Modeling of pyruvate decarboxylases from ethanol producing bacteria.

Pyruvate decarboxylase (PDC) is a key enzyme in homoethanol fermentation process, which decarboxylates 2-keto acid pyruvate into acetaldehyde and carbon dioxide. PDC enzymes from potential ethanol-producing bacteria such as Zymomonas mobilis, Zymobacter palmae and Sarcina ventriculi have different K(m) and k(cat) values for the substrate pyruvate at their respective optimum pH. In this study, the putative three-dimensional structures of PDC dimer of Z. palmae PDC and S. ventriculi PDC were generated based on the X-ray crystal structures of Z. mobilis PDC, Saccharomyces cerevisiae PDC form-A and Enterobacter cloacae indolepyruvate decarboxylase in order to compare the quaternary structures of these bacterial PDCs with respect to enzyme-substrate interactions, and subunit-subunit interfaces that might be related to the different biochemical characteristics. The PROCHECK scores for both models were within recommended intervals. The generated models are similar to the X-ray crystal structure of Z. mobilis PDC in terms of binding modes of the cofactor, the position of Mg(2+), and the amino acids that form the active sites. However, subunit-subunit interface analysis showed lower H-bonding in both models compared with X-ray crystal structure of Z. mobilis PDC, suggesting a smaller interface area and the possibility of conformational change upon substrate binding in both models. Both models have predicted lower affinity towards branched and aromatic 2-keto acids, which correlated with the molecular volumes of the ligands. The models shed valuable information necessary for further improvement of PDC enzymes for industrial production of ethanol and other products.

Cyanobacterial postgenomic research and systems biology.

The genomic era brought with it the capacity to unlock complex interactions in organisms and biological systems. Currently, by exploiting genomic and associated protein information through in silico analyses, postgenomic research is developing rapidly. This field, which encompasses functional genomics, structural genomics, transcriptomics, pharmacogenomics, proteomics and metabolomics, allows for a systems-wide approach to biological studies. To date, bacterial postgenomic research has focused mainly on a few representative pathogenic species, leaving the vast majority of the microbial community relatively overlooked. Amongst the under-represented microorganisms are the cyanobacteria, which are important for their beneficial natural product production, bioremediation and energy applications. Here, we highlight the current status of cyanobacterial postgenomic research and assess the potential for future metabolic engineering and "cell factory" or "microbial cell" development.