Enhanced Lycopene Productivity by Manipulation of Carbon Flow to Isopentenyl Diphosphate in Escherichia coli

Lycopene is a useful phytochemical that holds great commercial value. In our study the lycopene production pathway in E. coli originating from the precursor isopentenyl diphosphate (IPP) of the non-mevalonate pathway was reconstructed. This engineered strain of E. coli accumulated lycopene intracellularly under aerobic conditions. As a next step, the production of lycopene was enhanced through metabolic engineering methodologies. Various competing pathways at the pyruvate and acetyl-CoA nodes were inactivated to divert more carbon flux to IPP and subsequently to lycopene. It was found that the ackA-pta, nuo mutant produced a higher amount of lycopene compared to the parent strain. To further enhance lycopene production, a novel mevalonate pathway, in addition to the already existing non-mevalonate pathway, was engineered. This pathway utilizes acetyl-CoA as precursor, condensing it to form acetoacetyl-CoA and subsequently leading to formation of IPP. Upon the introduction of this new pathway, lycopene production increased by over 2-fold compared to the ackA-pta, nuo mutant strain.