Evaluation of potential genetic targets for optimizing phenazine production in E. coli

• Grant number: 22/07833-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2022
• End date: July 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Process Industries
• Principal Investigator: Adilson José da Silva
• Grantee: Vitor Leonel Pantaleão
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Exatas e de Tecnologia (CCET). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 23/09085-0 - Heterologous production of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid by Corynebacterium glutamicum, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Phenazines are a class of microbial secondary metabolites with applications in the production of biopesticides, the construction of biosensors, and drug development, among others. The chemical structure of these molecules is formed by nitrogenous aromatic rings, and their biosynthesis occurs from chorismate, the final product of the shikimate metabolic pathway. Metabolic engineering strategies have been developed over the years to optimize the production of aromatic compounds from this pathway, and this project proposes the study of two genetic targets to assess their impact on the heterologous production of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) by recombinant E. coli cells. Specifically, the objective of this project is to carry out the over-expression of two targets: an enzyme of the shikimate pathway identified in silico as a potential target to favor the production of PCA, and microbial hemoglobin to improve the uptake of oxygen by cells, as the last three reactions of PCA formation consume oxygen. With the proposed approach, it is expected that higher carbon fluxes will be directed to the PCA biosynthesis pathway in E. coli and, thus, that it will be possible to improve this platform for the heterologous production of phenazines.(AU)