Complete PHB mobilization in Escherichia coli enhances the stress tolerance: a potential biotechnological application.
BACKGROUND
Poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) mobilization in bacteria has been proposed as a mechanism that can benefit their host for survival under stress conditions. Here we reported for the first time that a stress-induced system enabled E. coli, a non-PHB producer, to mobilize PHB in vivo by mimicking natural PHB accumulation bacteria.


RESULTS
The successful expression of PHB biosynthesis and PHB depolymerase genes in E. coli was confirmed by PHB production and 3-hydroxybutyrate secretion. Starvation experiment demonstrated that the complete PHB mobilization system in E. coli served as an intracellular energy and carbon storage system, which increased the survival rate of the host when carbon resources were limited. Stress tolerance experiment indicated that E. coli strains with PHB production and mobilization system exhibited an enhanced stress resistance capability.


CONCLUSIONS
This engineered E. coli with PHB mobilization has a potential biotechnological application as immobilized cell factories for biocatalysis and biotransformation.
Wang
Qian
Q
State Key Laboratory of Microbial Technology, National Glycoengineering Research Center, School of Life Science, Shandong University, Jinan, 250100 PR China. qiqingsheng@sdu.edu.cn.
Yu
Hongmin
H
Xia
Yongzhen
Y
Kang
Zhen
Z
Qi
Qingsheng
Q