Genetic tool development and metabolic engineering of Actinobacillus succinogenes

Succinic acid is a specialty chemical and an important precursor for the synthesis of high-value products that can be applied across many industries, such as for biopolymers, pharmaceutical products, and foods. Actinobacillus succinogenes, a gram-negative, capnophilic, facultative anaerobic bacterium, produces succinate at high yields from glucose and xylose as a major fermentation product. In addition, succinate production requires the incorporation of CO₂ in the pathway, making this organism an ideal candidate for converting lignocellulosic sugars and CO₂ to a commodity product from a sustainability perspective. To further improve succinate production, we have conducted metabolic engineering in A. succinogenes. In order to optimize the flux for more efficient production of succinate, we identified several gene targets for manipulation. In this report, genetic tool development as well as up- and down- regulation of such genes will be discussed.