Investigation of Regulatory Mechanism of Flux of Acetyl-CoA in Alcaligenes eutrophus Using PHB-negative Mutant and Transformants Harboring Cloned phbCAB Genes

The regulatory mechanism of the flux of acetyl-CoA in Alcaligenes eutrophus in unbalanced growth conditions was investigated using a PHB-negative mutant and transformants reintroduced PHB-biosynthesis enzymes through the transformation of cloned phbCAB genes. The PHB-negative mutant was defected absolutly in PHB synthase but partially in ${\beta}$-ketothiolase and acetoacetyl-CoA reductase, and excreted substantial amount of pyruvate to culture broth at late growth phase. The excretion was due to the inhibitory effect of acetyl-CoA on the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase. The cloned phbC and phbCAB genes were transformed to the PHB-negative mutant strain to reintroduce PHB biosythesis enzymes. Pyruvate excretion could be decreased substantially but not completely by transformation of PHB synthase alone, while pyruvate excretion was ceased by transformation of all three PHB biosynthesis enzymes. To identify the most critical PHB biosynthesis enzyme influencing on the flux of acetyl-CoA, the effect of the variation of PHB biosynthesis enzymes on pyruvate dehydrogenase was investigated. ${\beta}$-Ketothiolase influenced the activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase more sensitively than PHB synthase. ${\beta}$-Ketothiolase, the first step enzyme of PHB biosynthesis that condense acetyl-CoA to acetoacetyl-CoA, seems to be the major enzyme determining the flux of acetyl-CoA to PHB biosynthesis or TCA cycle, and the rate of PHB biosynthesis in A. eutrophus.