scholarly journals Novel Toxin-Antitoxin Module SlvT-SlvA Regulates Megaplasmid Stability and Incites Solvent Tolerance in Pseudomonas putida S12

2020 ◽  
Vol 86 (13) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadiastri Kusumawardhani ◽  
David van Dijk ◽  
Rohola Hosseini ◽  
Johannes H. de Winde
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solvent Tolerant

ABSTRACT Pseudomonas putida S12 is highly tolerant of organic solvents in saturating concentrations, rendering this microorganism suitable for the industrial production of various aromatic compounds. Previous studies revealed that P. putida S12 contains the single-copy 583-kbp megaplasmid pTTS12. pTTS12 carries several important operons and gene clusters facilitating P. putida S12 survival and growth in the presence of toxic compounds or other environmental stresses. We wished to revisit and further scrutinize the role of pTTS12 in conferring solvent tolerance. To this end, we cured the megaplasmid from P. putida S12 and conclusively confirmed that the SrpABC efflux pump is the major determinant of solvent tolerance on the megaplasmid pTTS12. In addition, we identified a novel toxin-antitoxin module (proposed gene names slvT and slvA, respectively) encoded on pTTS12 which contributes to the solvent tolerance phenotype and is important for conferring stability to the megaplasmid. Chromosomal introduction of the srp operon in combination with the slvAT gene pair created a solvent tolerance phenotype in non-solvent-tolerant strains, such as P. putida KT2440, Escherichia coli TG1, and E. coli BL21(DE3). IMPORTANCE Sustainable alternatives for high-value chemicals can be achieved by using renewable feedstocks in bacterial biocatalysis. However, during the bioproduction of such chemicals and biopolymers, aromatic compounds that function as products, substrates, or intermediates in the production process may exert toxicity to microbial host cells and limit the production yield. Therefore, solvent tolerance is a highly preferable trait for microbial hosts in the biobased production of aromatic chemicals and biopolymers. In this study, we revisit the essential role of megaplasmid pTTS12 from solvent-tolerant Pseudomonas putida S12 for molecular adaptation to an organic solvent. In addition to the solvent extrusion pump (SrpABC), we identified a novel toxin-antitoxin module (SlvAT) which contributes to short-term tolerance in moderate solvent concentrations, as well as to the stability of pTTS12. These two gene clusters were successfully expressed in non-solvent-tolerant strains of P. putida and Escherichia coli strains to confer and enhance solvent tolerance.

scholarly journals A novel toxin-antitoxin module SlvT–SlvA governs megaplasmid stability and incites solvent tolerance in Pseudomonas putida S12

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadiastri Kusumawardhani ◽  
David van Dijk ◽  
Rohola Hosseini ◽  
Johannes H. de Winde
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Genetic Stability ◽  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Solvent Tolerant

AbstractPseudomonas putida S12 is highly tolerant towards organic solvents in saturating concentrations, rendering this microorganism suitable for the industrial production of various aromatic compounds. Previous studies reveal that P. putida S12 contains a single-copy 583 kbp megaplasmid pTTS12. This pTTS12 encodes several important operons and gene clusters facilitating P. putida S12 to survive and grow in the presence of toxic compounds or other environmental stresses. We wished to revisit and further scrutinize the role of pTTS12 in conferring solvent tolerance. To this end, we cured the megaplasmid from P. putida S12 and conclusively confirmed that the SrpABC efflux pump is the major contributor of solvent tolerance on the megaplasmid pTTS12. Importantly, we identified a novel toxin-antitoxin module (proposed gene names slvT and slvA respectively) encoded on pTTS12 which contributes to the solvent tolerant phenotype and is essential in conferring genetic stability to the megaplasmid. Chromosomal introduction of the srp operon in combination with slvAT gene pair created a solvent tolerance phenotype in non-solvent tolerant strains such as P. putida KT2440, E. coli TG1, and E. coli BL21(DE3).ImportanceSustainable alternatives for high-value chemicals can be achieved by using renewable feedstocks in bacterial biocatalysis. However, during bioproduction of such chemicals and biopolymers, aromatic compounds that function as products, substrates or intermediates in the production process may exert toxicity to microbial host cells and limit the production yield. Therefore, solvent-tolerance is a highly preferable trait for microbial hosts in the biobased production of aromatic chemicals and biopolymers. In this study, we revisit the essential role of megaplasmid pTTS12 from solvent-tolerant P. putida S12 for molecular adaptation to organic solvent. In addition to the RND efflux pump (SrpABC), we identified a novel toxin-antitoxin module (SlvAT) which contributes to tolerance in low solvent concentration as well as to genetic stability of pTTS12. These two gene clusters were successfully transferred to non-solvent tolerant strains of P. putida and to E. coli strains to confer and enhance solvent tolerance.

