Hierarchical cluster analysis to detect coordinated protein expression in metabolically engineered Zymomonas mobilis

Two dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) was used to profile protein expression patterns in a metabolically engineered Zymomonas mobilis strain. An application of the hierarchical cluster analysis to dynamic protein expression patterns determined that functionally related proteins show similar expression trajectories. The three functionally related classes of proteins include: Entner-Douderoff (ED) and fermentative pathway enzymes, recombinant pentose phosphate (PP) pathway enzymes, and stress proteins. Findings included identifying a cellular stress response as a result of the utilization of the foreign metabolic pathway.