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A structured model for vegetative growth and sporulation inBacillus thuringiensis

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Abstract

A mathematical model has been developed for the δ-endotoxin producingBacillus thuringiensis. The structure of the model involves the processes taking place during vegetative growth, those leading to the initiation of sporulation under conditions of carbon and/or nitrogen limitation, and the sporulation events. The key features in the model are the pools of compounds, such as PRPP, IMP, ADP/ATP, GDP/GTP, pyrimidine nucleotides, NAD/NADH2, amino acids, nucleic acids, cell wall, and vegetative and sporulation proteins. These, along with σ-factors that control the nature of RNA-polymerase during the different phases, effectively stimulate the vegetative growth and sporulation. The initiation of sporulation is controlled by the intracellular concentration of GTP. Results of simulation of vegetative growth, initiation of sporulation, spore protein formation, and production of δ-endotoxin under C- or N-limitation are presented.

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Abbreviations

ai :

mass fraction ofi-th intracellular component, g/g D.W.

Ci :

concentration ofi-th extracellular component in broth, g/dm3

i:

inhibition constant

k:

maximum reaction rate constant, h-1

K:

saturation constant (for intracellular conditions of vegetative growth)

K* :

saturation constant (for intracellular conditions of sporulation)

K:

equilibrium constant

me :

maintenance coefficient, mol ATP/g D.W./h

ri :

rate ofi-th reaction, g/g D.W./h

Ri :

net formation rate ofi-th component, g/g D.W./h

t:

time, h

X:

biomass concentration, g/dm3

Yji :

stoichiometric mass yield coefficient fori-th component inJ- th reaction

μ:

specific growth rate, h-1

Ace:

acetate

AmA:

amino acids

CE:

core enzyme

G:

glucose

I:

GTP-binding protein

Lac:

lactate

N:

ammonia

NA:

nucleic acids

Pc :

crystal protein (δ-endotoxin)

Pi :

inorganic phosphate (H3PO4)

Ps :

spore protein

Pv :

vegetative protein

PTP:

pyrimidine nucleotides

π:

RNA-polymerase

σ:

sigma factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Missouri-Columbia, 1030 Engineering Bldg., 65211, Columbia, MO

    Maciej Starzak & Rakesh K. Bajpai

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  1. Maciej Starzak
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  2. Rakesh K. Bajpai
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Starzak, M., Bajpai, R.K. A structured model for vegetative growth and sporulation inBacillus thuringiensis . Appl Biochem Biotechnol 28, 699–718 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02922643

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