Inducing a Thermogenic Response to Cold Shock in E. coli

Alternative Oxidase (AOX) is known to uncouple the oxidative phosphorylation pathway in thermogenic plants and transfer electrons to exothermic redox reactions. The AOX gene of the Sacred Lotus plant was cloned into E. Coli, downstream from an inducible cold shock promoter, and directed to the periplasm via an OmpA targeting sequence. Analytical models were developed to predict the thermogenic behavior in different growth media, and faster heating as well as elevated steady state temperatures were observed over controls.