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Acetoin and acetate reduction.
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Acetoin is a commercially valuable compound otherwise known as 3–hydroxy-2-butanone. It is not normally a part of E. coli metabolism, however it is possible to divert E. coli metabolism from pyruvate toward acetoin production with the addition of a gene encoding acetolactate synthase. In C. acetobutylicum, however, acetoin is naturally produced in measurable quantities; a project geared towards the formation of acetoin and its conversion to 2,3-butanediol was undertaken. The conversion of pyruvate to acetolactate can avoid acetate formation by reducing the level of intracellular pyruvate and limiting the conversion to acetate by other pathways. Several articles have explored the effect of this system on pyruvate metabolism and flux through this node. |
Metabolic impact of introducing ALS gene from Bacillus subtilis into E. coli Main steps of valine and 2,3-butanediol synthesis are shown below
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