Enhancement of 1,3-propanediol production by cofermentation in Escherichia coli expressing Klebsiella pneumoniae dha regulon genes.

1,3-Propanediol (1,3-PD) is an intermediate in chemical and polymer synthesis. We have previously expressed the genes of a biochemical pathway responsible for 1,3-PD production, the dha regulon of Klebsiella pneumoniae, in Escherichia coli. An analysis of the maximum theoretical yield of 1,3-PD from glycerol indicates that the yield can be improved by the cofermentation of sugars, provided that kinetic constraints are overcome. The yield of 1,3-PD from glycerol was improved from 0.46 mol/mol with glycerol alone to 0.63 mol/mol with glucose cofermentation and 0.55 mol/mol with xylose cofermentation. The engineered E. coli also provides a model system for the study of metabolic pathway engineering.