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Characterizing MttA as a Mitochondrial Cis-Aconitic Acid Transporter by Metabolic Engineering

Characterizing MttA as a Mitochondrial Cis-Aconitic Acid Transporter by Metabolic Engineering

Matthias G Steiger, Peter J Punt, Arthur F J Ram, Diethard Mattanovich, Michael Sauer

Metab Eng. 2016 May;35:95-104.

PMID: 26875555

Abstract:

The mitochondrial carrier protein MttA is involved in the biosynthesis of itaconic acid in Aspergillus terreus. In this paper, the transport specificity of MttA is analyzed making use of different metabolically engineered Aspergillus niger strains. Furthermore, the mitochondrial localization of this protein is confirmed using fluorescence microscopy. It was found that MttA preferentially transports cis-aconitic acid over citric acid and does not transport itaconic acid. The expression of MttA in selected A. niger strains results in secretion of aconitic acid. MttA can be used in further strain engineering strategies to transport cis-aconitic acid to the cytosol to produce itaconic acid or related metabolites. The microbial production of aconitic acid (9g/L) is achieved in strains expressing this transport protein. Thus, metabolic engineering can be used for both the in vivo characterization of transport protein function like MttA and to make use of this protein by creating aconitic acid producing strains.

Chemicals Related in the Paper:

Catalog Number	Product Name	Structure	CAS Number	Price
AP585842	cis-Aconitic acid		585-84-2	Price

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