Potential application of the recombinant Escherichia coli-synthesized heme as a bioavailable iron source.
To investigate the potential use of microbial heme as an iron source, recombinant Escherichia coli coexpressing ALA synthase (HemA) as well as the NADP-dependent malic enzyme (MaeB) and dicarboxylic acid transporter (DctA) were cultured. The typical red pigment extracted from the recombinant E. coli after 38 h showed highest absorbance at 407 nm, and the amount of iron in 38.4 mg of microbial heme extract derived from 6-l fermentation broth was 4.1 mg. To determine the commercial potential of the recombinant E.coli-synthesized iron-associated heme as an iron source, mice were fed the iron-free provender with the microbial heme extract. The average body weight reduction of mice fed non-iron provender was 2.3%, whereas no detectable weight loss was evident in mice fed microbial heme addition after 15 days. The heme content of the blood from microbial heme fed mice was 4.2 mg/ml whereas that of controls was 2.4 mg/ml, which implies that the microbial heme could be available for use as an animal iron source.
Kwon
Oh-Hee
OH
Department of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Gyunggi 420-743, Korea.
Kim
Susie
S
Hahm
Dae-Hyun
DH
Lee
Sang Yup
SY
Kim
Pil
P
D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001682:Biological Availability; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D029382:Dicarboxylic Acid Transporters / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006418:Heme / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis
D029382:Dicarboxylic Acid Transporters; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D006418:Heme; D007501:Iron; D008291:Malate Dehydrogenase; C031917:malate dehydrogenase (oxaloacetate-decarboxylating) (NADP+); D000445:Aldehyde Oxidoreductases; C067282:glutamyl tRNA reductase