Introduction of TCA cycle enzymes into anaerobic hyperthermophilic archaeon aiming at efficient production of useful compounds

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K14691
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Applied microbiology
• Research Institution: Tokyo Institute of Technology
• Principal Investigator: FUKUI TOSHIAKI 東京工業大学, 生命理工学院, 教授 (80271542)
• Research Collaborator: NOHARA KENTA
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 超好熱性アーキア / Thermococcus / 代謝改変 / 水素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis evolves hydrogen on starch or pyruvate which is associated with oxidative degradation of the growth substrates to acetyl-CoA, and acetate was formed from acetyl-CoA as an end product. T. kodakarensis is thought to lack TCA cycle because genes for enzymes converting C6 carboxylic acids are missing in the genome, whereas some related hyperthermophilic archaea possess the enzymes although the function in carbon/energy metabolisms has been unclear.
In this study, the genes of the missing TCA cycle enzymes, derived from the related hyperthermophile, were introduced into T. kodakarensis, and investigated the effects of the TCA cycle enzymes on the growth of and metabolisms in T. kodakarensis.

Free Research Field

微生物工学