Enhanced H2 Production and Redirected Metabolic Flux via Overexpression of fhlA and pncB in Klebsiella HQ-3 Strain

Abstract

Genetic modifications are considered as one of the most important technologies for improving fermentative hydrogen yield. Herein, we overexpress fhlA and pncB genes from Klebsiella HQ-3 independently to enhance hydrogen molar yield. HQ-3-fhlA/pncB strain is developed by manipulation of pET28-Pkan/fhlA Kanr and pBBR1-MCS5/pncB Gmr as expression vectors to examine the synchronous effects of fhlA and pncB. Optimization of anaerobic batch fermentations is achieved and the maximum yield of biohydrogen (1.42 mol H2/mol of glucose) is produced in the range of pH 6.5–7.0 at 33–37 °C. Whole cell H2 yield is increased up to 40 % from HQ-3-fhlA/pncB, as compared with HQ-3-fhlA 20 % and HQ-3-pncB 12 % keeping HQ-3-C as a control. Mechanism of improved H2 yield is studied in combination with metabolic flux analysis by measuring glucose consumption and other metabolites including formate, succinate, 2,3 butanediol, lactate, acetate, ethanol, and hydrogen. The results suggest that under transient conditions, the increase in the total level of NAD by NAPRTase can enhance the rate of NADH-dependent pathways, and therefore, final distribution of metabolites is changed. Combined overexpression of fhlA and pncB eventually modifies the energy and carbon balance leading to enhanced H2 production from FHL as well as by NADH pathway.