Engineering desiccation tolerance in Escherichia coli.
Recombinant sucrose-6-phosphate synthase (SpsA) was synthesized in Escherichia coli BL21DE3 by using the spsA gene of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. Transformants exhibited a 10,000-fold increase in survival compared to wild-type cells following either freeze-drying, air drying, or desiccation over phosphorus pentoxide. The phase transition temperatures and vibration frequencies (P==O stretch) in phospholipids suggested that sucrose maintained membrane fluidity during cell dehydration.
Billi
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Virginia Tech Center for Genomics (VIGEN), Fralin Biotechnology Center, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA.
Wright
D J
DJ
Helm
R F
RF
Prickett
T
T
Potts
M
M
Crowe
J H
JH
D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D003890:Desiccation; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development*; D005612:Freeze Drying; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D005964:Glucosyltransferases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D014170:Transformation, Genetic
D017553:Phosphorus Compounds; C012500:phosphorus pentoxide; D013395:Sucrose; D005964:Glucosyltransferases; C022698:sucrose-phosphate synthase