Abstract
The effect of acrylate on the growth of Escherichia coli was determined under aerobic and anaerobic conditions in glucose-defined medium. Growth occurred with up to 35 mM acrylate under aerobic conditions but ceased at 5 mM acrylate under anaerobic conditions. This differential sensitivity can be attributed to inhibition of pyruvate formate lyase and/or pflB gene repression, as this enzyme is necessary for anaerobic growth of E. coli. The effect of acrylate on end-product distribution was also determined by growing E. coli first aerobically, then switching to anaerobic conditions. In the absence of acrylate, E. coli generated the typical distribution of mixed-acid products, with about 12 % of pyruvate being metabolically converted to lactate. In contrast, in the presence of 5 mM acrylate, E. coli converted 83 % of pyruvate to lactate, consistent with a reduction in pyruvate formate lyase activity.
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Arya, A.S., Lee, S.A. & Eiteman, M.A. Differential sensitivities of the growth of Escherichia coli to acrylate under aerobic and anaerobic conditions and its effect on product formation. Biotechnol Lett 35, 1839–1843 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1282-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-013-1282-7