying a plasmid with the erm gene. Single-molecule real-time sequencing revealed that the erm gene was integrated into the genome in a mosaic fashion. Our data also support the persistence of hybrid C. acetobutylicum/C. ljungdahlii cells displaying hybrid DNA-methylation patterns.

Main genome characteristics of butanol-producing Clostridium sp. UCM В-7570 strain

The rapid development of new molecular methods and approaches, sequencing technologies, has provided new insights into genetic and structural features of bacterial genomes. Information about the genetic organization of metabolic pathways and their regulatory elements has greatly contributed to the increase in the number of studies related to the construction of new bacterial strains with improved characteristics. In this study, the entire genome of the producing strain Clostridium sp. UCM В-7570 from the "Collection of producing strains of microorganisms and plant lines for food and agricultural biotechnology" of Institute of Food Biotechnology and Genomics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine was sequenced and characterized. The genome was assembled into the scaffold with a total size of 4,470,321 bp and a GC content of 29.7%. The total number of genes identified was 4262, of which 4057 encoded proteins, 10 were rRNA operons, and 80 were tRNA genes. The genes of the sequenced genome encoding enzymes involved in butanol fermentation were found and analyzed. They were organized into cluster structures, and their protein sequences were found to be similar to the corresponding strains of C. acetobutylicum, C. beijerinckii, and C. pasteurianum type strains with the highest similarity to the latter. Thus, Clostridium sp. UCM В-7570 producing strain was identified as C. pasteurianum and suggested for metabolic engineering purposes.

Exploitation of a Type 1 Toxin-Antitoxin System as an Inducible Counter-Selective Marker for Genome Editing in the Acetogen Eubacterium limosum

Targeted mutations in the anaerobic methylotroph Eubacterium limosum have previously been obtained using CRISPR-based mutagenesis methods. In this study, a RelB-family toxin from Eubacterium callanderi was placed under the control of an anhydrotetracycline-sensitive promoter, forming an inducible counter-selective system. This inducible system was coupled with a non-replicative integrating mutagenesis vector to create precise gene deletions in Eubacterium limosum B2. The genes targeted in this study were those encoding the histidine biosynthesis gene hisI, the methanol methyltransferase and corrinoid protein mtaA and mtaC, and mtcB, encoding an Mttb-family methyltransferase which has previously been shown to demethylate L-carnitine. A targeted deletion within hisI brought about the expected histidine auxotrophy, and deletions of mtaA and mtaC both abolished autotrophic growth on methanol. Deletion of mtcB was shown to abolish the growth of E. limosum on L-carnitine. After an initial selection step to isolate transformant colonies, only a single induction step was required to obtain mutant colonies for the desired targets. The combination of an inducible counter-selective marker and a non-replicating integrative plasmid allows for quick gene editing of E. limosum.

Single and multiplexed gene repression in solventogenic Clostridium via Cas12a-based CRISPR interference

The Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic firmicute species that make up the Clostridium genus have broad feedstock consumption capabilities and produce value-added metabolic products, but genetic manipulation is difficult, limiting their broad appeal. CRISPR-Cas systems have recently been applied to Clostridium species, primarily using Cas9 as a counterselection marker in conjunction with plasmid-based homologous recombination. CRISPR interference is a method that reduces gene expression of specific genes via precision targeting of a nuclease deficient Cas effector protein. Here, we develop a dCas12a-based CRISPR interference system for transcriptional gene repression in multiple mesophilic Clostridium species. We show the Francisella novicida Cas12a-based system has a broader applicability due to the low GC content in Clostridium species compared to CRISPR Cas systems derived from other bacteria. We demonstrate >99% reduction in transcript levels of targeted genes in Clostridium acetobutylicum and >75% reduction in Clostridium pasteurianum. We also demonstrate multiplexed repression via use of a single synthetic CRISPR array, achieving 99% reduction in targeted gene expression and elucidating a unique metabolic profile for their reduced expression. Overall, this work builds a foundation for high throughput genetic screens without genetic editing, a key limitation in current screening methods used in the Clostridium community.

