1
|
Tesfaye M, Wang ES, Feyissa T, Herrfurth C, Haileselassie T, Kanagarajan S, Feussner I, Zhu LH. Enhancing Erucic Acid and Wax Ester Production in Brassica carinata through Metabolic Engineering for Industrial Applications. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6322. [PMID: 38928029 PMCID: PMC11203470 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic engineering enables oilseed crops to be more competitive by having more attractive properties for oleochemical industrial applications. The aim of this study was to increase the erucic acid level and to produce wax ester (WE) in seed oil by genetic transformation to enhance the industrial applications of B. carinata. Six transgenic lines for high erucic acid and fifteen transgenic lines for wax esters were obtained. The integration of the target genes for high erucic acid (BnFAE1 and LdPLAAT) and for WEs (ScWS and ScFAR) in the genome of B. carinata cv. 'Derash' was confirmed by PCR analysis. The qRT-PCR results showed overexpression of BnFAE1 and LdPLAAT and downregulation of RNAi-BcFAD2 in the seeds of the transgenic lines. The fatty acid profile and WE content and profile in the seed oil of the transgenic lines and wild type grown in biotron were analyzed using gas chromatography and nanoelectrospray coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. A significant increase in erucic acid was observed in some transgenic lines ranging from 19% to 29% in relation to the wild type, with a level of erucic acid reaching up to 52.7%. Likewise, the transgenic lines harboring ScFAR and ScWS genes produced up to 25% WE content, and the most abundant WE species were 22:1/20:1 and 22:1/22:1. This study demonstrated that metabolic engineering is an effective biotechnological approach for developing B. carinata into an industrial crop.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Misteru Tesfaye
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden; (M.T.); (E.S.W.); (S.K.)
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box. 1176, Ethiopia; (T.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Eu Sheng Wang
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden; (M.T.); (E.S.W.); (S.K.)
| | - Tileye Feyissa
- Institute of Biotechnology, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa P.O. Box. 1176, Ethiopia; (T.F.); (T.H.)
| | - Cornelia Herrfurth
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht Haller Institute for Plant Science, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; (C.H.); (I.F.)
- Service Unit for Metabolomics and Lipidomics, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | | | - Selvaraju Kanagarajan
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden; (M.T.); (E.S.W.); (S.K.)
| | - Ivo Feussner
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Albrecht Haller Institute for Plant Science, University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig-Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany; (C.H.); (I.F.)
- Department of Plant Biochemistry, Goettingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Goettingen, Justus-von-Liebig Weg 11, 37077 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Li-Hua Zhu
- Department of Plant Breeding, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, P.O. Box 190, SE-234 22 Lomma, Sweden; (M.T.); (E.S.W.); (S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Domergue F, Miklaszewska M. The production of wax esters in transgenic plants:
towards a sustainable source of bio-lubricants. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2022; 73:2817-2834. [PMID: 35560197 PMCID: PMC9113324 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erac046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Wax esters are high-value compounds used as feedstocks for the production of lubricants, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Currently, they are produced mostly from fossil reserves using chemical synthesis, but this cannot meet increasing demand and has a negative environmental impact. Natural wax esters are also obtained from Simmondsia chinensis (jojoba) but comparably in very low amounts and expensively. Therefore, metabolic engineering of plants, especially of the seed storage lipid metabolism of oil crops, represents an attractive strategy for renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly production of wax esters tailored to industrial applications. Utilization of wax ester-synthesizing enzymes with defined specificities and modulation of the acyl-CoA pools by various genetic engineering approaches can lead to obtaining wax esters with desired compositions and properties. However, obtaining high amounts of wax esters is still challenging due to their negative impact on seed germination and yield. In this review, we describe recent progress in establishing non-food-plant platforms for wax ester production and discuss their advantages and limitations as well as future prospects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Domergue
- Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, LBM, UMR 5200, F-33140 Villenave d’Ornon, France
| | - Magdalena Miklaszewska
- Department of Functional and Evolutionary Ecology, Division of Molecular Systems Biology (MOSYS), Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Djerassiplatz 1, 1030, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Miklaszewska M, Banaś A. Biochemical characterization and substrate specificity of jojoba fatty acyl-CoA reductase and jojoba wax synthase. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2016; 249:84-92. [PMID: 27297992 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Wax esters are used in industry for production of lubricants, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. The only natural source of wax esters is jojoba oil. A much wider variety of industrial wax esters-containing oils can be generated through genetic engineering. Biotechnological production of tailor-made wax esters requires, however, a detailed substrate specificity of fatty acyl-CoA reductases (FAR) and wax synthases (WS), the two enzymes involved in wax esters synthesis. In this study we have successfully characterized the substrate specificity of jojoba FAR and jojoba WS. The genes encoding both enzymes were expressed heterologously in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the activity of tested enzymes was confirmed by in vivo studies and in vitro assays using microsomal preparations from transgenic yeast. Jojoba FAR exhibited the highest in vitro activity toward 18:0-CoA followed by 20:1-CoA and 22:1-CoA. The activity toward other 11 tested acyl-CoAs was low or undetectable as with 18:2-CoA and 18:3-CoA. In assays characterizing jojoba WS combinations of 17 fatty alcohols with 14 acyl-CoAs were tested. The enzyme displayed the highest activity toward 14:0-CoA and 16:0-CoA in combination with C16-C20 alcohols as well as toward C18 acyl-CoAs in combination with C12-C16 alcohols. 20:1-CoA was efficiently utilized in combination with most of the tested alcohols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Miklaszewska
- Department of Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk, ul. Wita Stwosza 59, 80-308, Gdańsk, Poland.
