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Bedard S, Roxborough E, O'Neill E, Mangal V. The biomolecules of Euglena gracilis: Harnessing biology for natural solutions to future problems. Protist 2024; 175:126044. [PMID: 38823247 DOI: 10.1016/j.protis.2024.126044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 02/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, the autotrophic and heterotrophic protist Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) has gained popularity across the studies of environmental science, biosynthesis experiments, and nutritional substitutes. The unique physiology and versatile metabolism of E. gracilis have been a recent topic of interest to many researchers who continue to understand the complexity and possibilities of using E. gracilis biomolecule production. In this review, we present a comprehensive representation of recent literature outlining the various uses of biomolecules derived from E. gracilis across the fields of natural product biosynthesis, as a nutritional substitute, and as bioremediation tools. In addition, we highlight effective strategies for altering metabolite production using abiotic stressors and growth conditions. To better understand metabolite biosynthesis and its role in E. gracilis, integrated studies involving genomics, metabolomics, and proteomics should be considered. Together, we show how the ongoing advancements in E. gracilis related research continue to broaden applications in the biosynthetic sector and highlight future works that would strengthen our understanding of overall Euglena metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bedard
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University. 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catherines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - E Roxborough
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - E O'Neill
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK
| | - V Mangal
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University. 1812 Sir Isaac Brock Way, St. Catherines, Ontario L2S 3A1, Canada.
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Suparmaniam U, Lam MK, Lim JW, Tan IS, Chin BLF, Shuit SH, Lim S, Pang YL, Kiew PL. Abiotic stress as a dynamic strategy for enhancing high value phytochemicals in microalgae: Critical insights, challenges and future prospects. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 70:108280. [PMID: 37944570 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2023] [Revised: 10/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae showcase an extraordinary capacity for synthesizing high-value phytochemicals (HVPCs), offering substantial potential for diverse applications across various industries. Emerging research suggests that subjecting microalgae to abiotic stress during cultivation and the harvesting stages can further enhance the accumulation of valuable metabolites within their cells, including carotenoids, antioxidants, and vitamins. This study delves into the pivotal impacts of manipulating abiotic stress on microalgae yields, with a particular focus on biomass and selected HVPCs that have received limited attention in the existing literature. Moreover, approaches to utilising abiotic stress to increase HVPCs production while minimising adverse effects on biomass productivity were discussed. The present study also encompasses a techno-economic assessment (TEA) aimed at pinpointing significant bottlenecks in the conversion of microalgae biomass into high-value products and evaluating the desirability of various conversion pathways. The TEA methodology serves as a valuable tool for both researchers and practitioners in the quest to identify sustainable strategies for transforming microalgae biomass into high-value products and goods. Overall, this comprehensive review sheds light on the pivotal role of abiotic stress in microalgae cultivation, promising insights that could lead to more efficient and sustainable approaches for HVPCs production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uganeeswary Suparmaniam
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Man Kee Lam
- Chemical Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia.
| | - Jun Wei Lim
- HICoE-Centre for Biofuel and Biochemical Research, Institute of Self-Sustainable Building, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia; Fundamental and Applied Sciences Department, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, 32610 Seri Iskandar, Perak, Malaysia
| | - Inn Shi Tan
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Bridgid Lai Fui Chin
- Department of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia; Energy and Environment Research Cluster, Faculty of Engineering and Science, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, 98009 Miri, Sarawak, Malaysia
| | - Siew Hoong Shuit
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Steven Lim
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Yean Ling Pang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, 43000, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Peck Loo Kiew
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Malaysia - Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Jalan Sultan Yahya Petra, 54100 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Huang Y, Wan X, Zhao Z, Liu H, Wen Y, Wu W, Ge X, Zhao C. Metabolomic analysis and pathway profiling of paramylon production in Euglena gracilis grown on different carbon sources. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 246:125661. [PMID: 37399871 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Paramylon (β-1,3-glucan) produced by Euglena gracilis displays antioxidant, antitumor, and hypolipidaemic functions. The biological properties of paramylon production by E. gracilis can be understood by elucidating the metabolic changes within the algae. In this study, the carbon sources in AF-6 medium were replaced with glucose, sodium acetate, glycerol, or ethanol, and the paramylon yield was measured. Adding 0.1260 g/L glucose to the culture medium resulted in the highest paramylon yield of 70.48 %. The changes in metabolic pathways in E. gracilis grown on glucose were assessed via non-targeted metabolomics analysis using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to high-resolution quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry. We found that glucose, as a carbon source, regulated some differentially expressed metabolites, including l-glutamic acid, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and l-aspartic acid. Pathway analysis using the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes further showed that glucose regulated the carbon and nitrogen balance through the GABA shunt, which enhanced photosynthesis, regulated the flux of carbon and nitrogen into the tricarboxylic acid cycle, promoted glucose uptake, and increased the accumulation of paramylon. This study provides new insights into E. gracilis metabolism during paramylon synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajun Huang
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xuzhi Wan
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Zhejiang Key Laboratory for Agro-Food Processing, Fuli Institute of Food Science, College of Biosystems Engineering and Food Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Zexu Zhao
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Hanqi Liu
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Yuxi Wen
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China; Universidade de Vigo, Nutrition and Bromatology Group, Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Weihao Wu
- College of Food Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
| | - Xiaodong Ge
- College of Marine and Bioengineering, Yancheng Institute of Technology, Yancheng 224051, China
| | - Chao Zhao
- College of Marine Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China.
