Project description:Cytosolic acetyl-coenzyme A is a precursor for many biotechnologically relevant compounds produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this yeast, cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis and growth strictly depend on expression of either the Acs1 or Acs2 isoenzyme of acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS). Since hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate in the ACS reaction constrains maximum yields of acetyl-CoA-derived products, this study explores replacement of ACS by two ATP-independent pathways for acetyl-CoA synthesis. After evaluating expression of different bacterial genes encoding acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (A-ALD) and pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL), acs1M-NM-^T acs2M-NM-^T S. cerevisiae strains were constructed in which A-ALD or PFL successfully replaced ACS. In A-ALD-dependent strains, aerobic growth rates of up to 0.27 h-1 were observed, while anaerobic growth rates of PFL-dependent S. cerevisiae (0.21 h-1) were stoichiometrically coupled to formate production. In glucose-limited chemostat cultures, intracellular metabolite analysis did not reveal major differences between A-ALD-dependent and reference strains. However, biomass yields on glucose of A-ALD- and PFL-dependent strains were lower than those of the reference strain. Transcriptome analysis suggested that reduced biomass yields were caused by acetaldehyde and formate in A-ALD- and PFL-dependent strains, respectively. Transcript profiles also indicated that a previously proposed role of Acs2 in histone acetylation is probably linked to cytosolic acetyl-CoA levels rather than to direct involvement of Acs2 in histone acetylation. While, for the first time, demonstrating that yeast ACS can be fully replaced by alternative reactions, this study demonstrates that further modifications are needed to achieve optimal in vivo efficiencies of the supply of acetyl-CoA as product precursor. To investigate the impact of introduced changes in native pathway of cytosolic acetyl-CoA formation in S. cerevisiae, a DNA microarray-based transcriptome analysis was performed on aerobic or anaerobic, glucose-limited chemostat cultures.
Project description:Cytosolic acetyl-coenzyme A is a precursor for many biotechnologically relevant compounds produced by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In this yeast, cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis and growth strictly depend on expression of either the Acs1 or Acs2 isoenzyme of acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS). Since hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate in the ACS reaction constrains maximum yields of acetyl-CoA-derived products, this study explores replacement of ACS by two ATP-independent pathways for acetyl-CoA synthesis. After evaluating expression of different bacterial genes encoding acetylating acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (A-ALD) and pyruvate-formate lyase (PFL), acs1Δ acs2Δ S. cerevisiae strains were constructed in which A-ALD or PFL successfully replaced ACS. In A-ALD-dependent strains, aerobic growth rates of up to 0.27 h-1 were observed, while anaerobic growth rates of PFL-dependent S. cerevisiae (0.21 h-1) were stoichiometrically coupled to formate production. In glucose-limited chemostat cultures, intracellular metabolite analysis did not reveal major differences between A-ALD-dependent and reference strains. However, biomass yields on glucose of A-ALD- and PFL-dependent strains were lower than those of the reference strain. Transcriptome analysis suggested that reduced biomass yields were caused by acetaldehyde and formate in A-ALD- and PFL-dependent strains, respectively. Transcript profiles also indicated that a previously proposed role of Acs2 in histone acetylation is probably linked to cytosolic acetyl-CoA levels rather than to direct involvement of Acs2 in histone acetylation. While, for the first time, demonstrating that yeast ACS can be fully replaced by alternative reactions, this study demonstrates that further modifications are needed to achieve optimal in vivo efficiencies of the supply of acetyl-CoA as product precursor.
Project description:Fatty acid synthesis is closely linked to nutrient availability and cellular energetic status. The committed step in fatty acid synthesis is the acetyl CoA carboxylase. Eukaryotes have two genes encoding acetyl CoA carboxylases, one encoding a cytosolic enzyme and another coding for a mitochondrial enzyme. They catalyze the synthesis of malonyl CoA in the cytosol and the mitochondria, respectively. While cytosolic malonyl CoA is the precursor for fatty acid synthesis, mitochondrial malonyl CoA controls the transfer of fatty acyl group into the mitochondria by inhibiting carnitine/palmitoyl transferase activity and thus, regulates β-oxidation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, β-oxidation is restricted to the peroxisomes, raising the question of the function of the mitochondrial isoform (HFA1). In this study, we replaced the cytosolic Acc1 with Hfa1 expressed in the cytosol by removing the mitochondrial leader peptide, under control of the HFA1 promoter. We studied fatty acid synthesis and transcription profiles in this strain during starvation for carbon or nitrogen, using glucose or ethanol as the carbon source. Under all the conditions studied, the key sensor of energetic status, Snf1, was activated, indicating active inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. The pool size of fatty acids was smaller when Acc1 was replaced with truncated Hfa1 for fatty acid synthesis. Yet, the transcription profiles were similar in both the cases. These results point towards the conclusion that Hfa1 is either catalytically less efficient or it is more sensitive to inhibition by Snf1. Gene expression from a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae where cytosolic fatty acid synthesis occurs by mitochondrial acetyl CoA carboxylase (without its mitochondrial leader peptide) is compared with that in a reference strain while growing in chemostats on carbon or nitrogen starvation using glucose or ethanol as the carbon source.
