Improve L-isoleucine production in Corynebacterium glutamicum WM001 by destructing the biosynthesis of trehalose dicorynomycolate

Trehalose dicorynomycolates are structurally important constituents of the cell envelope in Corynebacterium glutamicum. The genes treS, treY, otsA, mytA and mytB are necessary for the biosynthesis of trehalose dicorynomycolates. In this study, the effect of biosynthesis of trehalose dicorynomycolates on L-isoleucine production in C. glutamicum has been investigated by deleting the genes treS, treY, otsA, mytA, and mytB in the L-isoleucine producing C. glutamicum WM001. L-isoleucine production was slightly improved in the mutants ΔtreY, ΔotsA, and ΔtreYA, and not improved in the single deletion mutant ΔtreS , but significantly improved in the triple deletion mutant ΔtreSYA. Deletion of mytA or mytB in ΔtreSYA could further improve L-isoleucine production. However, deletion of both mytA and mytB in ΔtreSYA significantly decreased L-isoleucine production. The final L-isoleucine producing C. glutamicum WL001 was constructed by deletion of treS, treY, otsA, and mytB, insertion of lrp, and replacement of the native promoter of ilvA with the L-isoleucine sensitive promoter PbrnFE7. WL001 grew worse than the control WM001, but produced 36.1% more L-isoleucine after 72 h shake flask cultivation than WM001.