title: Metabolic engineering of 1,2-propanediol pathways in Corynebacterium glutamicum.
abstract: We analyzed 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PD) production in metabolically engineered Corynebacterium glutamicum. Wild-type C. glutamicum produced 93 μM 1,2-PD after 132 h incubation under aerobic conditions. No gene encoding the methylglyoxal synthase (MGS) which catalyzes the first step of 1,2-PD synthesis from the glycolytic pathway was detected on the C. glutamicum genome, but several genes annotated as encoding putative aldo-keto reductases (AKRs) were present. AKR functions as a methylglyoxal reductase in the 1,2-PD synthesis pathway. Expressing Escherichia coli mgs gene in C. glutamicum increased 1,2-PD yield 100-fold, suggesting that wild-type C. glutamicum carries the genes downstream of MGS in the 1,2-PD synthesis pathway. Furthermore, simultaneous overexpression of mgs and cgR_2242, one of the genes annotated as AKRs, enhanced 1,2-PD production to 24 mM. This work establishes that 1,2-PD synthesis by C. glutamicum, previously unknown, is possible.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Microbiology and Biotechnology Group, Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth, 9-2 Kizugawadai, Kizugawa, Kyoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Satoko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Niimi
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inui
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yukawa
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053898:Biosynthetic Pathways; D048230:Corynebacterium glutamicum / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005818:Genetic Engineering; D019946:Propylene Glycol / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D019946:Propylene Glycol