Engineering Escherichia coli for efficient aerobic conversion of glucose to fumaric acid

Abstract

Highlights E. coli was engineered to produce fumaric acid from glucose under aerobic conditions. Fermentation-deficient strain with modified glucose transport was used as a chassis. Novel design for biosynthesis of the product via modified TCA cycle was implemented. Artificial bypass of 2-ketoglutarate-succinate semialdehyde-succinate was constructed. Yield of 0.86 mol/mol, amounting to 86% of theoretical maximum, was achieved.