Point mutation of V252 in neomycin C epimerase enlarges substrate-binding pocket and improves neomycin B accumulation in Streptomyces fradiae

Neomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic with broad-spectrum antibacterial resistance, is widely used in pharmaceutical and agricultural fields. However, separation and purification of neomycin B as an active substance from Streptomyces fradiae are complicated. Although NeoN can catalyze conversion of neomycin C to neomycin B, the underlying catalytic mechanism is still unclear. In this study, the genomic information of high-yielding mutant S. fradiae SF-2 was elucidated using whole-genome sequencing. Subsequently, the mechanism of NeoN in catalyzing conversion of neomycin C to neomycin B was resolved based on NeoN-SAM-neomycin C ternary complex. Mutant NeoNV252A showed improved NeoN activity, and the recombinant strain SF-2-NeoNV252A accumulated 16,766.6 U/mL neomycin B, with a decrease in neomycin C ratio from 16.1% to 6.28%, when compared with the parental strain SF-2. In summary, this study analyzed the catalytic mechanism of NeoN, providing significant reference for rational design of NeoN to improve neomycin B production and weaken the proportion of neomycin C.

Sporulation in solventogenic and acetogenic clostridia

The Clostridium genus harbors compelling organisms for biotechnological production processes; while acetogenic clostridia can fix C1-compounds to produce acetate and ethanol, solventogenic clostridia can utilize a wide range of carbon sources to produce commercially valuable carboxylic acids, alcohols, and ketones by fermentation. Despite their potential, the conversion by these bacteria of carbohydrates or C1 compounds to alcohols is not cost-effective enough to result in economically viable processes. Engineering solventogenic clostridia by impairing sporulation is one of the investigated approaches to improve solvent productivity. Sporulation is a cell differentiation process triggered in bacteria in response to exposure to environmental stressors. The generated spores are metabolically inactive but resistant to harsh conditions (UV, chemicals, heat, oxygen). In Firmicutes, sporulation has been mainly studied in bacilli and pathogenic clostridia, and our knowledge of sporulation in solvent-producing or acetogenic clostridia is limited. Still, sporulation is an integral part of the cellular physiology of clostridia; thus, understanding the regulation of sporulation and its connection to solvent production may give clues to improve the performance of solventogenic clostridia. This review aims to provide an overview of the triggers, characteristics, and regulatory mechanism of sporulation in solventogenic clostridia. Those are further compared to the current knowledge on sporulation in the industrially relevant acetogenic clostridia. Finally, the potential applications of spores for process improvement are discussed.Key Points• The regulatory network governing sporulation initiation varies in solventogenic clostridia.• Media composition and cell density are the main triggers of sporulation.• Spores can be used to improve the fermentation process.

Improving the Methanol Tolerance of an Escherichia coli Methylotroph via Adaptive Laboratory Evolution Enhances Synthetic Methanol Utilization

There is great interest in developing synthetic methylotrophs that harbor methane and methanol utilization pathways in heterologous hosts such as Escherichia coli for industrial bioconversion of one-carbon compounds. While there are recent reports that describe the successful engineering of synthetic methylotrophs, additional efforts are required to achieve the robust methylotrophic phenotypes required for industrial realization. Here, we address an important issue of synthetic methylotrophy in E. coli: methanol toxicity. Both methanol, and its oxidation product, formaldehyde, are cytotoxic to cells. Methanol alters the fluidity and biological properties of cellular membranes while formaldehyde reacts readily with proteins and nucleic acids. Thus, efforts to enhance the methanol tolerance of synthetic methylotrophs are important. Here, adaptive laboratory evolution was performed to improve the methanol tolerance of several E. coli strains, both methylotrophic and non-methylotrophic. Serial batch passaging in rich medium containing toxic methanol concentrations yielded clones exhibiting improved methanol tolerance. In several cases, these evolved clones exhibited a > 50% improvement in growth rate and biomass yield in the presence of high methanol concentrations compared to the respective parental strains. Importantly, one evolved clone exhibited a two to threefold improvement in the methanol utilization phenotype, as determined via ¹³C-labeling, at non-toxic, industrially relevant methanol concentrations compared to the respective parental strain. Whole genome sequencing was performed to identify causative mutations contributing to methanol tolerance. Common mutations were identified in 30S ribosomal subunit proteins, which increased translational accuracy and provided insight into a novel methanol tolerance mechanism. This study addresses an important issue of synthetic methylotrophy in E. coli and provides insight as to how methanol toxicity can be alleviated via enhancing methanol tolerance. Coupled improvement of methanol tolerance and synthetic methanol utilization is an important advancement for the field of synthetic methylotrophy.

