Expression of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase ( aldB ) improved ethanol production from xylose by the ethanologenic Escherichia coli RM10

In this study, the role ofaldB gene (encoding for acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, AldB, which oxidizes acetaldehyde to acetic acid) was evaluated for ethanol/acetaldehyde tolerance and xylose fermentation by RM10. Deletion ofaldB gene decreased ethanol tolerance, fermentative cell growth and ethanol production from xylose; while overexpression ofaldB gene improved fermentative cell growth, and increased ethanol production from xylose. The improvement is likely attributed to preventing acetaldehyde accumulation (a toxic intermediate of homoethanol pathway) via AldB catalyzed oxidation.
Source: World Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research