Improved ethanol tolerance in Escherichia coli by changing the cellular fatty acids composition through genetic manipulation

Biotechnol Lett. 2009 Dec;31(12):1867-71. doi: 10.1007/s10529-009-0092-4. Epub 2009 Aug 15.

Abstract

To investigate the effect of cellular fatty acids composition on ethanol tolerance in Escherichia coli, we overexpressed either des, encoding fatty acid desaturase from Bacillus subtilis, or fabA, encoding beta-hydroxydecanoyl thio-ester dehydrase from E. coli, or both genes together, into E. coli. Recombinant E. coli harboring fabA had elevated tolerance against ethanol compared to wild type strain. In contrast, des decreased resistance to ethanol. Co-expression of both genes together complemented ethanol tolerance of E. coli. This result indicates how to engineer bacterial strains to be resistant to higher concentrations of ethanol.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacillus subtilis / enzymology
  • Bacillus subtilis / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial*
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / metabolism*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / metabolism
  • Ethanol / toxicity*
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type II
  • Fatty Acids / metabolism*
  • Gene Dosage
  • Genetic Engineering
  • Hydro-Lyases / genetics*
  • Hydro-Lyases / metabolism*
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways / genetics

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • Fatty Acids
  • Ethanol
  • Hydro-Lyases
  • 3-hydroxyacyl-(acyl-carrier-protein) dehydratase
  • Fatty Acid Synthase, Type II