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Enhanced production of polyhydroxybutyrate by multiple dividing E. coli
Hong Wu1,2,3, Zhongyun Fan1, Xiaoran Jiang1,2,3
1School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Microbial Cell Factories
|July 29, 2016
Summary
Altering bacterial cell division from binary to multiple fission, coupled with gene overexpression, significantly boosted polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) production in Escherichia coli. This engineered multiple fission enhances bacterial growth and PHA accumulation.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Synthetic Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Bacteria typically divide via binary fission, producing two daughter cells.
- Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are accumulated as intracellular inclusions by bacteria.
- Cell division and morphology influence bacterial growth and PHA storage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of multiple fission on bacterial growth and PHA accumulation.
- To enhance polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) production in Escherichia coli by modifying cell division.
Main Methods:
- Engineered multiple fission in Escherichia coli by deleting minC and minD genes.
- Overexpressed division-related genes (ftsQ, ftsL, ftsW, ftsN, ftsZ) and cell shape gene (mreB).
- Cultured engineered E. coli under controlled conditions for growth and PHA analysis.
Main Results:
- Achieved multiple fission, dividing cells into more than two daughter cells simultaneously.
- Observed increased cell dry weight (CDW) in engineered strains.
- Reported over 80% increase in polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) accumulation compared to binary fission controls.
Conclusions:
- Overexpressing specific division and shape genes in multiple-fission E. coli enhances PHA accumulation.
- Modifying bacterial cell division patterns and morphology offers a viable strategy for increasing PHA yields.
- This research provides insights into optimizing microbial PHA production through genetic engineering.
