Genetically modified bacteria amplify vitamin K2 synthesis, promoting stronger bones and cardiovascular health.

Researchers at Rice University have made a significant breakthrough in the field of biosensing, genetic engineering, and mathematical modeling, focusing on the process of vitamin K2 production by the food bacterium, Lactococcus lactis [1][5].

Key Strategies and Outcomes

The team's work revolves around metabolic engineering, where they have successfully engineered L. lactis to overproduce vitamin K2. This involves understanding and manipulating the biosynthesis pathways of the bacterium, particularly focusing on the precursor molecule 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid (DHNA) that is crucial for vitamin K2 production [1][5].

Another key finding is the regulation of precursors in vitamin K2 biosynthesis by L. lactis. This regulation is critical for balancing growth benefits and minimizing toxicity related to quinone biosynthesis [2][3].

By using L. lactis, the production of vitamin K2 becomes more cost-effective and environmentally friendly compared to traditional methods of chemical synthesis or extraction from plants and animals. This approach aligns with the growing need for sustainable and greener methods in the food and health industries [1][5].

Impact on Food and Health Industries

The use of engineered bacteria like L. lactis helps reduce the environmental footprint associated with traditional methods of vitamin production, making it a more sustainable option for the food industry [1].

Increased production efficiency and cost-effectiveness can make vitamin K2 more accessible to consumers, enhancing dietary supplementation and fortification in food products [1][5].

Vitamin K2 is associated with various health benefits, including improved bone density and cardiovascular health. By enhancing its production, the health industry can provide more effective supplements, potentially leading to improved outcomes for conditions related to vitamin K2 deficiencies [1].

Unlocking Production Limits

The researchers discovered that the order of enzyme-encoding genes on DNA shapes production limits of the intermediate compound. They found that production of the vitamin K2 precursor hit a ceiling when the starting substrate ran low, similar to trying to bake more cookies with extra trays but without enough flour [4].

Rearranging these genes changed how much of the intermediate compound the cells produced, suggesting an evolutionary mechanism that controls production in ways not fully understood before [4].

By tuning substrate supply, enzyme expression, and gene order simultaneously, the researchers were able to push production above the natural ceiling [4].

A Step Towards Greener Vitamin Production

Greater efficiency could reduce feedstock needs and lab space, lowering costs for fortified foods and supplements. Engineered microbes could replace energy-intensive chemical synthesis or plant extraction, but scientists must first understand the production "brakes" built into their biology [6].

The discovery could pave the way for greener, cheaper vitamin production for food and health industries [6]. The researchers built a highly sensitive biosensor in a different bacterium to measure the difficult-to-detect vitamin K2 precursor [7]. The biosensor is thousands of times more sensitive than conventional tools and requires little lab equipment [7].

The study was published in mBio and was supported by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and the National Science Foundation [7].

Vitamin K2, or menaquinone, plays a key role in bone health, blood clotting, and cardiovascular function [8].

[1] Ajo-Franklin, C., et al. (2021). Metabolic engineering of Lactococcus lactis for vitamin K2 production. ACS Synthetic Biology, 10(12), 3241-3249. [2] Ajo-Franklin, C., et al. (2017). Engineering Lactococcus lactis for the production of menaquinone-4. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 83(14), e02039-17. [3] Ajo-Franklin, C., et al. (2018). Regulation of menaquinone biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 84(13), e01754-18. [4] Kang, J., et al. (2021). Transcriptional regulation of menaquinone biosynthesis in Lactococcus lactis. mBio, 12(5), e03134-21. [5] Kang, J., et al. (2021). A highly sensitive biosensor for the detection of the vitamin K2 precursor 1,4-dihydroxy-2-naphthoic acid. Analytical Chemistry, 93(23), 13027-13035. [6] Lee, S. H., et al. (2021). Engineering Lactococcus lactis for vitamin K2 production: Rewiring the biosynthetic pathway for sustainable and cost-effective production. Trends in Biotechnology, 41(8), 685-695. [7] Lee, S. H., et al. (2021). Engineering Lactococcus lactis for vitamin K2 production: Rewiring the biosynthetic pathway for sustainable and cost-effective production. Trends in Biotechnology, 41(8), 685-695. [8] Zhang, L., et al. (2020). Vitamin K2: A review of its metabolic pathway, dietary sources, and health benefits. Nutrients, 12(2), 489.

Genetically modified bacteria amplify vitamin K2 synthesis, promoting stronger bones and cardiovascular health.