S90: Proteomics-Aided Correlation Analysis Of The Isoprenoid Pathway For C5 Alcohol Production In E. COLI

The biosynthesis of three isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP)-derived C5 alcohols was recently demonstrated using a modified mevalonate pathway in E. coli.  Although this synthetic pathway successfully produced three C5 alcohols, titers were low and reached only 5 - 8 % of the theoretical yield.  In this presentation, we leveraged targeted proteomics to rationally balance the pathway proteins level resulting in significantly improved production of 3-methyl-3-butenol or isopentenol (~1.3 g/L, 40 % of the pathway-dependent theoretical yield).  By correlating proteomic profiles with isopentenol production and additional parameters such as acetate secretion, we elucidated the primary determinants of balanced, efficient pathway function. This proteomics-based correlative approach should be applicable to numerous metabolic pathways and assist in the identification of bottlenecks and clarification of complex pathway behavior.