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The proteome of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii during phosphorus depletion and repletion. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
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Wu M, Wu G, Lu F, Wang H, Lei A, Wang J. Microalgal photoautotrophic growth induces pH decrease in the aquatic environment by acidic metabolites secretion. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:115. [PMID: 36289523 PMCID: PMC9608927 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02212-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microalgae can absorb CO2 during photosynthesis, which causes the aquatic environmental pH to rise. However, the pH is reduced when microalga Euglena gracilis (EG) is cultivated under photoautotrophic conditions. The mechanism behind this unique phenomenon is not yet elucidated. RESULTS The present study evaluated the growth of EG, compared to Chlorella vulgaris (CV), as the control group; analyzed the dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the aquatic environment; finally revealed the mechanism of the decrease in the aquatic environmental pH via comparative metabolomics analysis. Although the CV cell density was 28.3-fold that of EG, the secreted-DOM content from EG cell was 49.8-fold that of CV (p-value < 0.001). The main component of EG's DOM was rich in humic acids, which contained more DOM composed of chemical bonds such as N-H, O-H, C-H, C=O, C-O-C, and C-OH than that of CV. Essentially, the 24 candidate biomarkers metabolites secreted by EG into the aquatic environment were acidic substances, mainly lipids and lipid-like molecules, organoheterocyclic compounds, organic acids, and derivatives. Moreover, six potential critical secreted-metabolic pathways were identified. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that EG secreted acidic metabolites, resulting in decreased aquatic environmental pH. This study provides novel insights into a new understanding of the ecological niche of EG and the rule of pH change in the microalgae aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingcan Wu
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China ,grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Guimei Wu
- grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Feimiao Lu
- grid.428986.90000 0001 0373 6302State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228 China
| | - Hongxia Wang
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Center for Microalgal Biotechnology and Biofuels, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Anping Lei
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
| | - Jiangxin Wang
- grid.263488.30000 0001 0472 9649Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
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Ivušić F, Rezić T, Šantek B. Heterotrophic Cultivation of Euglena gracilis in Stirred Tank Bioreactor: A Promising Bioprocess for Sustainable Paramylon Production. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27185866. [PMID: 36144601 PMCID: PMC9502384 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27185866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Paramylon is a valuable intracellular product of the microalgae Euglena gracilis, and it can accumulate in Euglena cells according to the cultivation conditions. For the sustainable production of paramylon and appropriate cell growth, different bioreactor processes and industrial byproducts can be considered as substrates. In this study, a complex medium with corn steep solid (CSS) was used, and various bioreactor processes (batch, fed batch, semicontinuous and continuous) were performed in order to maximize paramylon production in the microalgae Euglena gracilis. Compared to the batch, fed batch and repeated batch bioprocesses, during the continuous bioprocess in a stirred tank bioreactor (STR) with a complex medium containing 20 g/L of glucose and 25 g/L of CSS, E. gracilis accumulated a competitive paramylon content (67.0%), and the highest paramylon productivity of 0.189 g/Lh was observed. This demonstrated that the application of a continuous bioprocess, with corn steep solid as an industrial byproduct, can be a successful strategy for efficient and economical paramylon production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Franjo Ivušić
- Croatian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Vlaha Bukovca 14, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia
| | - Tonči Rezić
- Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
- Correspondence:
| | - Božidar Šantek
- Faculty of Food Technology and Biotechnology, University of Zagreb, Pierottijeva 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
