Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 6, 2025

Production of Chemicals by Klebsiella pneumoniae Using Bamboo Hydrolysate as Feedstock
Published on: June 29, 2017
A mycofactocin-associated dehydrogenase is essential for ethylene glycol metabolism by Rhodococcus jostii RHA1
Tetsu Shimizu1, Kai Suzuki2, Masayuki Inui3,4
1Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2, Kizugawadai, Kizugawa-Shi, Kyoto, 619-0292, Japan.
Abstract:
Ethylene glycol is an industrially important diol in many manufacturing processes and a building block of polymers, such as poly(ethylene terephthalate). In this study, we found that a mycolic acid-containing bacterium Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 can grow with ethylene glycol as a sole source of carbon and energy. Deletion of a putative glycolate dehydrogenase gene (RHA1_ro03227) abolished growth with ethylene glycol, indicating that ethylene glycol is assimilated via glycolate in R. jostii RHA1. Transcriptome sequencing and gene deletion analyses revealed that a gene homologous to mycofactocin (MFT)-associated dehydrogenase (RHA1_ro06057), hereafter referred to as EgaA, is essential for ethylene glycol assimilation. Furthermore, egaA deletion also negatively affected the utilization of ethanol, 1-propanol, propylene glycol, and 1-butanol, suggesting that EgaA is involved in the utilization of various alcohols in R. jostii RHA1. Deletion of MFT biosynthetic genes abolished growth with ethylene glycol, indicating that MFT is the physiological electron acceptor of EgaA. Further genetic studies revealed that a putative aldehyde dehydrogenase (RHA1_ro06081) is a major aldehyde dehydrogenase in ethylene glycol metabolism by R. jostii RHA1. KEY POINTS: • Rhodococcus jostii RHA1 can assimilate ethylene glycol via glycolate • A mycofactocin-associated dehydrogenase is involved in the oxidation of ethylene glycol • An aldehyde dehydrogenase gene is important for the ethylene glycol assimilation.
Related Concept Videos
Fates of Pyruvate
In aerobic organisms, pyruvate is metabolized via the citric acid cycle to produce reduced coenzymes NADH and FADH2. These coenzymes are then oxidized in the electron transport chain to produce ATP and, in the process, regenerate the NAD+ and FAD. As seen in some cell types and organisms, fermentation...
Fermentation
Fermentation is a type of metabolic process that occurs in the absence of oxygen, where organic molecules such as glucose are broken down to produce energy. During this process, the...
Dehydration of Aldols to Enones: Acid-Catalyzed Aldol Condensation
Acid-Catalyzed Dehydration of Alcohols to Alkenes
Pyruvate Oxidation
First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
Dehydration of Aldols to Enals: Base-Catalyzed Aldol Condensation