scholarly journals Intensity and Mechanisms of Fluoroquinolone Resistance within theH30 andH30Rx Subclones of Escherichia coli Sequence Type 131 Compared with Other Fluoroquinolone-Resistant E. coli

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (8) ◽  
pp. 4471-4480 ◽  
Author(s):  
James R. Johnson ◽  
Brian Johnston ◽  
Michael A. Kuskowski ◽  
Evgeni V. Sokurenko ◽  
Veronika Tchesnokova
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Sequence Type ◽  
Fluoroquinolone Resistance ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Organic Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Pump Activity

ABSTRACTThe recent expansion of theH30 subclone ofEscherichia colisequence type 131 (ST131) and its CTX-M-15-associatedH30Rx subset remains unexplained. Although ST131H30 typically exhibits fluoroquinolone resistance, so do multiple otherE. colilineages that have not expanded similarly. To determine whetherH30 isolates have more intense fluoroquinolone resistance than other fluoroquinolone-resistantE. coliisolates and to identify possible mechanisms, we determined the MICs for four fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and norfloxacin) among 89 well-characterized, genetically diverse fluoroquinolone-resistantE. coliisolates (48 non-H30 and 41H30 [23H30Rx and 18H30 non-Rx]). We compared the MICs with theH30 andH30Rx status, the presence/number of nonsynonymous mutations ingyrA,parC, andparE, the presence ofaac(6′)-1b-cr(an aminoglycoside/fluoroquinolone agent-modifying enzyme), and the efflux pump activity (measured as organic solvent tolerance [OST]). Among 1,518 recentE. coliclinical isolates, ST131H30 predominated clonally, both overall and among the fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates. Among the 89 study isolates, compared with non-H30 isolates,H30 isolates exhibited categorically higher MICs for all four fluoroquinolone agents, higher absolute ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin MICs, more nonsynonymous mutations ingyrA,parC, andparE(specificallygyrAD87N,parCE84V, andparEI529L), and a numerically higher prevalence of (H30Rx-associated)aac(6′)-1b-crbut lower OST scores. All putative resistance mechanisms were significantly associated with the MICs [foraac(6′)-1b-cr: ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin only].parCD87N corresponded with ST131H30 andparEI529L with ST131 generally. Thus, more intense fluoroquinolone resistance may provide ST131H30, especiallyH30Rx [ifaac(6′)-1b-crpositive], with subtle fitness advantages over other fluoroquinolone-resistantE. colistrains. This urges both parsimonious fluoroquinolone use and a search for other fitness-enhancing traits within ST131H30.

scholarly journals Involvement of Antibiotic Efflux Machinery in Glutathione-Mediated Decreased Ciprofloxacin Activity in Escherichia coli

2016 ◽  
Vol 60 (7) ◽  
pp. 4369-4374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manish Goswami ◽  
Mahesh Subramanian ◽  
Ranjeet Kumar ◽  
Jana Jass ◽  
Narendra Jawali
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Antibacterial Action ◽  
Potential Mechanism ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Active Efflux ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Acrab Efflux Pump ◽  
Antibiotic Efflux

ABSTRACTWe have analyzed the contribution of different efflux components to glutathione-mediated abrogation of ciprofloxacin's activity inEscherichia coliand the underlying potential mechanism(s) behind this phenomenon. The results indicated that glutathione increased the total active efflux, thereby partially contributing to glutathione-mediated neutralization of ciprofloxacin's antibacterial action inE. coli. However, the role of glutathione-mediated increased efflux becomes evident in the absence of a functional TolC-AcrAB efflux pump.

