title: Metabolic engineering of Bacillus subtilis for growth on overflow metabolites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The genome of the important industrial host Bacillus subtilis does not encode the glyoxylate shunt, which is necessary to utilize overflow metabolites, like acetate or acetoin, as carbon source. In this study, the operon encoding the isocitrate lyase (aceB) and malate synthase (aceA) from Bacillus licheniformis was transferred into the chromosome of B. subtilis. The resulting strain was examined in respect to growth characteristics and qualities as an expression host.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our results show that the modified B. subtilis strain is able to grow on the C2 compound acetate. A combined transcript, protein and metabolite analysis indicated a functional expression of the native glyoxylate shunt of B. lichenifomis in B. subtilis. This metabolically engineered strain revealed better growth behavior and an improved activity of an acetoin-controlled expression system.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The glyoxylate shunt of B. licheniformis can be functionally transferred to B. subtilis. This novel strain offers improved properties for industrial applications, such as growth on additional carbon sources and a greater robustness towards excess glucose feeding.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Pharmacy, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität, Felix-Hausdorff-Str, 3, D-17487 Greifswald, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kabisch
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pratzka
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Albrecht
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lalk
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ehrenreich
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schweder
mesh_terms: D001407:Bacillus / Q000201:enzymology; D001412:Bacillus subtilis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002876:Chromosomes, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006038:Glyoxylates / Q000378:metabolism; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008292:Malate Synthase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D060847:Metabolic Engineering; D009876:Operon / Q000235:genetics; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D006038:Glyoxylates; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D008292:Malate Synthase; D007522:Isocitrate Lyase; C031150:glyoxylic acid