Quantitative proteomic analysis to reveal expression differences for butanol production from glycerol and glucose by Clostridium sp. strain CT7

Clostridium sp. strain CT7 is a new emerging microbial cell factory with high butanol production ratio owing to its non-traditional butanol fermentation mode with uncoupled acetone and 1,3-propanediol formation. Significant changes of metabolic products profile were shown in glycerol- and glucose-fed strain CT7, especially higher butanol and lower volatile fatty acids (VFAs) production occurred from glycerol-fed one. However, the mechanism of this interesting phenomenon was still unclear. To better elaborate the bacterial response towards glycerol and glucose, the quantitative proteomic analysis through iTRAQ strategy was performed to reveal the regulated proteomic expression levels under different substrates. Proteomics data showed that proteomic expression levels related with carbon metabolism and solvent generation under glycerol media were highly increased. In addition, the up-regulation of hydrogenases, ferredoxins and electron-transferring proteins may attribute to the internal redox balance, while the earlier triggered sporulation response in glycerol-fed media may be associated with the higher butanol production. This study will pave the way for metabolic engineering of other industrial microorganisms to obtain efficient butanol production from glycerol.

Phenotypic and Genomic Analysis of Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-598 Mutants With Increased Butanol Tolerance

N-Butanol, a valuable solvent and potential fuel extender, can be produced via acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) fermentation. One of the main drawbacks of ABE fermentation is the high toxicity of butanol to producing cells, leading to cell membrane disruption, low culture viability and, consequently, low produced concentrations of butanol. The goal of this study was to obtain mutant strains of Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-598 with improved butanol tolerance using random chemical mutagenesis, describe changes in their phenotypes compared to the wild-type strain and reveal changes in the genome that explain improved tolerance or other phenotypic changes. Nine mutant strains with stable improved features were obtained by three different approaches and, for two of them, ethidium bromide (EB), a known substrate of efflux pumps, was used for either selection or as a mutagenic agent. It is the first utilization of this approach for the development of butanol-tolerant mutants of solventogenic clostridia, for which generally there is a lack of knowledge about butanol efflux or efflux mechanisms and their regulation. Mutant strains exhibited increase in butanol tolerance from 36% up to 127% and the greatest improvement was achieved for the strains for which EB was used as a mutagenic agent. Additionally, increased tolerance to other substrates of efflux pumps, EB and ethanol, was observed in all mutants and higher antibiotic tolerance in some of the strains. The complete genomes of mutant strains were sequenced and revealed that improved butanol tolerance can be attributed to mutations in genes encoding typical stress responses (chemotaxis, autolysis or changes in cell membrane structure), but, also, to mutations in genes X276_07980 and X276_24400, encoding efflux pump regulators. The latter observation confirms the importance of efflux in butanol stress response of the strain and offers new targets for rational strain engineering.

CRISPR-Cas, a highly effective tool for genome editing in Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4(HMT)

The solventogenic clostridia have long been known for their ability to convert sugars from complex feedstocks into commercially important solvents. Although the acetone-butanol-ethanol process fell out of favour decades ago, renewed interest in sustainability and ‘green’ chemistry has re-established our appetite for reviving technologies such as these, albeit with 21st century improvements. As CRISPR-Cas genome editing tools are being developed and applied to the solventogenic clostridia, their industrial potential is growing. Through integration of new pathways, the beneficial traits and historical track record of clostridial fermentation can be exploited to generate a much wider range of industrially relevant products. Here we show the application of genome editing using the endogenous CRISPR-Cas mechanism of Clostridium saccharoperbutylacetonicum N1-4(HMT), to generate a deletion, SNP and to integrate new DNA into the genome. These technological advancements pave the way for application of clostridial species to the production of an array of products.

Self-Synchronized Oscillatory Metabolism of Clostridium pasteurianum in Continuous Culture

By monitoring the real-time gas production (CO2 and H2) and redox potential at high sampling frequency in continuous culture of Clostridium pasteurianum on glycerol as sole carbohydrate, the self-synchronized oscillatory metabolism was revealed and studied. The oscillations in CO2 and H2 production were in sync with each other and with both redox potential and glycerol in the continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR). There is strong evidence that the mechanism for this is in the regulation of the oxidative pathway of glycerol metabolism, including glycolysis, and points toward complex, concerted cycles of enzyme inhibition and activation by pathway intermediates and/or redox equivalents. The importance of understanding such an “oscillatory metabolism” is for developing a stable and highly productive industrial fermentation process for butanol production, as unstable oscillations are unproductive. It is shown that the oscillatory metabolism can be eradicated and reinstated and that the period of oscillations can be altered by modification of the operating parameters. Synchronized oscillatory metabolism impacted the product profile such that it lowered the selectivity for butanol and increased the selectivity for ethanol. This elucidates a possible cause for the variability in the product profile of C. pasteurianum that has been reported in many previous studies.