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Gu G, Ou D, Chen Z, Gao S, Sun S, Zhao Y, Hu C, Liang X. Metabolomics revealed the photosynthetic performance and metabolomic characteristics of Euglena gracilis under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2022; 38:160. [PMID: 35834059 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-022-03346-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Photosynthetic and metabolomic performance of Euglena gracilis was examined and compared under autotrophic and mixotrophic conditions. Autotrophic protozoa (AP) obtained greater biomass (about 33% higher) than the mixotrophic protozoa (MP) after 12 days of growth. AP maintained steady photosynthesis, while MP showed a remarkable decrease in photosynthetic efficiency and dropped to an extremely low level at day 12. In MP, low light absorption and photosynthetic electron transport efficiency, and high energy dissipation were reflected by the chlorophyll (chl a) fluorescence (OJIP) of the protozoa. The values of ΨO, ΦEo, and ETO/RC of MP decreased to extremely low levels, to 1/15, 1/46, and 1/9 those of AP, respectively, while DIO/RC increased to approximately 16 times that of AP. A total of 137 metabolites were showed significant differences between AP and MP. AP accumulated more monosaccharide, lipids, and alkaloids, while MP produced more amino acids, peptides, and long-chain fatty acids including poly-unsaturated fatty acids. The top nine most important enriched pathways obtained from KEGG mapping were related to ABC transporters, biosynthesis of amino acids, purine metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. There were significant differences between AP and MP in photosynthetic activity, metabolites, and metabolic pathways. This work presented useful information for the production of high value bioproducts in E. gracilis cultured under different nutritional conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gan Gu
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.,College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Dong Ou
- College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhehua Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.,College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shumei Gao
- College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Shiqing Sun
- College of Advanced Materials Engineering, Jiaxing Nanhu University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjun Zhao
- College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China
| | - Changwei Hu
- College of Biological, Chemical Science and Engineering, Jiaxing University, Jiaxing, 314001, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xianrui Liang
- College of Pharmacy, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, 310014, China.
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Euglena gracilis can grow in the mixed culture containing Cladosporium westerdijkiae, Lysinibacillus boronitolerans and Pseudobacillus badius without the addition of vitamins B1 and B12. J Biotechnol 2022; 351:50-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2022.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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Carrasco-Reinado R, Bermudez-Sauco M, Escobar-Niño A, Cantoral JM, Fernández-Acero FJ. Development of the "Applied Proteomics" Concept for Biotechnology Applications in Microalgae: Example of the Proteome Data in Nannochloropsis gaditana. Mar Drugs 2021; 20:38. [PMID: 35049892 PMCID: PMC8780095 DOI: 10.3390/md20010038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 12/19/2021] [Accepted: 12/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Most of the marine ecosystems on our planet are still unknown. Among these ecosystems, microalgae act as a baseline due to their role as primary producers. The estimated millions of species of these microorganisms represent an almost infinite source of potentially active biocomponents offering unlimited biotechnology applications. This review considers current research in microalgae using the "omics" approach, which today is probably the most important biotechnology tool. These techniques enable us to obtain a large volume of data from a single experiment. The specific focus of this review is proteomics as a technique capable of generating a large volume of interesting information in a single proteomics assay, and particularly the concept of applied proteomics. As an example, this concept has been applied to the study of Nannochloropsis gaditana, in which proteomics data generated are transformed into information of high commercial value by identifying proteins with direct applications in the biomedical and agri-food fields, such as the protein designated UCA01 which presents antitumor activity, obtained from N. gaditana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Carrasco-Reinado
- Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Cadiz (UCA), 11500 Puerto Real, Spain; (R.C.-R.); (M.B.-S.); (A.E.-N.); (J.M.C.)
