Role of tktA gene in pentose phosphate pathway on odd-ball biosynthesis of poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate in transformant Escherichia coli harboring phbCAB operon.

A cloned tktA gene encoding transketolase (TK), the most critical enzyme in the nonoxidative pentose phosphate (PP) pathway, was reinforced into the parent Escherichia coli for metabolic flux control of carbohydrate. It was also transformed into the transformant E. coli harboring phbCAB operon for the odd-ball biosynthesis of PHB. The biosynthesis of PHB significantly increased up to 1.7-fold after the cotransformation of the phbCAB operon and tktA gene, due to the active supplementation of the precursor molecules, acetyl-CoA and NADPH.