Browsing by Author "Crous, Christiaan"
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- ItemSupply-demand analysis of anaerobic free-energy metabolism in Zymomonas mobilis(Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2011-12) Crous, Christiaan; Rohwer, J. M.; Snoep, Jacky L.; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Science. Dept. of Biochemistry.ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fermentation in Zymomonas mobilis has been described as a catabolic highway, with 50 % of soluble protein comprising glycolytic and fermentative enzymes. In conjunction with one of the fastest observed fermentations, the conversion of glucose to ethanol forms one of the least efficient energy extractions found in nature. The low energy yield of fermentation in Z. mobilis is a result of the usage of the Entner-Doudoroff glycolytic pathway, which has half the energy yield per mol substrate compared to the well known Embden-Meyerhof-Parnas glycolytic pathway. The work presented in this thesis forms part of a larger project to compare glycolytic regulation in different micro-organisms (i.e., Z. mobilis, Escherichia coli, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Lactococcus lactis). These organisms were chosen based on their usage of different glycolytic mechanisms. By using supply-demand analysis for quantifying glycolytic regulation as well as similar experimental conditions (e.g. using non-growing cell cultures), we can compare the regulatory behaviour of mechanistically distinct freeenergy supplies. The aim of this thesis was to quantify the importance of anaerobic free-energy generation for the regulation of the Entner-Doudoroff glycolytic pathway in Z. mobilis. We used metabolic control analysis (MCA) and supply-demand analysis to realize this goal. The central message of MCA is that when a metabolic parameter (e.g., a conserved metabolic moiety) is deemed important for affecting a particular steady-state variable (i.e., fermentation flux), its effect on the steady state variable should be tested. An extension to MCA, supply-demand analysis, provides a quantitative framework for analyzing the regulatory importance of cellular commodities such as anaerobic free-energy. This is done through comparing the elasticities of anaerobic free-energy supply and demand, which yields the degree to which the respective reaction blocks control the flux through anaerobic free-energy metabolism, as well as determine the cellular free-energy state (ATP/ADP ratio). The regulation of anaerobic free-energy metabolism in Z. mobilis was investigated with an experimental approach. The key features of our experimental setup were the use of NMR spectroscopy for detecting metabolites, as well as employing non-growing conditions for supply-demand experiments. With NMR spectroscopy metabolites could be detected in real time without using invasive sampling techniques; the use of nongrowing conditions further simplified the analysis by enabling us to correlate fermentative behaviour exclusively with the anaerobic free-energy state. Fermentation of glucose was investigated in the wild type Z. mobilis, a recombinant containing a non-expressing plasmid, or expressing plasmids for over-expressing the glucose facilitator (TCDB 2.A.1.1.4) or glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC 1.1.1.49). In addition, ATP demand in the non-expressing recombinant and wild type was perturbed by titrating with the uncoupler acetic acid. Our results show that the anaerobic free-energy demand, the glucose facilitator and glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase all control the flux of ethanol production in Z. mobilis. The Entner-Doudoroff glycolytic supply activity was found to be sensitive to changes in the ratios of ATP/ADP (elasticity varied between –0.31 and –0.49) and NTP/NDP (elasticity varied between –0.31 and – 0.50).