Exploring engineered vesiculation by Pseudomonas putida KT2440 for natural product biosynthesis

Area of Science:

• Microbial Biotechnology
• Synthetic Biology
• Bacterial Physiology

Background:

• Pseudomonas species are robust cell factories for natural product synthesis.
• Optimizing chassis strains with enhanced tolerance traits benefits biotechnological applications.
• Outer membrane vesicle (OMV) production is a key bacterial process.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate OMV formation in Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
• To explore the link between OMV production and natural compound yields.
• To identify genetic targets for controlling vesiculation.

Main Methods:

• Studied OMV formation in Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
• Correlated OMV production with recombinant prodigiosin synthesis.
• Identified and manipulated P. putida genes affecting OMV formation.
• Genetically triggered vesiculation in strains producing various natural products.

Main Results:

• OMV production correlated with recombinant tripyrrole prodigiosin production.
• Specific gene expression changes modulated OMV formation.
• Genetically induced vesiculation increased yields of prodigiosin, violacein, phenazine-1-carboxylic acid, and zeaxanthin by up to threefold.

Conclusions:

• Genetic manipulation of OMV formation is a viable strategy to enhance microbial production of natural products.
• Engineered Pseudomonas strains with controlled vesiculation can improve biotechnological applications.
• This approach offers a novel tool for constructing robust production strains.