Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Escherichia coli -Based Complementation Assay to Study the Chaperone Function of Heat Shock Protein 70
Published on: March 8, 2024
Complete PHB mobilization in Escherichia coli enhances the stress tolerance: a potential biotechnological application
Qian Wang1, Hongmin Yu, Yongzhen Xia
1State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, National Glycoengineering Research Center, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100 PR China. qiqingsheng@sdu.edu.cn.
Background:
Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) mobilization in bacteria has been proposed as a mechanism that can benefit their host for survival under stress conditions. Here we reported for the first time that a stress-induced system enabled E. coli, a non-PHB producer, to mobilize PHB in vivo by mimicking natural PHB accumulation bacteria.
Results:
The successful expression of PHB biosynthesis and PHB depolymerase genes in E. coli was confirmed by PHB production and 3-hydroxybutyrate secretion. Starvation experiment demonstrated that the complete PHB mobilization system in E. coli served as an intracellular energy and carbon storage system, which increased the survival rate of the host when carbon resources were limited. Stress tolerance experiment indicated that E. coli strains with PHB production and mobilization system exhibited an enhanced stress resistance capability.
Conclusion:
This engineered E. coli with PHB mobilization has a potential biotechnological application as immobilized cell factories for biocatalysis and biotransformation.
Related Concept Videos
Other Stress Responses in Bacteria
Stringent Response in E. coli
Bioreactor Controls-III

