Comparative energetics of glucose and xylose metabolism in ethanologenic recombinant Escherichia coli B

Abstract

This study compared the anaerobic catabolism of glucose and xylose by a patented, recombinant ethanologenic Escherichia coli B 11303:pLOI297 in terms of overall yields of cell mass (growth), energy (ATP), and end product (ethanol). Batch cultivations were conducted with pH-controlled stirred-tank bioreactors using both a nutritionally rich, complex medium (Luria broth) and a defined salts minimal medium and growth-limiting concentrations of glucose or xylose. The value of gamma ATP was determined to be 9.28 and 8.19 g dry wt cells/mol ATP in complex and minimal media, respectively. Assuming that the nongrowth-associated energy demand is similar for glucose and xylose, the mass-based growth yield (Yx/s, g dry wt cells/g sugar) should be proportional to the net energy yield from sugar metabolism. The value of Yx/s was reduced, on average, by about 50% (from 0.096 g/g glu to 0.51 g/g xyl) when xylose replaced glucose as the growth-limiting carbon and energy source. It was concluded that this observation is consistent with the theoretical difference in net energy (ATP) yield associated with anaerobic catabolism of glucose and xylose when differences in the mechanisms of energy-coupled transport of each sugar are taken into account. In a defined salts medium, the net ATP yield was determined to be 2.0 and 0.92 for glucose and xylose, respectively.