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The industrial anaerobe Clostridium acetobutylicum uses polyketides to regulate cellular differentiation

Author

Listed:
  • Nicolaus A. Herman

    (University of California-Berkeley)

  • Seong Jong Kim

    (University of California-Berkeley)

  • Jeffrey S. Li

    (University of California-Berkeley)

  • Wenlong Cai

    (University of California-Berkeley)

  • Hiroyuki Koshino

    (RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science)

  • Wenjun Zhang

    (University of California-Berkeley
    Chan Zuckerberg Biohub)

Abstract

Polyketides are an important class of bioactive small molecules valued not only for their diverse therapeutic applications, but also for their role in controlling interesting biological phenotypes in their producing organisms. While numerous polyketides are known to be derived from aerobic organisms, only a single family of polyketides has been identified from anaerobic organisms. Here we uncover a family of polyketides native to the anaerobic bacterium Clostridium acetobutylicum, an organism well-known for its historical use as an industrial producer of the organic solvents acetone, butanol, and ethanol. Through mutational analysis and chemical complementation assays, we demonstrate that these polyketides act as chemical triggers of sporulation and granulose accumulation in this strain. This study represents a significant addition to the body of work demonstrating the existence and importance of polyketides in anaerobes, and showcases a strategy of manipulating the secondary metabolism of an organism to improve traits relevant for industrial applications.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicolaus A. Herman & Seong Jong Kim & Jeffrey S. Li & Wenlong Cai & Hiroyuki Koshino & Wenjun Zhang, 2017. "The industrial anaerobe Clostridium acetobutylicum uses polyketides to regulate cellular differentiation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 8(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:8:y:2017:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-017-01809-5
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01809-5
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