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Behrendt G, Vlachonikolou M, Tietgens H, Bettenbrock K. Construction and comparison of different vehicles for heterologous gene expression in Zymomonas mobilis. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14381. [PMID: 38264843 PMCID: PMC10832546 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis has the potential to be an optimal chassis for the production of bulk chemicals derived from pyruvate. However, a lack of available standardized and characterized genetic tools hinders both efficient engineering of Z. mobilis and progress in basic research on this organism. In this study, a series of different shuttle vectors were constructed based on the replication mechanisms of the native Z. mobilis plasmids pZMO1, pZMOB04, pZMOB05, pZMOB06, pZMO7 and p29191_2 and on the broad host range replication origin of pBBR1. These plasmids as well as genomic integration sites were characterized for efficiency of heterologous gene expression, stability without selection and compatibility. We were able to show that a wide range of expression levels could be achieved by using different plasmid replicons. The expression levels of the constructs were consistent with the relative copy numbers, as determined by quantitative PCR. In addition, most plasmids are compatible and could be combined. To avoid plasmid loss, antibiotic selection is required for all plasmids except the pZMO7-based plasmid, which is stable also without selection pressure. Stable expression of reporter genes without the need for selection was also achieved by genomic integration. All modules were adapted to the modular cloning toolbox Zymo-Parts, allowing easy reuse and combination of elements. This work provides an overview of heterologous gene expression in Z. mobilis and adds a rich set of standardized genetic elements to an efficient cloning system, laying the foundation for future engineering and research in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerrich Behrendt
- Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsMagdeburgGermany
| | - Maria Vlachonikolou
- Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsMagdeburgGermany
| | - Helga Tietgens
- Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsMagdeburgGermany
| | - Katja Bettenbrock
- Analysis and Redesign of Biological Networks, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical SystemsMagdeburgGermany
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Behrendt G, Frohwitter J, Vlachonikolou M, Klamt S, Bettenbrock K. Zymo-Parts: A Golden Gate Modular Cloning Toolbox for Heterologous Gene Expression in Zymomonas mobilis. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:3855-3864. [PMID: 36346889 PMCID: PMC9680023 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis is a microorganism with extremely high sugar consumption and ethanol production rates and is generally considered to hold great potential for biotechnological applications. However, its genetic engineering is still difficult, hampering the efficient construction of genetically modified strains. In this work, we present Zymo-Parts, a modular toolbox based on Golden-Gate cloning offering a collection of promoters (including native, inducible, and synthetic constitutive promoters of varying strength), an array of terminators and several synthetic ribosomal binding sites and reporter genes. All these parts can be combined in an efficient and flexible way to achieve a desired level of gene expression, either from plasmids or via genome integration. Use of the GoldenBraid-based system also enables an assembly of operons consisting of up to five genes. We present the basic structure of the Zymo-Parts cloning system, characterize several constitutive and inducible promoters, and exemplify the construction of an operon and of chromosomal integration of a reporter gene. Finally, we demonstrate the power and utility of the Zymo-Parts toolbox for metabolic engineering applications by overexpressing a heterologous gene encoding for the lactate dehydrogenase of Escherichia coli to achieve different levels of lactate production in Z. mobilis.
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Zymomonas mobilis metabolism: Novel tools and targets for its rational engineering. Adv Microb Physiol 2020; 77:37-88. [PMID: 34756211 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ampbs.2020.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis is an α-proteobacterium that interests the biofuel industry due to its perfect ethanol fermentation yields. From its first description as a bacterial isolate in fermented alcoholic beverages to date, Z. mobilis has been rigorously studied in directions basic and applied. The Z. mobilis powerful Entner-Doudoroff glycolytic pathway has been the center of rigorous biochemical studies and, aside from ethanol, it has attracted interest in terms of high-added-value chemical manufacturing. Energetic balances and the effects of respiration have been explored in fundamental directions as also in applications pursuing strain enhancement and the utilization of alternative carbon sources. Metabolic modeling has addressed the optimization of the biochemical circuitry at various conditions of growth and/or substrate utilization; it has been also critical in predicting desirable end-product yields via flux redirection. Lastly, stress tolerance has received particular attention, since it directly determines biocatalytical performance at challenging bioreactor conditions. At a genetic level, advances in the genetic engineering of the organism have brought forth beneficial manipulations in the Z. mobilis gene pool, e.g., knock-outs, knock-ins and gene stacking, aiming to broaden the metabolic repertoire and increase robustness. Recent omic and expressional studies shed light on the genomic content of the most applied strains and reveal landscapes of activity manifested at ambient or reactor-based conditions. Studies such as those reviewed in this work, contribute to the understanding of the biology of Z. mobilis, enable insightful strain development, and pave the way for the transformation of Z. mobilis into a consummate organism for biomass conversion.