scholarly journals Efflux Pumps in Chromobacterium Species Increase Antibiotic Resistance and Promote Survival in a Coculture Competition Model

2019 ◽  
Vol 85 (19) ◽  
Author(s):  
Saida Benomar ◽  
Kara C. Evans ◽  
Robert L. Unckless ◽  
Josephine R. Chandler
Keyword(s):  
Antibiotic Resistance ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Efflux Pumps ◽  
Resistance Mechanisms ◽  
Competition Model ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Resistance Induction ◽  
Resistance Nodulation Division

ABSTRACT Members of the Chromobacterium genus include opportunistic but often-fatal pathogens and soil saprophytes with highly versatile metabolic capabilities. In previous studies of Chromobacterium subtsugae (formerly C. violaceum) strain CV017, we identified a resistance nodulation division (RND)-family efflux pump (CdeAB-OprM) that confers resistance to several antibiotics, including the bactobolin antibiotic produced by the soil saprophyte Burkholderia thailandensis. Here, we show the cdeAB-oprM genes increase C. subtsugae survival in a laboratory competition model with B. thailandensis. We also demonstrate that adding sublethal bactobolin concentrations to the coculture increases C. subtsugae survival, but this effect is not through CdeAB-OprM. Instead, the increased survival requires a second, previously unreported pump we call CseAB-OprN. We show that in cells exposed to sublethal bactobolin concentrations, the cseAB-oprN genes are transcriptionally induced, and this corresponds to an increase in bactobolin resistance. Induction of this pump is highly specific and sensitive to bactobolin, while CdeAB-OprM appears to have a broader range of antibiotic recognition. We examine the distribution of cseAB-oprN and cdeAB-oprM gene clusters in members of the Chromobacterium genus and find the cseAB-oprN genes are limited to the nonpathogenic C. subtsugae strains, whereas the cdeAB-oprM genes are more widely distributed among members of the Chromobacterium genus. Our results provide new information on the antibiotic resistance mechanisms of Chromobacterium species and highlight the importance of efflux pumps for saprophytic bacteria existing in multispecies communities. IMPORTANCE Antibiotic efflux pumps are best known for increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogens; however, the role of these pumps in saprophytes is much less well defined. This study describes two predicted efflux pump gene clusters in the Chromobacterium genus, which is comprised of both nonpathogenic saprophytes and species that cause highly fatal human infections. One of the predicted efflux pump clusters is present in every member of the Chromobacterium genus and increases resistance to a broad range of antibiotics. The other gene cluster has more narrow antibiotic specificity and is found only in Chromobacterium subtsugae, a subset of entirely nonpathogenic species. We demonstrate the role of both pumps in increasing antibiotic resistance and demonstrate the importance of efflux-dependent resistance induction for C. subtsugae survival in a dual-species competition model. These results have implications for managing antibiotic-resistant Chromobacterium infections and for understanding the evolution of efflux pumps outside the host.

scholarly journals Flagellar Cap Protein FliD Mediates Adherence of Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli to Enterocyte Microvilli

2016 ◽  
Vol 84 (4) ◽  
pp. 1112-1122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suely C. F. Sampaio ◽  
Wilson B. Luiz ◽  
Mônica A. M. Vieira ◽  
Rita C. C. Ferreira ◽  
Bruna G. Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Bacterial Surface ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Structural Subunit ◽  
Functional Involvement ◽  
Isogenic Mutants

