Ethylene glycol is metabolized to ethanol and acetate and induces expression of bacterial microcompartments in Propionibacterium freudenreichii.

ABSTRACT: Ethylene glycol (EG, 1,2-ethanediol) is a two-carbon dihydroxy alcohol that can be derived from fermentation of plant-derived xylose and arabinose and which can be formed during food fermentations. Here we show that Propionibacterium freudenreichii DSM 20271 is able to convert EG in anaerobic conditions to ethanol and acetate in almost equimolar amounts. The metabolism of EG led to a moderate increase of biomass, indicating its metabolism is energetically favourable. A proteomic analysis revealed EG induced expression of the pdu-cluster, which encodes a functional bacterial microcompartment (BMC) involved in the degradation of 1,2-propanediol, with the presence of BMCs confirmed using transmission electron microscopy. Cross-examination of the proteomes of 1,2-propanediol and

SUBMITTER: Dank A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11255663 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature