Cynthia Sanville Millard

Mutation of the ptsG Gene Results in Increased Production of Succinate in Fermentation of Glucose by Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli NZN111 is blocked in the ability to grow fermentatively on glucose but gave rise spontaneously to a mutant that had this ability. The mutant carries out a balanced fermentation of glucose to give approximately 1 mol of succinate, 0.5 mol of acetate, and 0.5 mol of ethanol per mol of glucose. The causative mutation was mapped to the ptsG gene, which encodes the membrane-bound, glucose-specific permease of the phosphotransferase system, protein EIICBglc. Replacement of the chromosomalptsG gene with an insertionally inactivated form also restored growth on glucose and resulted in the same distribution of fermentation products. The physiological characteristics of the spontaneous and null mutants were consistent with loss of function of the ptsG gene product; the mutants possessed greatly reduced glucose phosphotransferase activity and lacked normal glucose repression. Introduction of the null mutant into strains not blocked in the ability to ferment glucose also increased succinate production in those strains. This phenomenon was widespread, occurring in different lineages of E. coli, including E. coli B.

A Family of LIC Vectors for High-Throughput Cloning and Purification of Proteins

Fifteen related ligation-independent cloning vectors were constructed for high-throughput cloning and purification of proteins. The vectors encode a TEV protease site for removal of tags that facilitate pro tein purification (his-tag) or improve solubility (MBP, GST). Specialized vectors allow coexpression and copurification of interacting proteins, or in vivo removal of MBP by TVMV protease to improve screening and purification. All target genes and vectors are processed by the same protocols, which we describe here.

A Novel Fermentation Pathway in an Escherichia coli Mutant Producing Succinic Acid, Acetic Acid, and Ethanol

Escherichia coli strain NZN111, which is unable to grow fermentatively because of insertional inactivation of the genes encoding pyruvate: formate lyase and the fermentative lactate dehydrogenase, gave rise spontaneously to a chromosomal mutation that restored its ability to ferment glucose. The mutant strain, named AFP111, fermented glucose more slowly than did its wild-type ancestor, strain W1485, and generated a very different spectrum of products. AFP111 produced succinic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol in proportions of approx 2:1:1. Calculations of carbon and electron balances accounted fully for the observed products; 1 mol of glucose was converted to 1 mol of succinic acid and 0.5 mol each of acetic acid and ethanol. The data support the emergence in E.coli of a novel succinic acid:acetic acid:ethanol fermentation pathway.

A less laborious approach to the high-throughput production of recombinant proteins in Escherichia coli using 2-liter plastic bottles.

Contemporary approaches to biology often call for the high-throughput production of large amounts of numerous proteins for structural or functional studies. Even with the highly efficient protein expression systems developed in Escherichia coli, production of these proteins is laborious and time-consuming. We have simplified established protocols by the use of disposable culture vessels: common 2-liter polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles. The bottles are inexpensive, fit conveniently in commonly available flask holders, and, because they are notched, provide sufficient aeration to support the growth of high-density cultures. The use of antibiotics and freshly prepared media alleviates the need for sterilization of media and significantly reduces the labor involved. Uninoculated controls exhibited no growth during the time required for protein expression in experimental cultures. The yield, solubility, activity, and pattern of crystallization of proteins expressed in bottles were comparable to those obtained under conventional culture conditions. After use, the bottles are discarded, reducing the risk of cross-contamination of subsequent cultures. The approach appears to be suitable for high-throughput production of proteins for structural or functional studies.

Production of selenomethionine-labeled proteins in two-liter plastic bottles for structure determination.

A simplified approach developed recently for the production of heterologous proteins in Escherichia coli uses 2-liter polyethylene terephthalate beverage bottles as disposable culture vessels [Sanville Millard, C. et al. 2003. Protein Expr. Purif.29, 311–320]. The method greatly reduces the time and effort needed to produce native proteins for structural or functional studies. We now demonstrate that the approach is also well suited for production of proteins in defined media with incorporation of selenomethionine to facilitate structure determination by multiwavelength anomalous diffraction. Induction of a random set of Bacillus stearothermophilus target genes under the new protocols generated soluble selenomethionyl proteins in good yield. Several selenomethionyl proteins were purified in good yields and three were subjected to amino acid analysis. Incorporation of selenomethionine was determined to be greater than 95% in one protein and greater than 98% in the other two. In the preceding paper [Zhao et al., this issue, pp. 87–93], the approach is further extended to production of [U-15N]- or [U-13C, U-15N]-labeled proteins. The approach thus appears suitable for high-throughput production of proteins for structure determination by X-ray crystallography or nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.