The expression of flagella correlates with different aspects of bacterial pathogenicity, ranging from adherence to host cells to activation of inflammatory responses by the innate immune system. In the present study, we investigated the role of flagella in the adherence of an atypical enteropathogenicEscherichia coli(aEPEC) strain (serotype O51:H40) to human enterocytes. Accordingly, isogenic mutants deficient in flagellin (FliC), the flagellar structural subunit; the flagellar cap protein (FliD); or the MotAB proteins, involved in the control of flagellar motion, were generated and tested for binding to differentiated Caco-2 cells. Binding of the aEPEC strain to enterocytes was significantly impaired in strains with thefliCandfliDgenes deleted, both of which could not form flagella on the bacterial surface. A nonmotile but flagellated MotAB mutant also showed impaired adhesion to Caco-2 cells. In accordance with these observations, adhesion of aEPEC strain 1711-4 to Caco-2 cells was drastically reduced after the treatment of Caco-2 cells with purified FliD. In addition, incubation of aEPEC bacteria with specific anti-FliD serum impaired binding to Caco-2 cells. Finally, incubation of Caco-2 cells with purified FliD, followed by immunolabeling, showed that the protein was specifically bound to the microvillus tips of differentiated Caco-2 cells. The aEPEC FliD or anti-FliD serum also reduced the adherence of prototype typical enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic, and enterotoxigenicE. colistrains to Caco-2 cells. In conclusion, our findings further strengthened the role of flagella in the adherence of aEPEC to human enterocytes and disclosed the relevant structural and functional involvement of FliD in the adhesion process.

scholarly journals Role of the Vpe Carbohydrate Permease in Escherichia coli Urovirulence and FitnessIn Vivo

2012 ◽  
Vol 80 (8) ◽  
pp. 2655-2666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vanessa Martinez-Jéhanne ◽  
Christophe Pichon ◽  
Laurence du Merle ◽  
Olivier Poupel ◽  
Nadège Cayet ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Sugar Transport ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Healthy Humans ◽  
Gut Colonization

ABSTRACTUropathogenicEscherichia coli(UPEC) strains are a leading cause of infections in humans, but the mechanisms governing host colonization by this bacterium remain poorly understood. Previous studies have identified numerous gene clusters encoding proteins involved in sugar transport, in pathogen-specific islands. We investigated the role in fitness and virulence of thevpeoperon encoding an EII complex of the phosphotransferase (PTS) system, which is found more frequently in human strains from infected urine and blood (45%) than inE. coliisolated from healthy humans (15%). We studied the role of this locusin vivo, using the UPECE. colistrain AL511, mutants, and complemented derivatives in two experimental mouse models of infection. Mutant strains displayed attenuated virulence in a mouse model of sepsis. A role in kidney colonization was also demonstrated by coinfection experiments in a mouse model of pyelonephritis. Electron microscopy examinations showed that thevpeBCmutant produced much smaller amounts of a capsule-like surface material than the wild type, particularly when growing in human urine. Complementation of thevpeBCmutation led to an increase in the amount of exopolysaccharide, resistance to serum killing, and virulence. It was therefore clear that the loss ofvpegenes was responsible for all the observed phenotypes. We also demonstrated the involvement of thevpelocus in gut colonization in the streptomycin-treated mouse model of intestinal colonization. These findings confirm that carbohydrate transport and metabolism underlie the ability of UPEC strains to colonize the host intestine and to infect various host sites.

scholarly journals Adaptive laboratory evolution restores solvent tolerance in plasmid-cured Pseudomonas putida S12; a molecular analysis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadiastri Kusumawardhani ◽  
Benjamin Furtwängler ◽  
Matthijs Blommestijn ◽  
Adelė Kaltenytė ◽  
Jaap van der Poel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Regulatory System ◽  
Gene Clusters ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Adaptive Laboratory Evolution ◽  
Laboratory Evolution