Rational development of transformation in Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405 via complete methylome analysis and evasion of native restriction-modification systems

A major barrier to both metabolic engineering and fundamental biological studies is the lack of genetic tools in most microorganisms. One example is Clostridium thermocellum ATCC 27405^T, where genetic tools are not available to help validate decades of hypotheses. A significant barrier to DNA transformation is restriction–modification systems, which defend against foreign DNA methylated differently than the host. To determine the active restriction–modification systems in this strain, we performed complete methylome analysis via single-molecule, real-time sequencing to detect 6-methyladenine and 4-methylcytosine and the rarely used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to detect 5-methylcytosine. Multiple active systems were identified, and corresponding DNA methyltransferases were expressed from the Escherichia coli chromosome to mimic the C. thermocellum methylome. Plasmid methylation was experimentally validated and successfully electroporated into C. thermocellum ATCC 27405. This combined approach enabled genetic modification of the C. thermocellum-type strain and acts as a blueprint for transformation of other non-model microorganisms.

Flow cytometry analysis of Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-598 populations exhibiting different phenotypes induced by changes in cultivation conditions

BACKGROUND

Biobutanol production by clostridia via the acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE) pathway is a promising future technology in bioenergetics , but identifying key regulatory mechanisms for this pathway is essential in order to construct industrially relevant strains with high tolerance and productivity. We have applied flow cytometric analysis to C. beijerinckii NRRL B-598 and carried out comparative screening of physiological changes in terms of viability under different cultivation conditions to determine its dependence on particular stages of the life cycle and the concentration of butanol.

RESULTS

Dual staining by propidium iodide (PI) and carboxyfluorescein diacetate (CFDA) provided separation of cells into four subpopulations with different abilities to take up PI and cleave CFDA, reflecting different physiological states. The development of a staining pattern during ABE fermentation showed an apparent decline in viability, starting at the pH shift and onset of solventogenesis, although an appreciable proportion of cells continued to proliferate. This was observed for sporulating as well as non-sporulating phenotypes at low solvent concentrations, suggesting that the increase in percentage of inactive cells was not a result of solvent toxicity or a transition from vegetative to sporulating stages. Additionally, the sporulating phenotype was challenged with butanol and cultivation with a lower starting pH was performed; in both these experiments similar trends were obtained-viability declined after the pH breakpoint, independent of the actual butanol concentration in the medium. Production characteristics of both sporulating and non-sporulating phenotypes were comparable, showing that in C. beijerinckii NRRL B-598, solventogenesis was not conditional on sporulation.

CONCLUSION

We have shown that the decline in C. beijerinckii NRRL B-598 culture viability during ABE fermentation was not only the result of accumulated toxic metabolites, but might also be associated with a special survival strategy triggered by pH change.

Recent Developments of the Synthetic Biology Toolkit for Clostridium

The Clostridium genus is a large, diverse group consisting of Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic firmicutes. Among this group are historically notorious pathogens as well as several industrially relevant species with the ability to produce chemical commodities, particularly biofuels, from renewable biomass. Additionally, other species are studied for their potential use as therapeutics. Although metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have been instrumental in improving product tolerance, titer, yields, and feed stock consumption capabilities in several organisms, low transformation efficiencies and lack of synthetic biology tools and genetic parts make metabolic engineering within the Clostridium genus difficult. Progress has recently been made to overcome challenges associated with engineering various Clostridium spp. For example, developments in CRISPR tools in multiple species and strains allow greater capability to produce edits with greater precision, faster, and with higher efficiencies. In this mini-review, we will highlight these recent advances and compare them to established methods for genetic engineering in Clostridium. In addition, we discuss the current state and development of Clostridium-based promoters (constitutive and inducible) and reporters. Future progress in this area will enable more rapid development of strain engineering, which would allow for the industrial exploitation of Clostridium for several applications including bioproduction of several commodity products.

