Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052

IntroductionAlthough solventogenic Clostridium species (SCS) produce butanol, achieving high enough titers to warrant commercialization of biobutanol remains elusive. Thus, deepening our understanding of the intricate cellular wiring of SCS is crucial to unearthing new targets and strategies for eng...

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Main Authors: Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell, Santosh Kumar, Hieu M. Truong, Eric Agyeman-Duah, Christopher C. Okonkwo, Victor C. Ujor
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-02-01
Series:Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1547226/full
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author Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell
Santosh Kumar
Hieu M. Truong
Eric Agyeman-Duah
Christopher C. Okonkwo
Victor C. Ujor
author_facet Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell
Santosh Kumar
Hieu M. Truong
Eric Agyeman-Duah
Christopher C. Okonkwo
Victor C. Ujor
author_sort Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAlthough solventogenic Clostridium species (SCS) produce butanol, achieving high enough titers to warrant commercialization of biobutanol remains elusive. Thus, deepening our understanding of the intricate cellular wiring of SCS is crucial to unearthing new targets and strategies for engineering novel strains capable of producing and tolerating greater concentrations of butanol.MethodsThis study investigated the potential role of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) in regulating solvent biosynthesis in C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052. Genes for c-di-AMP-producing and degrading enzymes [DNA integrity scanning protein A (disA) and phosphodiesterase (pde), respectively] were cloned in this organism and the recombinant strains were characterized relative to the control strain.ResultsPlasmid-borne expression of disA in C. beijerinckii led to a 1.83-fold increase in c-di-AMP levels and near complete (∼100%) inhibition of butanol and acetone biosynthesis. Conversely, c-di-AMP concentrations in the pde-expressing strain reduced 7.54-fold relative to the control with 4.20- and 2.3-fold reductions in butanol and acetone concentrations, respectively, when compared to the control strain. Relative to the control and the pde-expressing strains, the disA-expressing strain produced 1.50- and 1.90-fold more ethanol, respectively. Enzyme activity assays show that core solvent biosynthesis enzymes are mostly inhibited in vitro by exogenously supplemented c-di-AMP (50 nM). Both recombinant strains of C. beijerinckii are impaired for sporulation, particularly the disA-expressing strain.DiscussionCollectively, the results show that dysregulated production and hydrolysis of c-di-AMP severely impair butanol and acetone biosynthesis in C. beijerinckii, suggesting broader roles of this second messenger in the regulation of solventogenesis and likely, sporulation in this organism.
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spelling doaj-art-2bef0f7dab4344389be21b5028defcce2025-08-20T02:54:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-02-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.15472261547226Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell0Santosh Kumar1Hieu M. Truong2Eric Agyeman-Duah3Christopher C. Okonkwo4Victor C. Ujor5Department of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesDepartment of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesDepartment of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesDepartment of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesBiotechnology Program, College of Science, The Roux Institute, Northeastern University, Portland, ME, United StatesDepartment of Food Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United StatesIntroductionAlthough solventogenic Clostridium species (SCS) produce butanol, achieving high enough titers to warrant commercialization of biobutanol remains elusive. Thus, deepening our understanding of the intricate cellular wiring of SCS is crucial to unearthing new targets and strategies for engineering novel strains capable of producing and tolerating greater concentrations of butanol.MethodsThis study investigated the potential role of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate (c-di-AMP) in regulating solvent biosynthesis in C. beijerinckii NCIMB 8052. Genes for c-di-AMP-producing and degrading enzymes [DNA integrity scanning protein A (disA) and phosphodiesterase (pde), respectively] were cloned in this organism and the recombinant strains were characterized relative to the control strain.ResultsPlasmid-borne expression of disA in C. beijerinckii led to a 1.83-fold increase in c-di-AMP levels and near complete (∼100%) inhibition of butanol and acetone biosynthesis. Conversely, c-di-AMP concentrations in the pde-expressing strain reduced 7.54-fold relative to the control with 4.20- and 2.3-fold reductions in butanol and acetone concentrations, respectively, when compared to the control strain. Relative to the control and the pde-expressing strains, the disA-expressing strain produced 1.50- and 1.90-fold more ethanol, respectively. Enzyme activity assays show that core solvent biosynthesis enzymes are mostly inhibited in vitro by exogenously supplemented c-di-AMP (50 nM). Both recombinant strains of C. beijerinckii are impaired for sporulation, particularly the disA-expressing strain.DiscussionCollectively, the results show that dysregulated production and hydrolysis of c-di-AMP severely impair butanol and acetone biosynthesis in C. beijerinckii, suggesting broader roles of this second messenger in the regulation of solventogenesis and likely, sporulation in this organism.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1547226/fullcyclic-di-adenosine monophosphatebutanolsporulationsolventogenic clostridiaDNA integrity scanning protein Aphosphodiesterase
spellingShingle Marian M. Awaga-Cromwell
Santosh Kumar
Hieu M. Truong
Eric Agyeman-Duah
Christopher C. Okonkwo
Victor C. Ujor
Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology
cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate
butanol
sporulation
solventogenic clostridia
DNA integrity scanning protein A
phosphodiesterase
title Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
title_full Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
title_fullStr Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
title_full_unstemmed Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
title_short Dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in Clostridium beijerinckii NCIMB 8052
title_sort dysregulated biosynthesis and hydrolysis of cyclic di adenosine monophosphate impedes sporulation and butanol and acetone production in clostridium beijerinckii ncimb 8052
topic cyclic-di-adenosine monophosphate
butanol
sporulation
solventogenic clostridia
DNA integrity scanning protein A
phosphodiesterase
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1547226/full
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