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Related Concept Videos

Biosynthesis of Lipids01:29

Biosynthesis of Lipids

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Microbial membranes exhibit remarkable diversity in lipid composition, reflecting evolutionary adaptations to various environmental conditions. The three domains of life—Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya—synthesize membrane lipids through distinct biosynthetic pathways, leading to fundamental structural differences that impact membrane stability, function, and adaptability.Fatty Acid-Based Lipids in Bacteria and EukaryaBacteria and eukaryotes share a common fatty acid biosynthesis...
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Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are crucial components of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria, serving both structural and functional roles. It contributes to membrane stability and protects bacteria from host immune responses. LPS is composed of three major regions—lipid A, a core oligosaccharide, and an O antigen. The biosynthesis and assembly of LPS involve a highly coordinated set of enzymatic reactions and transport mechanisms. Additionally, LPS is recognized as an endotoxin,...
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The outermost layers of prokaryotic cells play a critical role in their survival, virulence, and interaction with the environment. These layers, often composed of polysaccharides, polypeptides, or proteins, form protective and adhesive structures that vary in organization and function.Capsules and Slime LayersCapsules are highly organized, tightly bound layers that firmly attach to the bacterial cell wall. Capsules are usually made of polysaccharides, though some are made of polypeptides. These...
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Mutations are heritable changes in an organism’s genome involving alterations in the base sequence of DNA or RNA. These changes can influence cellular processes and phenotypic traits, potentially transforming the unaltered wild type into a mutant form. Such changes, termed forward mutations, are pivotal in shaping the genetic diversity of organisms.RNA viruses exhibit the highest mutation rates due to the absence of robust proofreading mechanisms during genome replication. In contrast,...
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Bacterial signaling can occur within bacteria (intracellular) or between bacteria (intercellular). At times, a group of bacteria behaves like a community. To achieve this, they engage in quorum sensing, the perception of higher cell density that causes changes in gene expression. Quorum sensing involves both extracellular and intracellular signaling. The signaling cascade starts with a molecule called an autoinducer (AI). Individual bacteria produce AIs that move out of the bacterial cell...
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Microbial communities are dynamic environments where cell lysis releases free DNA into the surroundings. Other cells can take up this extracellular DNA through a process known as transformation.When a cell incorporates this foreign DNA into its genome, resulting in genetic modification, the process is known as transformation. Cells capable of this process are termed competent. Competence can be natural, as observed in certain bacteria and archaea, or artificially induced in the...
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Separation of the Cell Envelope for Gram-negative Bacteria into Inner and Outer Membrane Fractions with Technical Adjustments for Acinetobacter baumannii
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Mutations That Alter the Bacterial Cell Envelope Increase Lipid Production.

Kimberly C Lemmer1, Weiping Zhang1,2, Samantha J Langer1

  • 1DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA.

Mbio
|May 25, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Altering microbial cell envelopes significantly boosts lipid production, offering a renewable alternative to petroleum. This method enhances microbial lipid yields, with some strains secreting lipids extracellularly for industrial applications.

Keywords:
Rhodobacterbioreactorscell envelopefatty acidslipid synthesistwo-component regulatory systems

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Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology
  • Synthetic Biology

Background:

  • Microbial lipids are a sustainable alternative to petroleum-based compounds.
  • Oleaginous microbes accumulate lipids, but increasing yields is challenging.
  • Current strategies for enhancing microbial lipid production are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify genetic modifications that increase lipid accumulation in *Rhodobacter sphaeroides*.
  • To investigate the potential of cell envelope alterations for enhancing microbial lipid production.
  • To explore extracellular lipid secretion as a method for industrial applications.

Main Methods:

  • Screening of a *Rhodobacter sphaeroides* Tn5 mutant library for high-lipid producers.
  • Characterization of high-lipid (HL) mutants, including drug sensitivity and morphology analysis.
  • Fed-batch bioreactor cultivation of selected HL strains for lipid yield assessment.

Main Results:

  • Ten high-lipid (HL) mutants were identified, exhibiting increased fatty acid content.
  • HL mutants showed altered cell envelope properties, including drug sensitivity and shape changes.
  • Two HL mutants secreted a significant portion of lipids extracellularly, with one strain achieving industrially relevant lipid content in bioreactor cultivation.

Conclusions:

  • Alterations in the bacterial cell envelope represent a novel strategy to increase microbial lipid production.
  • Extracellular lipid secretion by HL mutants offers potential for simplified downstream processing.
  • This approach can be combined with biosynthetic pathway knowledge to optimize lipid and chemical production from microbes.