Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis of n-caproic acid production in Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 with lactate supplementation

Abstract

Background n-Caproic acid (CA) is gaining increased attention due to its high value as a chemical feedstock. Ruminococcaceae bacterium strain CPB6 is an anaerobic mesophilic bacterium that is highly prolific in its ability to perform chain elongation of lactate to CA. However, little is known about the genome-wide transcriptional analysis of strain CPB6 for CA production triggered by the supplementation of exogenous lactate. Results In this study, 0.5% lactate was supplemented into the fermentation with Ruminococcaceae bacterium CPB6 for CA production. Compared to the control (without lactate supplementation), lactate supplementation led to earlier CA production and higher final CA titer and productivity. Transcriptional analysis was carried out using RNA-Seq for the culture with and without lactate supplementation (two groups) at growth and stationary phases, respectively. It has been indicated that 295 genes whose changes in expression patterns were substrate and/or growth dependent. These genes cover crucial functional categories. Specifically, 5 genes responsible for the reverse β-oxidation pathway, 11 genes encoding ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters, 6 genes encoding substrate-binding protein (SBP) and 4 genes encoding phosphotransferase system (PTS) transporters were strikingly upregulated in response to the addition of lactate. These genes would be candidates for future studies aiming at understanding the regulatory mechanism of lactate conversion into CA, as well as for the improvement of CA production in strain CPB6. Conclusions This study suggested that lactate supplementation can promote CA production by altering the expression patterns of genes involved in the essential metabolic pathways, such as central pyruvate metabolism, the reverse β-oxidation pathway, ABC and PTS transports. The findings presented herein reveal unique insights into the biomolecular effects of lactate on CA production at the gene transcriptional level.