Exploitation of novel wild type solventogenic strains for butanol production

Butanol has been regarded as an important bulk chemical and advanced biofuel; however, large scaling butanol production by solventogenic Clostridium sp. is still not economically feasible due to the high cost of substrates, low butanol titer and yield caused by the toxicity of butanol and formation of by-products. Renewed interests in biobutanol as biofuel and rapid development in genetic tools have spurred technological advances to strain modifications. Comprehensive reviews regarding these aspects have been reported elsewhere in detail. Meanwhile, more wild type butanol producers with unique properties were also isolated and characterized. However, few reviews addressed these discoveries of novel wild type solventogenic Clostridium sp. strains. Accordingly, this review aims to comprehensively summarize the most recent advances on wild type butanol producers in terms of fermentation patterns, substrate utilization et al. Future perspectives using these native ones as chassis for genetic modification were also discussed.

Recent Developments of the Synthetic Biology Toolkit for Clostridium

The Clostridium genus is a large, diverse group consisting of Gram-positive, spore-forming, obligate anaerobic firmicutes. Among this group are historically notorious pathogens as well as several industrially relevant species with the ability to produce chemical commodities, particularly biofuels, from renewable biomass. Additionally, other species are studied for their potential use as therapeutics. Although metabolic engineering and synthetic biology have been instrumental in improving product tolerance, titer, yields, and feed stock consumption capabilities in several organisms, low transformation efficiencies and lack of synthetic biology tools and genetic parts make metabolic engineering within the Clostridium genus difficult. Progress has recently been made to overcome challenges associated with engineering various Clostridium spp. For example, developments in CRISPR tools in multiple species and strains allow greater capability to produce edits with greater precision, faster, and with higher efficiencies. In this mini-review, we will highlight these recent advances and compare them to established methods for genetic engineering in Clostridium. In addition, we discuss the current state and development of Clostridium-based promoters (constitutive and inducible) and reporters. Future progress in this area will enable more rapid development of strain engineering, which would allow for the industrial exploitation of Clostridium for several applications including bioproduction of several commodity products.

Comparison of expression of key sporulation, solventogenic and acetogenic genes in C. beijerinckii NRRL B-598 and its mutant strain overexpressing spo0A

The production of acetone, butanol and ethanol by fermentation of renewable biomass has potential to become a valuable industrial process. Mechanisms of solvent production and sporulation involve some common regulators in some ABE-producing clostridia, although details of the links between the pathways are not clear. In this study, we compare a wild-type (WT) Clostridium beijerinckii NRRL B-598 with its mutant strain OESpo0A, in which the gene encoding Spo0A, an important regulator of both sporulation and solventogenesis, is overexpressed in terms of solvent and acid production. We also compare morphologies during growth on two different media: TYA broth, where the WT culture sporulates, and RCM, where the WT culture does not. In addition, RT-qPCR-based analysis of expression profiles of spo0A, spoIIE, sigG, spoVD, ald and buk1 genes involved in sporulation or solvent production in these strains, were compared. The OESpo0A mutant did not produce spores and butanol titre was lower compared to the WT, but increased amounts of butyric acid and ethanol were produced. The gene spo0A had high levels of expression in the WT under non-sporulating culture conditions while other selected genes for sporulation factors were downregulated significantly. Similar observations were obtained for OESpo0A where spo0A overexpression and downregulation of other sporulation genes were demonstrated. Higher expression of spo0A led to higher expression of buk1 and ald, which could confirm the role of spo0A in activation of the solventogenic pathway, although solvent production was not affected significantly in the WT and was weakened in the OESpo0A mutant.

Towards improved butanol production through targeted genetic modification of Clostridium pasteurianum

Declining fossil fuel reserves, coupled with environmental concerns over their continued extraction and exploitation have led to strenuous efforts to identify renewable routes to energy and fuels. One attractive option is to convert glycerol, a by-product of the biodiesel industry, into n-butanol, an industrially important chemical and potential liquid transportation fuel, using Clostridium pasteurianum. Under certain growth conditions this Clostridium species has been shown to predominantly produce n-butanol, together with ethanol and 1,3-propanediol, when grown on glycerol. Further increases in the yields of n-butanol produced by C. pasteurianum could be accomplished through rational metabolic engineering of the strain. Accordingly, in the current report we have developed and exemplified a robust tool kit for the metabolic engineering of C. pasteurianum and used the system to make the first reported in-frame deletion mutants of pivotal genes involved in solvent production, namely hydA (hydrogenase), rex (Redox response regulator) and dhaBCE (glycerol dehydratase). We were, for the first time in C. pasteurianum, able to eliminate 1,3-propanediol synthesis and demonstrate its production was essential for growth on glycerol as a carbon source. Inactivation of both rex and hydA resulted in increased n-butanol titres, representing the first steps towards improving the utilisation of C. pasteurianum as a chassis for the industrial production of this important chemical.