| | - Antoni Banaś
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdansk and Medical University of Gdańsk, ul. Abrahama 58, 80-307 Gdańsk, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Benzioni A, Vaknin Y. Effect of female and male genotypes and environment on wax composition in jojoba. J AM OIL CHEM SOC 2002. [DOI: 10.1007/s11746-002-0477-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Aliza Benzioni
- ; The Institutes for Applied Research; Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; P.O. Box 653 84105 Beer-Sheva Israel
| | - Yiftach Vaknin
- ; Department of Pomology; University of California-Davis; 95616 Davis California
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lardizabal KD, Metz JG, Sakamoto T, Hutton WC, Pollard MR, Lassner MW. Purification of a jojoba embryo wax synthase, cloning of its cDNA, and production of high levels of wax in seeds of transgenic arabidopsis. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2000; 122:645-55. [PMID: 10712527 PMCID: PMC58899 DOI: 10.1104/pp.122.3.645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/1999] [Accepted: 11/05/1999] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Wax synthase (WS, fatty acyl-coenzyme A [coA]: fatty alcohol acyltransferase) catalyzes the final step in the synthesis of linear esters (waxes) that accumulate in seeds of jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis). We have characterized and partially purified this enzyme from developing jojoba embryos. A protein whose presence correlated with WS activity during chromatographic fractionation was identified and a cDNA encoding that protein was cloned. Seed-specific expression of the cDNA in transgenic Arabidopsis conferred high levels of WS activity on developing embryos from those plants. The WS sequence has significant homology with several Arabidopsis open reading frames of unknown function. Wax production in jojoba requires, in addition to WS, a fatty acyl-CoA reductase (FAR) and an efficient fatty acid elongase system that forms the substrates preferred by the FAR. We have expressed the jojoba WS cDNA in Arabidopsis in combination with cDNAs encoding the jojoba FAR and a beta-ketoacyl-CoA synthase (a component of fatty acid elongase) from Lunaria annua. (13)C-Nuclear magnetic resonance analysis of pooled whole seeds from transgenic plants indicated that as many as 49% of the oil molecules in the seeds were waxes. Gas chromatography analysis of transmethylated oil from individual seeds suggested that wax levels may represent up to 70% (by weight) of the oil present in those seeds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- K D Lardizabal
- Calgene Campus, Monsanto, 1920 Fifth Street, Davis, California 95616, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Metz JG, Pollard MR, Anderson L, Hayes TR, Lassner MW. Purification of a jojoba embryo fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase and expression of its cDNA in high erucic acid rapeseed. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2000; 122:635-44. [PMID: 10712526 PMCID: PMC58898 DOI: 10.1104/pp.122.3.635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/1999] [Accepted: 11/05/1999] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) plant produces esters of long-chain alcohols and fatty acids (waxes) as a seed lipid energy reserve. This is in contrast to the triglycerides found in seeds of other plants. We purified an alcohol-forming fatty acyl-coenzyme A reductase (FAR) from developing embryos and cloned the cDNA encoding the enzyme. Expression of a cDNA in Escherichia coli confers FAR activity upon those cells and results in the accumulation of fatty alcohols. The FAR sequence shows significant homology to an Arabidopsis protein of unknown function that is essential for pollen development. When the jojoba FAR cDNA is expressed in embryos of Brassica napus, long-chain alcohols can be detected in transmethylated seed oils. Resynthesis of the gene to reduce its A plus T content resulted in increased levels of alcohol production. In addition to free alcohols, novel wax esters were detected in the transgenic seed oils. In vitro assays revealed that B. napus embryos have an endogenous fatty acyl-coenzyme A: fatty alcohol acyl-transferase activity that could account for this wax synthesis. Thus, introduction of a single cDNA into B. napus results in a redirection of a portion of seed oil synthesis from triglycerides to waxes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- J G Metz
- Calgene Campus, Monsanto, 1920 Fifth Street, Davis, California 95616, USA.
