Construction and co-cultivation of two mutant strains harboring key precursor genes to produce prodigiosin

• Published in: Journal of bioscience and bioengineering Vol. 126; no. 6; pp. 783 - 789
• Main Authors: Chen, Wei-Chuan, Tsai, Min-Jun, Soo, Po-Chi, Wang, Li-Fen, Tsai, Shen-Long, Chang, Yu-Kaung, Wei, Yu-Hong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Japan Elsevier B.V 01.12.2018
• Subjects: 2-Methyl-3-n-amyl-pyrrole; 4-Methoxy-2,2′-bipyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde; biosynthesis; Co-cultivation; coculture; Coculture Techniques; Gene Transfer Techniques; genes; Microbiological Techniques - methods; microorganisms; mutants; Organisms, Genetically Modified; Prodigiosin; Prodigiosin - biosynthesis; Pyrroles - metabolism; Serratia marcescens; Serratia marcescens - genetics; Serratia marcescens - metabolism; Transformation, Bacterial; 4-Methoxy-2,2′-bipyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde; Co-cultivation; 2-Methyl-3-n-amyl-pyrrole; Prodigiosin; Serratia marcescens
• ISSN: 1389-1723; 1347-4421; 1347-4421
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2018.06.010

The biosynthesis of prodigiosin (PG) from Serratia marcescens involves the coupling of a bipyrrole, 4-methoxy-2,2′-bipyrrole-5-carboxaldehyde (MBC), with a monopyrrole, 2-methyl-3-n-amyl-pyrrole (MAP), and formation of a linear tripyrrole (PG). We constructed mutant strains in which either the MBC biosynthesis by S. marcescens BMJ816 or the MAP biosynthesis by S. marcescens AMJ817. S. marcescens BMJ816 and AMJ817 confirmed that they lose the ability to synthesize PG when they are cultivated alone. An experiment was also conducted in which cultures of the two mutant strains were grown to the early exponential phase in a semi-defined medium, and one suspension culture was inoculated with the other. This approach yielded 103 mg/L PG. The findings suggest that the addition of precursors may enhance PG production by microorganisms. •Two mutant strains harboring key precursor genes for producing prodigiosin were constructed.•The ability to synthesize prodigiosin by co-cultivation of the two mutant strains was confirmed.•The procedures for the isolation and purification of prodigiosin were carried out.•The chemical structure of prodigiosine was confirmed.