Metabolic flux pattern of glucose utilization by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris: prevalent role of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway and minor fluxes through the pentose phosphate pathway and glycolysis

Mol Biosyst. 2014 Oct;10(10):2663-76. doi: 10.1039/c4mb00198b.

Abstract

The well-studied plant pathogenic bacterium Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) synthesizes the biotechnologically important polysaccharide xanthan gum, which is also regarded as a virulence factor in plant interactions. In Xcc, sugars like glucose are utilized as a source to generate energy and biomass for growth and pathogenicity. In this study, we used [1-(13)C]glucose as a tracer to analyze the fluxes in the central metabolism of the bacterium growing in a minimal medium. (13)C-Metabolic flux analysis based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the prevalent catabolic role of the Entner-Doudoroff pathway. Comparative nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR)-based isotopologue profiling of a mutant deficient in glycolysis gave evidence for a moderate flux via glycolysis in the wild-type. In addition to reconfirming the Entner-Doudoroff pathway as a catabolic main route, this approach affirmed a numerically minor but important flux via the pentose phosphate pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acids / metabolism
  • Carbohydrate Metabolism
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Glucose / metabolism*
  • Glycolysis
  • Metabolic Networks and Pathways*
  • Models, Biological
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, Biomolecular
  • Pentose Phosphate Pathway
  • Xanthomonas campestris / genetics
  • Xanthomonas campestris / metabolism*

Substances

  • Amino Acids
  • Glucose