Effects of Global Transcription Factor NtcA on Photosynthetic Production of Ethylene in Recombinant Sp. PCC 6803

Overview

Journal Biotechnol Biofuels

Publisher Biomed Central

Specialty Biotechnology

Date 2017 Jun 9

PMID 28592994

Citations 7

Authors

Huilin Mo

Xiaoman Xie

Tao Zhu

Xuefeng Lu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Cyanobacteria are considered potential photosynthetic microbial cell factories for biofuel and biochemical production. Ethylene, one of the most important organic chemicals, has been successfully synthesized in cyanobacteria by introducing an exogenous ethylene-forming enzyme (Efe). However, it remains challenging to significantly improve the biosynthetic efficiency of cyanobacterial ethylene. Genetic modification of transcription factors is a powerful strategy for reprogramming cellular metabolism toward target products. In cyanobacteria, nitrogen control A (NtcA), an important global transcription regulator of primary carbon/nitrogen metabolism, is expected to play a crucial role in ethylene biosynthesis.

Results: The partial deletion of (MH021) enhanced ethylene production by 23%, while overexpression (MH023) in a single-copy recombinant (XX76) reduced ethylene production by 26%. Compared to XX76, the Efe protein content increased 1.5-fold in MH021. This result may be due to the release of the negative regulation of NtcA on promoter P , which controls expression. Glycogen content showed a 23% reduction in MH021, and the ratio of intracellular succinate to 2-oxoglutarate (2-OG) increased 4.8-fold. In a four-copy recombinant strain with partially deleted and a modified tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (MH043), a peak specific ethylene production rate of 2463 ± 219 μL L h OD was achieved, which is higher than previously reported.

Conclusions: The effects of global transcription factor NtcA on ethylene synthesis in genetically engineered sp. PCC 6803 were evaluated, and the partial deletion of enhanced ethylene production in both single-copy and multi-copy recombinant strains. Increased Efe expression, accelerated TCA cycling, and redirected carbon flux from glycogen probably account for this improvement. The results show great potential for improving ethylene synthetic efficiency in cyanobacteria by modulating global regulation factors.

Citing Articles

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Photosynthetic Co-Production of Succinate and Ethylene in A Fast-Growing Cyanobacterium, PCC 11801.

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Enhanced stable production of ethylene in photosynthetic cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942.

Carbonell V, Vuorio E, Aro E, Kallio P World J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2019; 35(5):77.

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