Improved production of propionic acid using genome shuffling. Issue 2 (20th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Luna‐Flores, Carlos H; Palfreyman, Robin W; Krömer, Jens O; Nielsen, Lars K; Marcellin, Esteban
• Is Part Of: Biotechnology journal. Volume 12:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-10-20
• Subjects: Genome shuffling -- Next generation sequencing -- Propionibacterium acidipropionici -- Propionic acid -- Protoplast fusion; Biotechnology -- Periodicals; 660.605
• DOI: 10.1002/biot.201600120
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1860-6768

Abstract

Abstract: Traditionally derived from fossil fuels, biological production of propionic acid has recently gained interest. Propionibacterium species produce propionic acid as their main fermentation product. Production of other organic acids reduces propionic acid yield and productivity, pointing to by‐products gene‐knockout strategies as a logical solution to increase yield. However, removing by‐product formation has seen limited success due to our inability to genetically engineer the best producing strains (i.e. Propionibacterium acidipropionici ). To overcome this limitation, random mutagenesis continues to be the best path towards improving strains for biological propionic acid production. Recent advances in next generation sequencing opened new avenues to understand improved strains. In this work, we use genome shuffling on two wild type strains to generate a better propionic acid producing strain. Using next generation sequencing, we mapped the genomic changes leading to the improved phenotype. The best strain produced 25% more propionic acid than the wild type strain. Sequencing of the strains showed that genomic changes were restricted to single point mutations and gene duplications in well‐conserved regions in the genomes. Such results confirm the involvement of gene conversion in genome shuffling as opposed to long genomic insertions. Abstract : Traditionally derived from oil‐based resources, biological production of propionic acid (PA) using Propionibacterium has gained interest in recent years. In this study, genome shuffling on two P. acidipropionici strains was used to increase growth rate and PA production. Sequencing of the new strains suggests that recombination events, in well‐conserved regions of the genome, are responsible for the phenotype improvement. This work provides base resolution insight on the underlying mechanisms leading to a higher PA production using genome shuffling.