Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in Bacteria

Biosynthesis in bacteria is a fundamental anabolic process that generates essential macromolecules, including proteins, nucleic acids, lipids, and polysaccharides. These macromolecules are critical for cellular growth, replication, and function. The process is tightly regulated and energetically linked to catabolic pathways to ensure optimal resource utilization.Biosynthetic pathways begin with precursor metabolites such as pyruvate, acetyl-CoA, and glucose-6-phosphate derived from glycolysis,...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Metabolite-based cell sorting workflow for identifying microbes producing carbonyls in tobacco leaves.

Applied microbiology and biotechnology·2022

Same author

Compartmentalization and transporter engineering strategies for terpenoid synthesis.

Microbial cell factories·2022

Same author

High-Level 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Bioproduction in <i>Bacillus subtilis</i> by Combining Modular Engineering and Transcriptomics-Guided Global Metabolic Regulation.

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry·2022

Same author

Improved Productivity of <i>Streptomyces mobaraensis</i> Transglutaminase by Regulating Zymogen Activation.

Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology·2022

Same author

Active secretion of a thermostable transglutaminase variant in Escherichia coli.

Microbial cell factories·2022

Same author

Combining CRISPR-Cpf1 and Recombineering Facilitates Fast and Efficient Genome Editing in <i>Escherichia coli</i>.

ACS synthetic biology·2022

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products

Published on: October 4, 2019

Combinatorial engineering for improved menaquinone-4 biosynthesis in Bacillus subtilis.

Panhong Yuan¹, Shixiu Cui¹, Yanfeng Liu¹

¹Key Laboratory of Carbohydrate Chemistry and Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China; Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, Ministry of Education, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, 214122, China.

Enzyme and Microbial Technology

|October 14, 2020

Summary

Researchers enhanced menaquinone-4 (MK-4) production in Bacillus subtilis by engineering its metabolic pathways. This improved microbial fermentation yields significantly higher levels of vitamin K2 for potential industrial applications.

Keywords:

Bacillus subtilis Menaquinone pathway Menaquinone-4 Metabolic engineering

More Related Videos

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

Published on: December 15, 2017

Inducible T7 RNA Polymerase-mediated Multigene Expression System, pMGX

Inducible T7 RNA Polymerase-mediated Multigene Expression System, pMGX

Published on: June 27, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Dec 6, 2025

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products

A Customizable Approach for the Enzymatic Production and Purification of Diterpenoid Natural Products

Published on: October 4, 2019

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

Generic Protocol for Optimization of Heterologous Protein Production Using Automated Microbioreactor Technology

Published on: December 15, 2017

Inducible T7 RNA Polymerase-mediated Multigene Expression System, pMGX

Inducible T7 RNA Polymerase-mediated Multigene Expression System, pMGX

Published on: June 27, 2017

Area of Science:

Biotechnology
Metabolic Engineering
Microbial Fermentation

Background:

Menaquinone-4 (MK-4), a vital form of vitamin K2, is crucial for cardiovascular and bone health.
Current organic synthesis of MK-4 is challenging, making microbial fermentation the primary production method.
Bacillus subtilis 168 is a well-established industrial strain for nutraceutical production.

Purpose of the Study:

To significantly improve the synthesis efficiency of MK-4 through combinatorial pathway engineering in Bacillus subtilis 168.
To optimize MK-4 production by targeting key metabolic modules involved in its biosynthesis.

Main Methods:

Combinatorial pathway engineering of four modules: MK-4 biosynthesis, methylerythritol phosphate (MEP), mevalonate-dependent (MVA) isoprenoid, and menaquinone pathways.
Gene overexpression (menA, menG, crtE, dxs, dxr, ispD-ispF, mvaK1, mvaK2, mvaD, mvaS, mvaA) and gene knockout (hepT) using strong constitutive promoter P43.
Fermentation optimization in shake flasks and a 3-L fed-batch bioreactor.

Main Results:

Overexpression of MK-4 biosynthesis genes yielded 8.1 mg/L MK-4.
Knockout of hepT increased MK-4 titer to 31.53 mg/L.
Simultaneous optimization of MEP, MVA, and menaquinone pathways led to a final yield of 145 mg/L MK-4 in a bioreactor.

Conclusions:

Combinatorial pathway engineering in Bacillus subtilis significantly enhances MK-4 production efficiency.
The engineered B. subtilis strain shows potential for cost-effective industrial-scale production of MK-4.
This study provides a robust platform for optimizing vitamin K2 production via microbial fermentation.