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Title: Regulation of alcohol fermentation by Escherichia coli. Progress report, July 1989--June 1990

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to elucidate the way in which the synthesis of ethanol and related fermentation products are regulated in the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli. We are also investigating the control of other genes required for anaerobic growth. We have isolated both structural and regulatory mutations affecting the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the final step in alcohol synthesis. Some of these regulatory mutations also affect other anaerobically induced genes. The adh gene has been cloned and sequenced. The ADH protein is one of the largest highly expressed proteins in E. coli and requires approximately 2700bp of DNA for its coding sequence. We have also isolated mutations affecting the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase and have recently cloned the ldh gene. In consequence it is now possible to construct E. coli strains defective in the production of any one or more of their normal fermentation products (i.e. formate, acetate, lactate, ethanol and succinate). The factors affecting ratio of fermentation products are being investigated by in vivo NMR spectroscopy.

Authors:
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Southern Illinois Univ., Carbondale, IL (United States). Dept. of Microbiology
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
10158618
Report Number(s):
DOE/ER/13941-1
ON: DE92016869
DOE Contract Number:
FG02-88ER13941
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: [1990]
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; ALCOHOL DEHYDROGENASE; DNA-CLONING; LACTATE DEHYDROGENASE; ESCHERICHIA COLI; GENE REGULATION; FERMENTATION; PROGRESS REPORT; 550200; 550700; BIOCHEMISTRY; MICROBIOLOGY

Citation Formats

Clark, D.P. Regulation of alcohol fermentation by Escherichia coli. Progress report, July 1989--June 1990. United States: N. p., 1990. Web. doi:10.2172/10158618.
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Clark, D.P. Regulation of alcohol fermentation by Escherichia coli. Progress report, July 1989--June 1990. United States. doi:10.2172/10158618.
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Clark, D.P. Mon . "Regulation of alcohol fermentation by Escherichia coli. Progress report, July 1989--June 1990". United States. doi:10.2172/10158618. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/10158618.
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@article{osti_10158618,
title = {Regulation of alcohol fermentation by Escherichia coli. Progress report, July 1989--June 1990},
author = {Clark, D.P.},
abstractNote = {The purpose of this project is to elucidate the way in which the synthesis of ethanol and related fermentation products are regulated in the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli. We are also investigating the control of other genes required for anaerobic growth. We have isolated both structural and regulatory mutations affecting the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the final step in alcohol synthesis. Some of these regulatory mutations also affect other anaerobically induced genes. The adh gene has been cloned and sequenced. The ADH protein is one of the largest highly expressed proteins in E. coli and requires approximately 2700bp of DNA for its coding sequence. We have also isolated mutations affecting the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase and have recently cloned the ldh gene. In consequence it is now possible to construct E. coli strains defective in the production of any one or more of their normal fermentation products (i.e. formate, acetate, lactate, ethanol and succinate). The factors affecting ratio of fermentation products are being investigated by in vivo NMR spectroscopy.},
doi = {10.2172/10158618},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1990},
month = {Mon Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1990}
}
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Technical Report:
View Technical Report (0.36 MB)
DOI:  10.2172/10158618
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  • The purpose of this project is to elucidate the way in which the fermentative synthesis of ethanol is regulated in the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli. We are also investigating the control of other genes required for fermentation and anaerobic growth. We have isolated both structural and regulatory mutations affecting the expression of alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme responsible for the final step in alcohol synthesis. Some of these regulatory mutations also affect other anaerobically induced genes. The adh gene has been cloned and sequenced. The ADH protein is one of the largest highly expressed proteins in E. coli and requires approximatelymore » 2700bp of DNA for its cloning sequence. We have also isolated mutations affecting the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase. In consequence it is now possible to construct E. coli strains defective in the production of any one or more of their normal fermentation products (i.e. formate, acetate, lactate, ethanol and succinate). The factors affecting the ratio of fermentation products are being investigated by in vivo NMR spectroscopy.« less

  • This report describes progress in research on the biochemical degradation of alcohols by genetically modified bacteria. Topics include the genetics of the adh system, the characterization of the ADH/ACDH protein, the regulation of the adh gene, the isolation of two lactate dehydrogenase mutants, mutations that affect anaerobic growth, and regulation of the anaerobic gene fusions. (TEM)

  • Constitutive adhC mutants were used as a starting point for the isolation of further mutants, some of which are defective in alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) and/or acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ACDH) activities and some of which are regulatory and express elevated enzyme levels. The structural mutants map close to the adhC gene, suggesting the existence of an anaerobically controlled operon responsible for the conversion of acetyl-CoA to ethanol. Purification of the two enzyme activities indicates that both copurify as a complex of approximately 200,000 daltons. Although confirmation is required, both enzyme activities appear to be functions of a single polypeptide of MW 100,000more » daltons. This interpretation is consistent with genetic data which show that most mutants selected directly for loss of either enzyme have also lost the other activity. Temperature sensitive mutants in which both enzymes are thermolabile also support the idea of a single polypeptide for the two activities. Regulatory mutants located away from the adhC locus have been isolated, and result in two to tenfold elevation of both ADH and ACDH. These mutants are in process of further characterization. Study of adh regulation by means of gene fusions has been slowed by technical problems, however we have devised a direct method for the selection of mutants unable to excrete acidic fermentation products and have accumulated a variety of anaerobically regulated gene fusions which have allowed us to estimate that anaerobiosis in E. coli requires the induction of around 50 genes.« less

  • The purpose of this project is to elucidate the way in which the fermentative synthesis of ethanol is regulated in the facultative anaerobe Escherichia coli. Focus is on the two final steps in alcohol synthesis, which are catalyzed by alcohol dehydrogenase and acetaldehyde CoA dehydrogenase. We have isolated a series of mutations affecting the expression of these enzymes. Some of these mutations are in the structural genes for these enzymes; others affect the regulation of the adh operon. We have recently cloned the genes coding for these enzymes and are now studying the effect of multiple copies of the adhmore » gene on fermentative growth and its regulation. A recently invented technique, proton suicide has allowed the selection of a variety of novel mutants affecting fermentation which are presently being characterized. We have isolated a comprehensive collection of operon fusions in which the lacZ structural gene is fused to promoters that are inactive aerobically but active anaerobically. Although these genes (like adh) are only expressed under anaerobic conditions, the level of induction varies from two-fold to nearly 100-fold. The nitrogen source, medium pH, nature of the buffer, presence of alternative electron acceptors (e.g., nitrate), and other factors exert a great effect on the expression of many of these genes. In the near future we will investigate control mechanisms common to the adh operon and other anaerobically regulated genes.« less