AbstractPseudomonas putida S12 is intrinsically solvent-tolerant and constitutes a promising platform for biobased production of aromatic compounds and biopolymers. The genome of P. putida S12 consists of a 5.8 Mbp chromosome, and a 580 kbp megaplasmid pTTS12 that carries several gene clusters involved in solvent tolerance. Removal of pTTS12 caused a significant reduction in solvent tolerance. In this study, we succeeded in restoring solvent tolerance in plasmid-cured P. putida S12 using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), underscoring the innate solvent-tolerance of this strain.Whole genome sequencing revealed several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a mobile element insertion, enabling ALE-derived strains to survive and sustain growth in the presence of a high toluene concentration (10% v/v). Mutations were identified in an RND efflux pump regulator arpR, resulting in constitutive upregulation of the multifunctional efflux pump ArpABC. SNPs were also found in the intergenic region and subunits of ATP synthase, RNA polymerase subunit β’, global two-component regulatory system (GacA/GacS) and a putative AraC-family transcriptional regulator Afr. RNA-seq analysis further revealed a constitutive down-regulation of energy consuming activities in ALE-derived strains, including flagellar assembly, F0F1 ATP synthase, and membrane transport proteins. Out results indicate that constitutive expression of an alternative solvent extrusion pump in combination with high metabolic flexibility ensures restoration of solvent-tolerance in P. putida S12 lacking its megaplasmid.

scholarly journals Adaptive laboratory evolution restores solvent tolerance in plasmid-cured Pseudomonas putida S12; a molecular analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hadiastri Kusumawardhani ◽  
Benjamin Furtwängler ◽  
Matthijs Blommestijn ◽  
Adelė Kaltenytė ◽  
Jaap van der Poel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Atp Synthase ◽  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Constitutive Expression ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Adaptive Laboratory Evolution ◽  
Laboratory Evolution ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Biobased Production

Pseudomonas putida S12 is inherently solvent-tolerant and constitutes a promising platform for biobased production of aromatic compounds and biopolymers. The megaplasmid pTTS12 of P. putida S12 carries several gene clusters involved in solvent tolerance and the removal of this megaplasmid caused a significant reduction in solvent tolerance. In this study, we succeeded in restoring solvent tolerance in the plasmid-cured P. putida S12 using adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE), underscoring the innate solvent-tolerance of this strain. Whole genome sequencing identified several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and a mobile element insertion enabling ALE-derived strains to survive and sustain growth in the presence of a high toluene concentration (10% (vol/vol)). Mutations were identified in an RND efflux pump regulator arpR, resulting in constitutive upregulation of the multifunctional efflux pump ArpABC. SNPs were also found in the intergenic region and subunits of ATP synthase, RNA polymerase subunit β’, global two-component regulatory system (GacA/GacS) and a putative AraC-family transcriptional regulator Afr. Transcriptomic analysis further revealed a constitutive down-regulation of energy consuming activities in ALE-derived strains, such as flagellar assembly, F0F1 ATP synthase, and membrane transport proteins. In summary, constitutive expression of a solvent extrusion pump in combination with high metabolic flexibility enabled the restoration of solvent-tolerance trait in P. putida S12 lacking its megaplasmid. Importance: Sustainable production of high-value chemicals can be achieved by bacterial biocatalysis. However, bioproduction of biopolymers and aromatic compounds may exert stress on the microbial production host and limit the resulting yield. Having a solvent tolerance trait is highly advantageous for microbial hosts used in the biobased production of aromatics. The presence of a megaplasmid has been linked to the solvent tolerance trait of Pseudomonas putida, however, the extent of innate, intrinsic solvent tolerance in this bacterium remained unclear. Using adaptive laboratory evolution, we successfully adapted the plasmid-cured P. putida S12 strain to regain its solvent tolerance. Through these adapted strains, we begin to clarify the causes, origins, limitations, and trade-offs of the intrinsic solvent tolerance in P. putida. This work sheds a light on the possible genetic engineering targets to enhance solvent tolerance in Pseudomonas putida as well as other bacteria.

scholarly journals Heterologous Expression ofPseudomonas putidaMethyl-Accepting Chemotaxis Proteins YieldsEscherichia coliCells Chemotactic to Aromatic Compounds

2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (18) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clémence Roggo ◽  
Estelle Emilie Clerc ◽  
Noushin Hadadi ◽  
Nicolas Carraro ◽  
Roman Stocker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Pseudomonas Putida ◽  
Aromatic Compounds ◽  
Environmental Concern ◽  
Bacterial Chemotaxis ◽  
Gene Encoding ◽  
Content Type ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Cell Accumulation ◽  
Chemotaxis Proteins

