title: Fusion of pyruvate decarboxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase increases ethanol production in Escherichia coli.
abstract: Ethanol is an important biofuel. Heterologous expression of Zymomonas mobilis pyruvate decarboxylase (Pdc) and alcohol dehydrogenase (AdhB) increases ethanol production in Escherichia coli. A fusion of PDC and ADH was generated and expressed in E. coli. The fusion enzyme was demonstrated to possess both activities. AdhB activity was significantly lower when fused to PDC than when the two enzymes were expressed separately. However, cells expressing the fusion protein generated ethanol more rapidly and to higher levels than cells coexpressing Pdc and AdhB, suggesting a specific rate enhancement due to the fusion of the two enzymes.
authors.affiliation: The University of Edinburgh , School of Biological Sciences, Darwin Building, King's Buildings, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JR, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Aleksandra J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lewicka
authors.forename: Jan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Lyczakowski
authors.forename: Gavin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Blackhurst
authors.forename: Christiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pashkuleva
authors.forename: Kyle
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rothschild-Mancinelli
authors.forename: Dainius
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tautvaišas
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Villanueva
authors.forename: Weike
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Justinas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Slikas
authors.forename: Louise
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Horsfall
authors.forename: Alistair
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elfick
authors.forename: Christopher
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: French
mesh_terms: D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008958:Models, Molecular; D011767:Pyruvate Decarboxylase / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000431:Ethanol; D000426:Alcohol Dehydrogenase; D011767:Pyruvate Decarboxylase