Reconstruction and analysis of a genome-scale metabolic model of the vitamin C producing industrial strain Ketogulonicigenium vulgare WSH-001

Ketogulonicigenium vulgare WSH001 is an industrial strain commonly used in the vitamin C producing industry. In order to acquire a comprehensive understanding of its physiological characteristics, a genome-scale metabolic model of K. vulgare WSH001, iWZ663, including 830 reactions, 649 metabolites, and 663 genes, was reconstructed by genome annotation and literature mining. This model was capable of predicting quantitatively the growth of K. vulgare under l-sorbose fermentation conditions and the results agreed well with experimental data. Furthermore, phenotypic features, such as the defect in sulfate metabolism hampering the syntheses of l-cysteine, l-methionine, coenzyme A (CoA), and glutathione, were investigated and provided an explanation for the poor growth of K. vulgare in monoculture. The model presented here provides a validated platform that can be used to understand and manipulate the phenotype of K. vulgare to further improve 2-KLG production efficiency.

► The first genome-scale metabolic model for vitamin C producing strain Ketogulonicigenium vulgare was reconstructed and validated.
► l-Asparagine, l-cysteine, and l-methionine are predicted to be necessary for the growth of K. vulgare.
► The defect in sulfate metabolism was found to be one reason for the poor growth of K. vulgare in monoculture.