Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Studies of Acetic Acid Inhibition of Ethanol Production by Strains of Zymomonas mobilis

In vivo $^31p$ Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ($^31p$NMR) and metabolic studies were carried out on an acetic acid tolerant mutant, Zymomonas mobilis $ZM4/Ac^R$, and compared to those of the parent strain, Z. mobilis ZM4, to evaluate possible mechanisms of acetic acid resistance. This investigation was initiated to determine whether or not the mutant strain might be used as a suitable recombinant host far ethanol production from lignocellulose hydrolysates containing various inhibitory compounds. $ZM4/Ac^R$ showed multiple resistance to other lignocellulosic toxic compounds such as syringaldehyde, furfural, hydroxymethyl furfural, vanillin, and vanillic acid. The mutant strain was resistant to higher concentrations of ethanol or lower pH in the presence of sodium acetate, compared to ZM4 which showed more additive inhibition. in vivo $^31p$ NMR studies revealed that intracellular acidification and de-energization were two mechanisms by which acetic acid exerted its inhibitory effect. For $ZM4/Ac^R$, the internal pH and the energy status were less affected by sodium acetate compared to the parent strain. This resistance to pH change and de-energization caused by acetic acid is a possible explanation for the development of resistance by this strain.