Control of microbial thermal energy conversion efficiency through regulation of futile pathways

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K05174
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 27040:Biofunction and bioprocess engineering-related
• Research Institution: Daiichi University, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences
• Principal Investigator: Tabata Kenji 第一薬科大学, 薬学部, 教授 (80312263)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: エネルギー代謝

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Control of futile pathways, which involve energy consumption without biomass production, is considered to regulate microbial thermal energy metabolism and biomass production. This proposal aims to establish a methodology for controlling microbial energy metabolism by detailed measurement of heat production from microbial metabolism using a microcalorimeter, and by regulating futile pathways through genetic engineering techniques. We investigated the genetic modification of the microorganism Pseudomonas putida TK1401, which has the capability for heat production that increases with futile pathways and exhibits environment temperature-dependent heat production. Additionally, we obtained environmental temperature-dependent heat-deficient mutants through chemical mutagenesis.

Free Research Field

生物物理化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

微生物が有機化合物の代謝により得るエネルギーは、最終的にバイオマスと熱エネルギーへと変換される。そのため、微生物の熱エネルギー生産を制御することによりバイオマスの生産量の制御が可能となる。バイオマス生産を伴わないエネルギー消費である浪費回路の制御は、微生物の熱エネルギー代謝の制御につながると考えられる。本研究において浪費回路をもつ微生物の遺伝子組換え法について調べた結果や、浪費回路による環境温度依存性発熱の欠損株を取得できたことは、浪費回路の生理的な意義や応用研究につながるものである。