Genome-directed analysis of prophage excision, host defence systems, and central fermentative metabolism in Clostridium pasteurianum

Clostridium pasteurianum is emerging as a prospective host for the production of biofuels and chemicals, and has recently been shown to directly consume electric current. Despite this growing biotechnological appeal, the organism’s genetics and central metabolism remain poorly understood. Here we present a concurrent genome sequence for the C. pasteurianum type strain and provide extensive genomic analysis of the organism’s defence mechanisms and central fermentative metabolism. Next generation genome sequencing produced reads corresponding to spontaneous excision of a novel phage, designated φ6013, which could be induced using mitomycin C and detected using PCR and transmission electron microscopy. Methylome analysis of sequencing reads provided a near-complete glimpse into the organism’s restriction-modification systems. We also unveiled the chief C. pasteurianum Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) locus, which was found to exemplify a Type I-B system. Finally, we show that C. pasteurianum possesses a highly complex fermentative metabolism whereby the metabolic pathways enlisted by the cell is governed by the degree of reductance of the substrate. Four distinct fermentation profiles, ranging from exclusively acidogenic to predominantly alcohologenic, were observed through redox consideration of the substrate. A detailed discussion of the organism’s central metabolism within the context of metabolic engineering is provided.

Disruption of the Reductive 1,3-Propanediol Pathway Triggers Production of 1,2-Propanediol for Sustained Glycerol Fermentation by Clostridium pasteurianum

Crude glycerol, the major by-product of biodiesel production, is an attractive bioprocessing feedstock owing to its abundance, low cost, and high degree of reduction. In line with the advent of the biodiesel industry, Clostridium pasteurianum has gained prominence as a result of its unique capacity to convert waste glycerol into n-butanol, a high-energy biofuel. However, no efforts have been directed at abolishing the production of 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO), the chief competing product of C. pasteurianum glycerol fermentation. Here, we report rational metabolic engineering of C. pasteurianum for enhanced n-butanol production through inactivation of the gene encoding 1,3-PDO dehydrogenase (dhaT). In spite of current models of anaerobic glycerol dissimilation, culture growth and glycerol utilization were unaffected in the dhaT disruption mutant (dhaT::Ll.LtrB). Metabolite characterization of the dhaT::Ll.LtrB mutant revealed an 83% decrease in 1,3-PDO production, encompassing the lowest C. pasteurianum 1,3-PDO titer reported to date (0.58 g liter(-1)). With 1,3-PDO formation nearly abolished, glycerol was converted almost exclusively to n-butanol (8.6 g liter(-1)), yielding a high n-butanol selectivity of 0.83 g n-butanol g(-1) of solvents compared to 0.51 g n-butanol g(-1) of solvents for the wild-type strain. Unexpectedly, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of dhaT::Ll.LtrB mutant culture supernatants identified a metabolite peak consistent with 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO), which was confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Based on these findings, we propose a new model for glycerol dissimilation by C. pasteurianum, whereby the production of 1,3-PDO by the wild-type strain and low levels of both 1,3-PDO and 1,2-PDO by the engineered mutant balance the reducing equivalents generated during cell mass synthesis from glycerol.

IMPORTANCE

Organisms from the genus Clostridium are perhaps the most notable native cellular factories, owing to their vast substrate utilization range and equally diverse variety of metabolites produced. The ability of C. pasteurianum to sustain redox balance and glycerol fermentation despite inactivation of the 1,3-PDO pathway is a testament to the exceptional metabolic flexibility exhibited by clostridia. Moreover, identification of a previously unknown 1,2-PDO-formation pathway, as detailed herein, provides a deeper understanding of fermentative glycerol utilization in clostridia and will inform future metabolic engineering endeavors involving C. pasteurianum To our knowledge, the C. pasteurianum dhaT disruption mutant derived in this study is the only organism that produces both 1,2- and 1,3-PDOs. Most importantly, the engineered strain provides an excellent platform for highly selective production of n-butanol from waste glycerol.