ABSTRACTEscherichia coli, commonly used in chemotaxis studies, is attracted mostly by amino acids, sugars, and peptides. We envisioned modifying the chemotaxis specificity ofE. coliby expressing heterologous chemoreceptors fromPseudomonas putidaenabling attraction either to toluene or benzoate. ThemcpTgene encoding the type 40-helical bundle (40H) methyl-accepting chemoreceptor for toluene fromPseudomonas putidaMT53 and thepcaYgene for the type 40H receptor for benzoate and related molecules fromP. putidaF1 were expressed from thetrgpromoter on a plasmid in motile wild-typeE. coliMG1655.E. colicells expressing McpT accumulated in chemoattraction assays to sources with 60 to 200 μM toluene, although less strongly than the response to 100 μM serine, but statistically significantly stronger than that to sources without any added attractant. An McpT-mCherry fusion protein was detectably expressed inE. coliand yielded weak but distinguishable membranes and polar foci in 1% of cells.E. colicells expressing PcaY showed weak attraction to 0.1 to 1 mM benzoate, but 50 to 70% of cells localized the PcaY-mCherry fusion to their membrane. We conclude that implementing heterologous receptors in theE. colichemotaxis network is possible and, upon improvement of the compatibility of the type 40H chemoreceptors, may bear interest for biosensing.IMPORTANCEBacterial chemotaxis might be harnessed for the development of rapid biosensors, in which chemical availability is deduced from cell accumulation to chemoattractants over time. Chemotaxis ofEscherichia colihas been well studied, but the bacterium is not attracted to chemicals of environmental concern, such as aromatic solvents. We show here that heterologous chemoreceptors for aromatic compounds fromPseudomonas putidaat least partly functionally complement theE. colichemotaxis network, yielding cells attracted to toluene or benzoate. Complementation was still inferior to native chemoattractants, like serine, but our study demonstrates the potential for obtaining selective sensing for aromatic compounds inE. coli.

scholarly journals Engineering of Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 for Constitutive Solvent Tolerance and Increased Specific Styrene Epoxidation Activity

2014 ◽  
Vol 80 (20) ◽  
pp. 6539-6548 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Volmer ◽  
Christoph Neumann ◽  
Bruno Bühler ◽  
Andreas Schmid
Keyword(s):  
Organic Solvents ◽  
Efflux Pump ◽  
Phenotypic Variability ◽  
Metabolic Energy ◽  
Solvent Tolerance ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Styrene Epoxidation ◽  
Tolerance Mechanisms ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solvent Tolerant

ABSTRACTThe application of whole cells as biocatalysts is often limited by the toxicity of organic solvents, which constitute interesting substrates/products or can be used as a second phase forin situproduct removal and as tools to control multistep biocatalysis. Solvent-tolerant bacteria, especiallyPseudomonasstrains, are proposed as promising hosts to overcome such limitations due to their inherent solvent tolerance mechanisms. However, potential industrial applications suffer from tedious, unproductive adaptation processes, phenotypic variability, and instable solvent-tolerant phenotypes. In this study, genes described to be involved in solvent tolerance were identified inPseudomonastaiwanensisVLB120, and adaptive solvent tolerance was proven by cultivation in the presence of 1% (vol/vol) toluene. Deletion ofttgV, coding for the specific transcriptional repressor of solvent efflux pump TtgGHI gene expression, led to constitutively solvent-tolerant mutants ofP. taiwanensisVLB120 and VLB120ΔC. Interestingly, the increased amount of solvent efflux pumps enhanced not only growth in the presence of toluene and styrene but also the biocatalytic performance in terms of stereospecific styrene epoxidation, although proton-driven solvent efflux is expected to compete with the styrene monooxygenase for metabolic energy. Compared to that of theP. taiwanensisVLB120ΔCparent strain, the maximum specific epoxidation activity ofP. taiwanensisVLB120ΔCΔttgVdoubled to 67 U/g of cells (dry weight). This study shows that solvent tolerance mechanisms, e.g., the solvent efflux pump TtgGHI, not only allow for growth in the presence of organic compounds but can also be used as tools to improve redox biocatalysis involving organic solvents.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document