Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum Phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (coaD)

Introduction

Lactobacillus plantarum is a lactic acid bacterium with the ability to produce diverse metabolites during fermentation that play key roles in enhancing health and food quality . Among the various enzymes and proteins produced by L. plantarum, phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (CoA D) is important for bacterial metabolism. Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum expressing specific proteins or enzymes can be used to study various biological processes, develop antimicrobial agents, create functional foods, and produce vaccines .

Lactobacillus plantarum and its Applications

Lactobacillus plantarum is a versatile microorganism with a wide range of applications:

• Probiotics: Certain strains of L. plantarum are used as probiotics to improve gut health, modulate the immune system, and inhibit pathogens .

• Antimicrobial Production: L. plantarum produces metabolites with antimicrobial properties, such as peptides, organic acids, and exopolysaccharides .

• Food Fermentation: It plays a crucial role in food fermentation, contributing to the flavor, texture, and preservation of various food products .

• Vaccine Development: Recombinant L. plantarum strains can be engineered to express antigens and used as oral vaccines .

Phosphopantetheine Adenylyltransferase (coaD)

Phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase (CoA D) is an enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of coenzyme A (CoA) . CoA is an essential cofactor that participates in various metabolic reactions, including fatty acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and amino acid metabolism . The coaD gene encodes phosphopantetheine adenylyltransferase . By integrating metabolomic data with whole-genome annotation, key metabolites can be identified, revealing critical processes such as secondary metabolite biosynthesis, nucleotide and galactose metabolism, and cofactor biosynthesis .

Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum

Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum is genetically modified to express specific genes or proteins of interest . This can be achieved through various genetic engineering techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9-assisted genome editing .

4.1. Applications of Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum

• Enhanced Immune Response: Recombinant L. plantarum can be engineered to express antigens from pathogens, stimulating the immune system and providing protection against infections .

• Production of Antimicrobial Compounds: Recombinant strains can be designed to overproduce antimicrobial compounds, which can be used to combat harmful bacteria .

• Metabolic Engineering: Recombinant L. plantarum can be used to modify metabolic pathways, leading to the production of valuable compounds or the improvement of strain properties .

4.2. Examples of Recombinant Lactobacillus plantarum Studies

• Immune Responses: Recombinant L. plantarum expressing cell-wall anchored H1 protein induced systemic and mucosal immune responses in mice .

• Genome Editing: CRISPR/Cas9-assisted genome editing was used to engineer L. plantarum for the production of N-acetylglucosamine .

Research Findings

Research has demonstrated the potential of recombinant L. plantarum in various applications. For example, studies have shown that recombinant L. plantarum can induce immune responses and be used as a vaccine candidate . Additionally, genetic engineering techniques have been used to modify L. plantarum for the production of valuable compounds .