This project intends to provide an important framework for major genetic restructuring of central carbon metabolism in E. coli for the purpose of increasing synthesis of valuable products. This project also plans to contribute to new monitoring and analysis methods of general utility in studying cell response to environmental or genetic manipulation. The specific overall objective of this project is to reduce acetate formation during aerobic growth of E. coli by genetic modification of carbon flow. This is to be done by: - Identifying metabolic signals which are candidates for directing carbon flow towards acetate. - Identifying proteins associated with responses at the genetic level to environments which trigger acetate production. - Evaluating overall glucose consumption, growth and acetate formation kinetics and stoichiometry under conditions which result in acetate production. - Characterizing in detail several existing genetic constructs which possess or which are likely to exhibit altered acetate production metabolism. - Identifying and mapping new genetic alterations which enhance growth in acetate-producing environments.