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Wang X, He Q, Yang Y, Wang J, Haning K, Hu Y, Wu B, He M, Zhang Y, Bao J, Contreras LM, Yang S. Advances and prospects in metabolic engineering of Zymomonas mobilis. Metab Eng 2018; 50:57-73. [PMID: 29627506 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Revised: 03/31/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biorefinery of biomass-based biofuels and biochemicals by microorganisms is a competitive alternative of traditional petroleum refineries. Zymomonas mobilis is a natural ethanologen with many desirable characteristics, which makes it an ideal industrial microbial biocatalyst for commercial production of desirable bioproducts through metabolic engineering. In this review, we summarize the metabolic engineering progress achieved in Z. mobilis to expand its substrate and product ranges as well as to enhance its robustness against stressful conditions such as inhibitory compounds within the lignocellulosic hydrolysates and slurries. We also discuss a few metabolic engineering strategies that can be applied in Z. mobilis to further develop it as a robust workhorse for economic lignocellulosic bioproducts. In addition, we briefly review the progress of metabolic engineering in Z. mobilis related to the classical synthetic biology cycle of "Design-Build-Test-Learn", as well as the progress and potential to develop Z. mobilis as a model chassis for biorefinery practices in the synthetic biology era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Qiaoning He
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Yongfu Yang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Jingwen Wang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Katie Haning
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
| | - Yun Hu
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
| | - Bo Wu
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biomass Energy Technology Research Centre, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, South Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Mingxiong He
- Key Laboratory of Development and Application of Rural Renewable Energy, Biomass Energy Technology Research Centre, Biogas Institute of Ministry of Agriculture, South Renmin Road, Chengdu 610041, China.
| | - Yaoping Zhang
- DOE-Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC), University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States.
| | - Jie Bao
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, 130 Meilong Road, Shanghai 200237, China.
| | - Lydia M Contreras
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States.
| | - Shihui Yang
- Hubei Collaborative Innovation Center for Green Transformation of Bio-resources, Environmental Microbial Technology Center of Hubei Province, Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan 430062, China.
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Cao QH, Shao HH, Qiu H, Li T, Zhang YZ, Tan XM. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 system to eliminate native plasmids of Zymomonas mobilis ZM4. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2017; 81:453-459. [DOI: 10.1080/09168451.2016.1189312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas system can be used to simply and efficiently edit the genomes of various species, including animals, plants, and microbes. Zymomonas mobilis ZM4 is a highly efficient, ethanol-producing bacterium that contains five native plasmids. Here, we constructed the pSUZM2a-Cas9 plasmid and a single-guide RNA expression plasmid. The pSUZM2a-Cas9 plasmid was used to express the Cas9 gene cloned from Streptococcus pyogenes CICC 10464. The single-guide RNA expression plasmid pUC-T7sgRNA, with a T7 promoter, can be used for the in vitro synthesis of single-guide RNAs. This system was successfully employed to knockout the upp gene of Escherichia coli and the replicase genes of native Z. mobilis plasmids. This is the first study to apply the CRISPR/Cas9 system of S. pyogenes to eliminate native plasmids in Z. mobilis. It provides a new method for plasmid curing and paves the way for the genomic engineering of Z. mobilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Hua Cao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Huan-Huan Shao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Tao Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi-Zheng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xue-Mei Tan
- Key Laboratory of Bio-resources and Eco-environment, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Sichuan Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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So LY, Chen WY, Lacap-Bugler DC, Seemann M, Watt RM. pZMO7-Derived shuttle vectors for heterologous protein expression and proteomic applications in the ethanol-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis. BMC Microbiol 2014; 14:68. [PMID: 24629064 PMCID: PMC4004385 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-14-68] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2013] [Accepted: 03/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ethanol-producing bacterium Zymomonas mobilis has attracted considerable scientific and commercial interest due to its exceptional physiological properties. Shuttle vectors derived from native plasmids have previously been successfully used for heterologous gene expression in this bacterium for a variety of purposes, most notably for metabolic engineering applications. RESULTS A quantitative PCR (qPCR) approach was used to determine the copy numbers of two endogenous double stranded DNA plasmids: pZMO1A (1,647 bp) and pZMO7 (pZA1003; 4,551 bp) within the NCIMB 11163 strain of Z. mobilis. Data indicated pZMO1A and pZMO7 were present at ca. 3-5 and ca. 1-2 copies per cell, respectively. A ca. 1,900 bp fragment from plasmid pZMO7 was used to construct two Escherichia coli - Z. mobilis shuttle vectors (pZ7C and pZ7-184). The intracellular stabilities and copy numbers of pZ7C and pZ7-184 were characterized within the NCIMB 11163, ATCC 29191 and (ATCC 10988-derived) CU1 Rif2 strains of Z. mobilis. Both shuttle vectors could be stably maintained within the ATCC 29191 strain (ca. 20-40 copies per cell), and the CU1 Rif2 strain (ca. 2-3 copies per cell), for more than 50 generations in the absence of an antibiotic selectable marker. A selectable marker was required for shuttle vector maintenance in the parental NCIMB 11163 strain; most probably due to competition for replication with the endogenous pZMO7 plasmid molecules. N-terminal glutathione S-transferase (GST)-fusions of four endogenous proteins, namely the acyl-carrier protein (AcpP); 2-dehydro-3-deoxyphosphooctonate aldolase (KdsA); DNA polymerase III chi subunit (HolC); and the RNA chaperone protein Hfq; were successfully expressed from pZ7C-derived shuttle vectors, and their protein-protein binding interactions were analyzed in Z. mobilis ATCC 29191. Using this approach, proteins that co-purified with AcpP and KdsA were identified. CONCLUSIONS We show that a shuttle vector-based protein affinity 'pull-down' approach can be used to probe protein interaction networks in Z. mobilis cells. Our results demonstrate that protein expression plasmids derived from pZMO7 have significant potential for use in future biological or biotechnological applications within Z. mobilis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rory M Watt
- Oral Biosciences Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, 34 Hospital Road, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong.