Project description:The energetic (ATP) cost of biochemical pathways critically determines the maximum yield of metabolites of vital or commercial relevance. Cytosolic acetyl-CoA is a key precursor for biosynthesis in eukaryotes and for many industrially relevant product pathways that have been introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, such as isoprenoids or lipids. In this yeast, synthesis of cytosolic acetyl-CoA via acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) involves hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate. Here, we demonstrate that expression and assembly in the yeast cytosol of a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) from Enterococcus faecalis can fully replace the ACS-dependent pathway for cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis. In vivo activity of E. faecalis PDH required the simultaneous expression of E. faecalis genes encoding its E1α, E1β, E2 and E3 subunits, as well as genes involved in lipoylation of E2 and addition of lipoate to growth media. A strain lacking ACS, that expressed these E. faecalis genes, grew at near-wild-type rates on glucose synthetic medium supplemented with lipoate, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A physiological comparison of the engineered strain and an isogenic Acs+ reference strain showed small differences in biomass yields and metabolic fluxes. Cellular fractionation and gel filtration studies revealed that the E. faecalis PDH subunits were assembled in the yeast cytosol, with a subunit ratio and enzyme activity similar to values reported for PDH purified from E. faecalis. This study indicates that cytosolic expression and assembly of PDH in eukaryotic industrial micro-organisms is a promising option for minimizing the energy costs of precursor supply in acetyl-CoA-dependent product pathways. For both strains - mutant strain IMY104 and reference strain CEN.PK113-7D' three independent chemostat cultures were performed. Each of the chemosta was sampled for transcriptome analysis. Samples were processed as described below.
Project description:Fatty acid synthesis is closely linked to nutrient availability and cellular energetic status. The committed step in fatty acid synthesis is the acetyl CoA carboxylase. Eukaryotes have two genes encoding acetyl CoA carboxylases, one encoding a cytosolic enzyme and another coding for a mitochondrial enzyme. They catalyze the synthesis of malonyl CoA in the cytosol and the mitochondria, respectively. While cytosolic malonyl CoA is the precursor for fatty acid synthesis, mitochondrial malonyl CoA controls the transfer of fatty acyl group into the mitochondria by inhibiting carnitine/palmitoyl transferase activity and thus, regulates β-oxidation. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, β-oxidation is restricted to the peroxisomes, raising the question of the function of the mitochondrial isoform (HFA1). In this study, we replaced the cytosolic Acc1 with Hfa1 expressed in the cytosol by removing the mitochondrial leader peptide, under control of the HFA1 promoter. We studied fatty acid synthesis and transcription profiles in this strain during starvation for carbon or nitrogen, using glucose or ethanol as the carbon source. Under all the conditions studied, the key sensor of energetic status, Snf1, was activated, indicating active inhibition of fatty acid synthesis. The pool size of fatty acids was smaller when Acc1 was replaced with truncated Hfa1 for fatty acid synthesis. Yet, the transcription profiles were similar in both the cases. These results point towards the conclusion that Hfa1 is either catalytically less efficient or it is more sensitive to inhibition by Snf1. Gene expression from a strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae where cytosolic fatty acid synthesis occurs by mitochondrial acetyl CoA carboxylase (without its mitochondrial leader peptide) is compared with that in a reference strain while growing in chemostats on carbon or nitrogen starvation using glucose or ethanol as the carbon source. There are two strains (reference or mutant), two carbon sources (glucose or ethanol) and two limitations (carbon or nitrogen), resulting in 8 comparisons. Each array was performed in duplicate, resulting in 16 CEL files. Growth was limited by either carbon or nitrogen. When carbon was the limited nutrient, we tested growth on either glucose or ethanol (both using ammonium sulfate as the nitrogen source). When ammonium sulfate was limiting, we used either glucose or ethanol as the carbon source.
Project description:The energetic (ATP) cost of biochemical pathways critically determines the maximum yield of metabolites of vital or commercial relevance. Cytosolic acetyl-CoA is a key precursor for biosynthesis in eukaryotes and for many industrially relevant product pathways that have been introduced into Saccharomyces cerevisiae, such as isoprenoids or lipids. In this yeast, synthesis of cytosolic acetyl-CoA via acetyl-CoA synthetase (ACS) involves hydrolysis of ATP to AMP and pyrophosphate. Here, we demonstrate that expression and assembly in the yeast cytosol of a pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDH) from Enterococcus faecalis can fully replace the ACS-dependent pathway for cytosolic acetyl-CoA synthesis. In vivo activity of E. faecalis PDH required the simultaneous expression of E. faecalis genes encoding its E1α, E1β, E2 and E3 subunits, as well as genes involved in lipoylation of E2 and addition of lipoate to growth media. A strain lacking ACS, that expressed these E. faecalis genes, grew at near-wild-type rates on glucose synthetic medium supplemented with lipoate, under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. A physiological comparison of the engineered strain and an isogenic Acs+ reference strain showed small differences in biomass yields and metabolic fluxes. Cellular fractionation and gel filtration studies revealed that the E. faecalis PDH subunits were assembled in the yeast cytosol, with a subunit ratio and enzyme activity similar to values reported for PDH purified from E. faecalis. This study indicates that cytosolic expression and assembly of PDH in eukaryotic industrial micro-organisms is a promising option for minimizing the energy costs of precursor supply in acetyl-CoA-dependent product pathways.
