title: Functional analyses of genes involved in the metabolism of ferulic acid in Pseudomonas putida KT2440.
abstract: Pseudomonas putida KT2440 is a physiologically extremely versatile non-pathogenic bacterium that is applied as a "biosafety strain" in biotechnological processes, as authorized by the USA National Institute of Health. Analysis of the P. putida KT2440 whole-genome sequence revealed the genetic organization of the genes fcs, ech, and vdh, which are essential for ferulic acid conversion to vanillic acid via vanillin. To confirm the physiological function of these structural genes as feruloyl-CoA synthetase (Fcs), enoyl-CoA hydratase/aldolase (Ech), and vanillin dehydrogenase (Vdh), respectively, they were cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. Recombinant strains harboring fcs and ech were able to transform ferulic acid to vanillin. The enzyme activities of Fcs and Vdh were determined in protein extracts of these cells. The essential involvement of fcs, ech and vdh in the catabolism of ferulic acid in P. putida KT2440 was proven by separately inactivating each gene by insertion of Omega-elements. The corresponding mutant strains KT2440 fcsOmegaKm, KT2440 echOmegaKm, and KT2440 vdhOmegaKm were not able to grow on ferulic acid. The potential application of P. putida KT2440 and the mutant strains in biotechnological vanillin production process is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie der Westfälischen Wilhelms-Universität Münster, Corrensstrasse 3, 48149 Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Plaggenborg
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Overhage
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steinbüchel
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Priefert
mesh_terms: D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D001547:Benzaldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D001709:Biotechnology; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases / Q000235:genetics; D003373:Coumaric Acids / Q000378:metabolism*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005421:Flavoring Agents / Q000378:metabolism; D005524:Food Technology; D015870:Gene Expression; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D011995:Recombination, Genetic
chemical_list: D001547:Benzaldehydes; D003373:Coumaric Acids; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D005421:Flavoring Agents; C004999:ferulic acid; C100058:vanillin; D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C105452:vanillin dehydrogenase; D004746:Enoyl-CoA Hydratase; D003066:Coenzyme A Ligases; C400923:feruloyl-coenzyme A synthetase