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Hiroshi I, Osamu O, Kazutaka M, Yoshihisa N, Shozaburo K. Assimilation and metabolism of fatty alcohols in Euglena gracilis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1986. [DOI: 10.1016/0005-2760(86)90075-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
|
8
|
Avato P. Synthesis of wax esters by a cell-free system from barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). PLANTA 1984; 162:487-494. [PMID: 24253264 DOI: 10.1007/bf00399913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/1984] [Accepted: 05/14/1984] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Experimental evidence for a membranebound microsomal ester synthetase from Bonus barley primary leaves is reported. The results are consistent with at least two mechanisms for the synthesis of barley wax esters: an acyl-CoA-fattyalcohol-transacylase-type reaction and an apparent direct esterification of alcohols with fatty acids. Biosynthesis of wax esters was not specific with regard to the chain length of the tested alcohols. The microsomal preparation readily catalyzed the esterification of C16-, C18-, C22- or C24-labelled alcohols with fatty acids of endogenous origin. Exogenous long-chain alcohols were exclusively incorporated into the alkyl moieties of the esters. Addition of ATP, CoA and-or free fatty acids was not effective in stimulating or depressing the esterifying activity of the microsomal fraction. Partial solubilization of the ester synthetase was obtained using phosphate-buffered saline.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- P Avato
- Department of Physiology, Carlsberg Laboratory, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 10, DK-2500, Copenhagen Valby, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Weber N. Lipidstoffwechsel in pflanzlichen Zellkulturen: Komplexe Etherlipide aus exogenen Alkylglycerinen. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1983. [DOI: 10.1002/lipi.19830851410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
|
10
|
Synthesis of epicuticular primary alcohols and intracellular fatty acids by tissue slices fromcer-j 59 barley leaves. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1982. [DOI: 10.1007/bf02907776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
11
|
Weber N, Mangold HK. Metabolism of long-chain alcohols in cell suspension cultures of soya and rape. PLANTA 1982; 155:225-230. [PMID: 24271771 DOI: 10.1007/bf00392720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/1982] [Accepted: 04/26/1982] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Heterotrophic cell suspension cultures of soya (Glycine max) and photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures of rape (Brassica napus) were incubated with cis-9-[1-(14)C]octadecenol for 3-48 h. It was found that under aerobic conditions large proportions of the alcohol are oxidized to oleic acid, which is incorporated predominantly into phospholipids, whereas up to 30% of the substrate is esterified to wax esters. This is true for both the heterotrophic and the photomixotrophic cell suspension cultures, but the metabolic rates are much higher in the latter. Under anaerobic conditions only small proportions of the radioactively labeled alcohol are oxidized to oleic acid, whereas a major portion of the alcohol is esterified to wax esters both in heterotrophic and photomixotrophic cultures. Incubations of homogenates of photomixotrophic rape cells with labeled cis-9-octadecenol showed that pH 6 is optimum for the formation of wax esters. This monounsaturated alcohol is preferred as a substrate over saturated longchain alcohols, whereas short-chain alcohols, cholesterol, and glycerol are not acylated. Incubations of an enzyme concentrate from a homogenate of rape cells with unlabeled cis-9-octadecenol and [1-(14)C]oleic acid, or [1-(14)C]stearoyl-CoA, or di[1-(14)C]palmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine showed that acylation of the longchain alcohol proceeds predominantly through acyl-CoA. Direct esterification of the alcohol with fatty acid as well as acyl transfer from diacylglycerophosphocholine could be demonstrated to occur to a much smaller extent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Weber
- Bundesanstalt für Fettforschung, Institut für Biochemie und Technologie, H.P. Kaufmann Institut, Piusallee 68, D-4400, Münster, Federal Republic of Germany
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Werdelmann BW, Schmid RD. The Biotechnology of Fats – a Challenge and an Opportunity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1982. [DOI: 10.1002/lipi.19820841104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
|