Project description:Coordination of cellular metabolism is essential for optimal T cell responses. Here, we identify cytosolic acetyl-CoA production as an essential metabolic node for CD8 T cell function in vivo. We show that acetyl-CoA derived from mitochondrial citrate via the enzyme ATP citrate lyase (Acly) is required for CD8 T cell responses to infection. However, ablation of Acly triggers an alternative, acetate-dependent pathway for acetyl-CoA production in T cells mediated by acyl-CoA synthetase short chain family member 2 (Acss2). Mechanistically, acetate fuels both the TCA cycle and cytosolic acetyl-CoA production, impacting T cell effector responses, acetate-dependent histone acetylation, and effector gene expression by altering chromatin accessibility. When Acly is functional, Acss2 is not required, suggesting acetate is not an obligate metabolic substrate for CD8 T cell function. However, deletion of Acly renders CD8 T cells dependent on acetate (via Acss2) to maintain acetyl-CoA production and effector function. Thus, together Acly and Acss2 coordinate cytosolic acetyl-CoA production in CD8 T cells to maintain chromatin accessibility and T cell effector function.
Project description:Coordination of cellular metabolism is essential for optimal T cell responses. Here, we identify cytosolic acetyl-CoA production as an essential metabolic node for CD8 T cell function in vivo. We show that CD8 T cell responses to infection depend on acetyl-CoA derived from citrate via the enzyme ATP citrate lyase (ACLY). However, ablation of ACLY triggers an alternative, acetate-dependent pathway for acetyl-CoA production mediated by acyl-CoA synthetase short chain family member 2 (ACSS2). Mechanistically, acetate fuels both the TCA cycle and cytosolic acetyl-CoA production, impacting T cell effector responses, acetate-dependent histone acetylation, and chromatin accessibility at effector gene loci. When ACLY is functional, ACSS2 is not required, suggesting acetate is not an obligate metabolic substrate for CD8 T cell function. However, loss of ACLY renders CD8 T cells dependent on acetate (via ACSS2) to maintain acetyl-CoA production and effector function. Together, ACLY and ACSS2 coordinate cytosolic acetyl-CoA production in CD8 T cells to maintain chromatin accessibility and T cell effector function.
Project description:Coordination of cellular metabolism is essential for optimal T cell responses. Here, we identify cytosolic acetyl-CoA production as an essential metabolic node for CD8 T cell function in vivo. We show that CD8 T cell responses to infection depend on acetyl-CoA derived from citrate via the enzyme Acly (ATP citrate lyase). However, ablation of Acly triggers an alternative, acetate-dependent pathway for acetyl-CoA production mediated by Acss2 (acyl-CoA synthetase short chain family member 2). Mechanistically, acetate fuels both the TCA cycle and cytosolic acetyl-CoA production, impacting T cell effector responses, acetate-dependent histone acetylation, and chromatin accessibility at effector gene loci. When Acly is functional, Acss2 is not required, suggesting acetate is not an obligate metabolic substrate for CD8 T cell function. However, deletion of Acly renders CD8 T cells dependent on acetate (via Acss2) to maintain acetyl-CoA production and effector function. Thus, together Acly and Acss2 coordinate cytosolic acetyl-CoA production in CD8 T cells to maintain chromatin accessibility and T cell effector function.
Project description:Formation of myelin by Schwann cells is tightly coupled to nervous system development and is important for neuronal function and long-term maintenance. Perturbation of myelin causes a number of specific disorders that are among the most prevalent diseases affecting the nervous system. Schwann cells synthesize myelin lipids de novo rather than relying on uptake of circulating lipids, and the metabolic sources of myelin formation and maintenance in vivo remain unresolved. One of these questions is how a central metabolite in myelin formation, Acetyl CoA, is generated in myelinating cells. Acetyl CoA-generating pathways are induced at the level of gene expression to support high demands for lipid synthesis and acetylation reactions. However, recent studies have shown that glucose-derived Acetyl CoA itself is not required for myelination, and the requirements of mitochondrially-derived Acetyl CoA has never been tested for myelination in vivo. Several older labeling studies have demonstrated the possibility that cytosolic Acetyl CoA-generating pathways from acetate/ketone bodies satisfy the high demands for lipid synthesis and histone acetylation, and we have employed knockout mice to test the required pathways. Intriguingly, metabolic pathways play different role during the postnatal synthesis of myelin lipids in the postnatal period compared to myelin maintenance postweaning.