Engineering PQS biosynthesis pathway for enhancement of bioelectricity production in pseudomonas aeruginosa microbial fuel cells
Author
Wang, Victor Bochuan
Chua, Song-Lin
Cao, Bin
Seviour, Thomas
Nesatyy, Victor J.
Marsili, Enrico
Kjelleberg, Staffan
Givskov, Michael
Tolker-Nielsen, Tim
Song, Hao
Loo, Say Chye Joachim
Yang, Liang
Date of Issue
2013School
School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
School of Materials Science and Engineering
School of Biological Sciences
School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
School of Materials Science and Engineering
School of Biological Sciences
Version
Published version
Abstract
The biosynthesis of the redox shuttle, phenazines, in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an ubiquitous microorganism in wastewater microflora, is regulated by the 2-heptyl-3,4-dihydroxyquinoline (PQS) quorum-sensing system. However, PQS inhibits anaerobic growth of P. aeruginosa. We constructed a P. aeruginosa strain that produces higher concentrations of phenazines under anaerobic conditions by over-expressing the PqsE effector in a PQS negative ΔpqsC mutant. The engineered strain exhibited an improved electrical performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and potentiostat-controlled electrochemical cells with an approximate five-fold increase of maximum current density relative to the parent strain. Electrochemical analysis showed that the current increase correlates with an over-synthesis of phenazines. These results therefore demonstrate that targeting microbial cell-to-cell communication by genetic engineering is a suitable technique to improve power output of bioelectrochemical systems.
Type
Journal Article
Series/Journal Title
PLoS ONE
Rights
© 2013 The Authors. This paper was published in PLoS ONE and is made available as an electronic reprint (preprint) with permission of The Authors. The paper can be found at the following official DOI: [http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063129]. One print or electronic copy may be made for personal use only. Systematic or multiple reproduction, distribution to multiple locations via electronic or other means, duplication of any material in this paper for a fee or for commercial purposes, or modification of the content of the paper is prohibited and is subject to penalties under law.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0063129
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