Engineering membrane and cell-wall programs for tolerance to toxic chemicals: Beyond solo genes

Metabolite toxicity in microbes, particularly at the membrane, remains a bottleneck in the production of fuels and chemicals. Under chemical stress, native adaptation mechanisms combat hyper-fluidization by modifying the phospholipids in the membrane. Recent work in fluxomics reveals the mechanism of how membrane damage negatively affects energy metabolism while lipidomic and transcriptomic analyses show that strains evolved to be tolerant maintain membrane fluidity under stress through a variety of mechanisms such as incorporation of cyclopropanated fatty acids, trans-unsaturated fatty acids, and upregulation of cell wall biosynthesis genes. Engineered strains with modifications made in the biosynthesis of fatty acids, peptidoglycan, and lipopolysaccharide have shown increased tolerance to exogenous stress as well as increased production of desired metabolites of industrial importance. We review recent advances in elucidation of mechanisms or toxicity and tolerance as well as efforts to engineer the bacterial membrane and cell wall.

A roadmap for gene system development in Clostridium

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.

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A simple roadmap for the development and deployment of gene systems in clostridia.

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Allelic exchange using pyrE alleles and pseudo-suicide vectors.

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Knock-out and knock-in using allele-coupled exchange (ACE).

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Complementation studies through genome insertion.

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Genome insertion of application specific modules.

Harnessing heterologous and endogenous CRISPR-Cas machineries for efficient markerless genome editing in Clostridium

Application of CRISPR-Cas9 systems has revolutionized genome editing across all domains of life. Here we report implementation of the heterologous Type II CRISPR-Cas9 system in Clostridium pasteurianum for markerless genome editing. Since 74% of species harbor CRISPR-Cas loci in Clostridium, we also explored the prospect of co-opting host-encoded CRISPR-Cas machinery for genome editing. Motivation for this work was bolstered from the observation that plasmids expressing heterologous cas9 result in poor transformation of Clostridium. To address this barrier and establish proof-of-concept, we focus on characterization and exploitation of the C. pasteurianum Type I-B CRISPR-Cas system. In silico spacer analysis and in vivo interference assays revealed three protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) sequences required for site-specific nucleolytic attack. Introduction of a synthetic CRISPR array and cpaAIR gene deletion template yielded an editing efficiency of 100%. In contrast, the heterologous Type II CRISPR-Cas9 system generated only 25% of the total yield of edited cells, suggesting that native machinery provides a superior foundation for genome editing by precluding expression of cas9 in trans. To broaden our approach, we also identified putative PAM sequences in three key species of Clostridium. This is the first report of genome editing through harnessing native CRISPR-Cas machinery in Clostridium.

Comprehensive investigations of biobutanol production by a non-acetone and 1,3-propanediol generating Clostridium strain from glycerol and polysaccharides

BACKGROUND

Low-cost feedstocks, a single product (butanol), and a high butanol titer are three key points for establishing a sustainable and economically viable process for biological butanol production. Here, we comprehensively investigated the butanol production from mono-substrates, mainly glycerol and polysaccharides, mainly starch and xylan by a newly identified wild-type Clostridium pasteurianum GL11.

RESULTS

Strain GL11 produced 14.7 g/L of butanol with a yield of 0.41 g/g from glycerol in the batch mode without formation of by-products of acetone and 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO). With in situ extraction with biodiesel, the amount of butanol was finally improved to 28.8 g/L in the fed-batch mode. Genomic and enzymatic analysis showed that the deficiency of key enzymes involved in acetone and 1,3-PDO pathway within strain GL11 led to the elimination of these by-products, which may also greatly simplify downstream separation. The elimination of acetone and 1,3-PDO and high butanol tolerance contributed to its high butanol production yield from glycerol. More importantly, strain GL11 could directly convert polysaccharides, such as xylan and starch to butanol with secretion of xylanase and amylase via consolidated bioprocessing.

CONCLUSIONS

The wild-type strain GL11 was found to be particularly advantageous due to its capability of efficient butanol production from glycerol and polysaccharides with elimination of acetone and 1,3-PDO formation. And the high butanol production with in situ extraction by using biodiesel would significantly enhance the economic feasibility of fermentative production of butanol from glycerol. These unique features of C. pasteurianum GL11 open the door to the possibility of cost-effective biofuels production in large scale.