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Selection for Cell Yield Does Not Reduce Overflow Metabolism in Escherichia coli.

ABSTRACT: Overflow metabolism is ubiquitous in nature, and it is often considered inefficient because it leads to a relatively low biomass yield per consumed carbon. This metabolic strategy has been described as advantageous because it supports high growth rates during nutrient competition. Here, we experimentally evolved bacteria without nutrient competition by repeatedly growing and mixing millions of parallel batch cultures of Escherichia coli. Each culture originated from a water-in-oil emulsion droplet seeded with a single cell. Unexpectedly we found that overflow metabolism (acetate production) did not change. Instead, the numerical cell yield during the consumption of the accumulated acetate increased as a consequence of a reduction in cell size. Our experiments and a mathematical model show that fast growth and overflow metabolism, followed by the consumption of the overflow metabolite, can lead to a higher numerical cell yield and therefore a higher fitness compared with full respiration of the substrate. This provides an evolutionary scenario where overflow metabolism can be favorable even in the absence of nutrient competition.

SUBMITTER: Rabbers I

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8789295 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Selection for Cell Yield Does Not Reduce Overflow Metabolism in Escherichia coli.

Rabbers Iraes I Gottstein Willi W Feist Adam M AM Teusink Bas B Bruggeman Frank J FJ Bachmann Herwig H

Molecular biology and evolution 20220101 1

Overflow metabolism is ubiquitous in nature, and it is often considered inefficient because it leads to a relatively low biomass yield per consumed carbon. This metabolic strategy has been described as advantageous because it supports high growth rates during nutrient competition. Here, we experimentally evolved bacteria without nutrient competition by repeatedly growing and mixing millions of parallel batch cultures of Escherichia coli. Each culture originated from a water-in-oil emulsion dropl ...[more]

PMID: 34893866

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Project description:BackgroundThe formation of acetate by fast-growing Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a commonly observed phenomenon, often referred to as overflow metabolism. Among various studies that have been carried over decades, a recent work (Basan, M. et al. Nature 528, 99-104, 2015) suggested and validated that it is the differential proteomic efficiencies in energy biogenesis between fermentation and respiration that lead to the production of acetate at rapid growth conditions, as the consequence of optimally allocating the limited proteomic resource. In the current work, we attempt to incorporate this newly developed proteome allocation theory into flux balance analysis (FBA) to capture quantitatively the extent of overflow metabolism in different E. coli strains.ResultsA concise constraint was introduced into a FBA-based model with three proteomic cost parameters to represent constrained allocation of proteome over two energy (respiration and fermentation) pathways and biomass synthesis. Linear relationships were shown to exist between the three proteomic cost parameters. Tests with three different strains revealed that the proteomic cost of fermentation was consistently lower than that of respiration. A slow-growing strain appeared to have a higher proteomic cost for biomass synthesis than fast-growing strains. Different assumed levels of carbon flowing into pentose phosphate pathway affected the absolute value of model parameters, but had no qualitative impact on the comparative proteomic costs. For the prediction of biomass yield, significant errors that occurred for one of the tested strains (ML308) were rectified by adjusting the cellular energy demand according to literature data.ConclusionsWith the aid of a concise proteome allocation constraint, our FBA-based model is able to quantitatively predict the onset and extent of the overflow metabolism in various E. coli strains. Such prediction is enabled by three linearly-correlated (as opposed to uniquely determinable) proteomic cost parameters. The linear relationships between these parameters, when determined using data from cell culturing experiments, render biologically meaningful comparative proteomic costs between fermentation and respiration pathways and between the biomass synthesis sectors of slow- and fast-growing species. Simultaneous prediction of acetate production and biomass yield in the overflow region requires the use of reliable cellular energy demand data.

Project description:BACKGROUND: The biotechnology industry has extensively exploited Escherichia coli for producing recombinant proteins, biofuels etc. However, high growth rate aerobic E. coli cultivations are accompanied by acetate excretion i.e. overflow metabolism which is harmful as it inhibits growth, diverts valuable carbon from biomass formation and is detrimental for target product synthesis. Although overflow metabolism has been studied for decades, its regulation mechanisms still remain unclear. RESULTS: In the current work, growth rate dependent acetate overflow metabolism of E. coli was continuously monitored using advanced continuous cultivation methods (A-stat and D-stat). The first step in acetate overflow switch (at ? = 0.27 ± 0.02 h(-1)) is the repression of acetyl-CoA synthetase (Acs) activity triggered by carbon catabolite repression resulting in decreased assimilation of acetate produced by phosphotransacetylase (Pta), and disruption of the PTA-ACS node. This was indicated by acetate synthesis pathways PTA-ACKA and POXB component expression down-regulation before the overflow switch at ? = 0.27 ± 0.02 h(-1) with concurrent 5-fold stronger repression of acetate-consuming Acs. This in turn suggests insufficient Acs activity for consuming all the acetate produced by Pta, leading to disruption of the acetate cycling process in PTA-ACS node where constant acetyl phosphate or acetate regeneration is essential for E. coli chemotaxis, proteolysis, pathogenesis etc. regulation. In addition, two-substrate A-stat and D-stat experiments showed that acetate consumption capability of E. coli decreased drastically, just as Acs expression, before the start of overflow metabolism. The second step in overflow switch is the sharp decline in cAMP production at ? = 0.45 h(-1) leading to total Acs inhibition and fast accumulation of acetate. CONCLUSION: This study is an example of how a systems biology approach allowed to propose a new regulation mechanism for overflow metabolism in E. coli shown by proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels coupled to two-phase acetate accumulation: acetate overflow metabolism in E. coli is triggered by Acs down-regulation resulting in decreased assimilation of acetic acid produced by Pta, and disruption of the PTA-ACS node.