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Impact of expression of EMP enzymes on glucose metabolism in Zymomonas mobilis. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2013; 170:805-18. [PMID: 23613118 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0239-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis is the only known microorganism that utilizes the Entner-Doudoroff (ED) pathway anaerobically. In this work, we investigated whether the overexpression of a phosphofructokinase (PFK), the only missing Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas (EMP) pathway enzyme, could establish the pathway in this organism. Introduction of a pyrophosphate-dependent PFK, along with co-expression of homologous fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase and triosephosphate isomerase, did not result in an EMP flux to any appreciable level. However, the metabolism of glucose was impacted significantly. Eight percent of glucose was metabolized to form a new metabolite, dihydroxyacetone. Reducing flux through the ED pathway by as much as 40 % through antisense of a key enzyme, ED aldolase, did not result in a fully functional EMP pathway, suggesting that the ED pathway, especially the lower arm, downstream from glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate, is very rigid, possibly due to redox balance.
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Genome sequence of the ethanol-producing Zymomonas mobilis subsp. mobilis lectotype strain ATCC 10988. J Bacteriol 2011; 193:5051-2. [PMID: 21725006 DOI: 10.1128/jb.05395-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Zymomonas mobilis ATCC 10988 is the type strain of the Z. mobilis subsp. mobilis taxon, members of which are some of the most rigorous ethanol-producing bacteria. Isolated from Agave cactus fermentations in Mexico, ATCC 10988 is one of the first Z. mobilis strains to be described and studied. Its robustness in sucrose-substrate fermentations, physiological characteristics, large number of plasmids, and overall genomic plasticity render this strain important to the study of the species. Here we report the finishing and annotation of the ATCC 10988 chromosomal and plasmid genome.
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Sheu SY, Chen WM, Lin GH. Characterization and application of a rolling-circle-type plasmid from Cupriavidus taiwanensis. Plasmid 2006; 57:275-85. [PMID: 17196653 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2006.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2006] [Revised: 10/24/2006] [Accepted: 10/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Two small cryptic plasmids, pTJ86-1 and pTJ86-2, identified in Cupriavidus taiwanensis strain TJ86, were detected and characterized. Complete sequencing of pTJ86-1 and pTJ86-2 revealed these plasmids to be 2221 and 2229bp in length with a GC content of 61.7% and 61.6%, respectively. Both plasmids harbored four open reading frames (ORF1, 2, 3 and 4). Only the predicted ORF1 gene product of both plasmids (436 amino acids) was homologous to Rep proteins previously identified on plasmids replicated using a rolling-circle replication (RCR). A double-stranded origin (DSO) of replication, highly conserved in the group III (cluster III) RCR plasmids, was identified and located immediately upstream of this putative Rep gene. In addition, both plasmids contained a putative single-stranded origin of replication (SSO) exhibiting similarity to the ssoA-type. Detection of single-stranded plasmid DNA by Southern analysis and S1 nuclease digestion confirmed that the cryptic plasmid replicated via an RCR mechanism. A potential shuttle vector, pS4-tet(R), was constructed by ligation of pTJ86-1 to the cloning vector pBluescript II SK(+) along with the insertion of a tetracycline-resistance (tet(R)) gene. It was successfully used for the transformation of genera Burkholderia and Cupriavidus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shih-Yi Sheu
- Department of Marine Biotechnology, National Kaohsiung Marine University, Nan-Tzu, Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.
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Douka E, Christogianni A, Koukkou AI, Afendra AS, Drainas C. Use of a green fluorescent protein gene as a reporter in Zymomonas mobilis and Halomonas elongata. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2001; 201:221-7. [PMID: 11470365 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2001.tb10760.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the applicability of the green fluorescent protein of Aequorea victoria as a reporter for gene expression in the strictly fermentative Gram-negative ethanologenic bacterium Zymomonas mobilis and in the moderately halophilic bacterium Halomonas elongata. We have succeeded to express a mutated gene of green fluorescent protein under the control of different promoters in Z. mobilis and H. elongata grown under various glucose or salt concentrations, respectively. Our results demonstrate that gfp can serve as an easily assayable reporter gene in both organisms. Maximum fluorescence was obtained in Z. mobilis grown aerobically and in H. elongata grown under elevated salt concentration in solid medium. For both bacteria the fluorescence obtained was higher when the gfp gene was placed under the control of a native promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Douka
- Sector of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Ioannina, 45110, Ioannina, Greece
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