Project description:BackgroundEscherichia coli adapted to carbon-limiting conditions is generally geared for energy-efficient carbon utilization. This includes also the efficient utilization of glucose, which serves as a source for cellular building blocks as well as energy. Thus, catabolic and anabolic functions are balanced under these conditions to minimize wasteful carbon utilization. Exposure to glucose excess interferes with the fine-tuned coupling of anabolism and catabolism leading to the so-called carbon overflow metabolism noticeable through acetate formation and eventually growth inhibition.ResultsCellular adaptations towards sudden but timely limited carbon excess conditions were analyzed by exposing slow-growing cells in steady state glucose-limited continuous culture to a single glucose pulse. Concentrations of metabolites as well as time-dependent transcriptome alterations were analyzed and a transcriptional network analysis performed to determine the most relevant transcription and sigma factor combinations which govern these adaptations. Down-regulation of genes related to carbon catabolism is observed mainly at the level of substrate uptake and downstream of pyruvate and not in between in the glycolytic pathway. It is mainly accomplished through the reduced activity of CRP-cAMP and through an increased influence of phosphorylated ArcA. The initiated transcriptomic change is directed towards down-regulation of genes, which contribute to active movement, carbon uptake and catabolic carbon processing, in particular to down-regulation of genes which contribute to efficient energy generation. Long-term changes persisting after glucose depletion and consumption of acetete encompassed reduced expression of genes related to active cell movement and enhanced expression of genes related to acid resistance, in particular acid resistance system 2 (GABA shunt) which can be also considered as an inefficient bypass of the TCA cycle.ConclusionsOur analysis revealed that the major part of the trancriptomic response towards the glucose pulse is not directed towards enhanced cell proliferation but towards protection against excessive intracellular accumulation of potentially harmful concentration of metabolites including among others energy rich compounds such as ATP. Thus, resources are mainly utilized to cope with "overfeeding" and not for growth including long-lasting changes which may compromise the cells future ability to perform optimally under carbon-limiting conditions (reduced motility and ineffective substrate utilization).

Project description:Background: The biotechnology industry has extensively exploited Escherichia coli for producing recombinant proteins, biofuels etc. However, high growth rate aerobic E. coli cultivations are accompanied by acetate excretion i.e. overflow metabolism which is harmful as it inhibits growth, diverts valuable carbon from biomass formation and is detrimental for target product synthesis. Although overflow metabolism has been studied for decades, its regulation mechanisms still remain unclear. Results: In the current work, growth rate dependent acetate overflow metabolism of E. coli was continuously monitored using advanced continuous cultivation methods (A-stat and D-stat). The first step in acetate overflow switch (at μ = 0.27 ± 0.02 1/h) is the repression of acetyl-CoA synthethase (Acs) activity triggered by carbon catabolite repression resulting in decreased assimilation of acetate produced by phosphotransacetylase (Pta), and disruption of the PTA-ACS node. This was indicated by acetate synthesis pathways PTA-ACKA and POXB component expression down-regulation before the overflow switch at μ = 0.27 ± 0.02 1/h with concurrent 5-fold stronger repression of acetate-consuming Acs. This in turn suggests insufficient Acs activity for consuming all the acetate produced by Pta, leading to disruption of the acetate cycling process in PTA-ACS node where constant acetyl phosphate or acetate regeneration is essential for E. coli chemotaxis, proteolysis, pathogenesis etc. regulation. In addition, two-substrate A-stat and D-stat experiments showed that acetate consumption capability of E. coli decreased drastically, just as Acs expression, before the start of overflow metabolism. The second step in overflow switch is the sharp decline in cAMP production at μ = 0.45 1/h leading to total Acs inhibition and fast accumulation of acetate. Conclusion: This study is an example of how a systems biology approach allowed to propose a new regulation mechanism for overflow metabolism in E. coli shown by proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic levels coupled to two-phase acetate accumulation: acetate overflow metabolism in E. coli is triggered by Acs down-regulation resulting in decreased assimilation of acetic acid produced by Pta, and disruption of the PTA-ACS node.

Dataset Information

Selection for Cell Yield Does Not Reduce Overflow Metabolism in Escherichia coli.

Publications

Selection for Cell Yield Does Not Reduce Overflow Metabolism in Escherichia coli.

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