| | - María Bermudez-Sauco
- Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Cadiz (UCA), 11500 Puerto Real, Spain; (R.C.-R.); (M.B.-S.); (A.E.-N.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Almudena Escobar-Niño
- Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Cadiz (UCA), 11500 Puerto Real, Spain; (R.C.-R.); (M.B.-S.); (A.E.-N.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Jesús M. Cantoral
- Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Cadiz (UCA), 11500 Puerto Real, Spain; (R.C.-R.); (M.B.-S.); (A.E.-N.); (J.M.C.)
| | - Francisco Javier Fernández-Acero
- Microbiology Laboratory, Institute of Viticulture and Agri-Food Research (IVAGRO), Marine and Environmental Sciences Faculty, University of Cadiz (UCA), 11500 Puerto Real, Spain; (R.C.-R.); (M.B.-S.); (A.E.-N.); (J.M.C.)
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Xia D, Qiu W, Wang X, Liu J. Recent Advancements and Future Perspectives of Microalgae-Derived Pharmaceuticals. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:703. [PMID: 34940702 PMCID: PMC8703604 DOI: 10.3390/md19120703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgal cells serve as solar-powered factories that produce pharmaceuticals, recombinant proteins (vaccines and drugs), and valuable natural byproducts that possess medicinal properties. The main advantages of microalgae as cell factories can be summarized as follows: they are fueled by photosynthesis, are carbon dioxide-neutral, have rapid growth rates, are robust, have low-cost cultivation, are easily scalable, pose no risk of human pathogenic contamination, and their valuable natural byproducts can be further processed. Despite their potential, there are many technical hurdles that need to be overcome before the commercial production of microalgal pharmaceuticals, and extensive studies regarding their impact on human health must still be conducted and the results evaluated. Clearly, much work remains to be done before microalgae can be used in the large-scale commercial production of pharmaceuticals. This review focuses on recent advancements in microalgal biotechnology and its future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donghua Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, The Engineering Research Center for Biomass Conversion, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China;
| | - Wen Qiu
- Eco-Environmental Protection Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China;
| | - Xianxian Wang
- Institute of Toxicology and Genetics, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76344 Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany;
| | - Junying Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, The Engineering Research Center for Biomass Conversion, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330047, China;
- Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Technology Centre (PMTC), Bernal Institute, University of Limerick, V94T9PX Limerick, Ireland
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11
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Kim DH, Kim JY, Oh JJ, Jeon MS, An HS, Jin CR, Choi YE. A strategic approach to apply bacterial substances for increasing metabolite productions of Euglena gracilis in the bioreactor. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 105:5395-5406. [PMID: 34173846 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-021-11412-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Bacterial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are promising materials that have a role in enhancing growth, metabolite production, and harvesting efficiency. However, the validity of the EPS effectiveness in scale-up cultivation of microalgae is still unknown. Therefore, in order to verify whether the bacterial metabolites work in the scale-up fermentation of microalgae, we conducted a bioreactor fermentation following the addition of bacterial EPS derived from the marine bacterium, Pseudoalteromonas sp., to Euglena gracilis. Various culture strategies (i.e., batch, glucose fed-batch, and glucose and EPS fed-batch) were conducted to maximize metabolite production of E. gracilis in scale-up cultivation. Consequently, biomass and paramylon concentrations in the continuous glucose and EPS-treated culture were enhanced by 3.0-fold and 4.2-fold (36.1 ± 1.4 g L-1 and 25.6 ± 0.1 g L-1), respectively, compared to the non-treated control (12.0 ± 0.3 g L-1 and 6.1 ± 0.1 g L-1). Also, the supplementation led to the enhanced concentrations of α-tocopherols and total fatty acids by 3.7-fold and 2.8-fold, respectively. The harvesting efficiency was enhanced in EPS-supplemented cultivation due to the flocculation of E. gracilis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that verifies the effect of bacterial EPS in scale-up cultivation of microalgae. Also, our results showed the highest paramylon productivity than any other previous reports. The results obtained in this study showed that the scale-up cultivation of E. gracilis using bacterial EPS has the potential to be used as a platform to guide further increases in scale and in the industrial environment. KEY POINTS: Effect of EPS on Euglena gracilis fermentation was tested in bioreactor scale. EPS supplement was effective for the paramylon, α-tocopherol, and lipid production. EPS supplement induced the flocculation of E. gracilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Da Hee Kim
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jee Young Kim
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Joo Oh
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Min Seo Jeon
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Hye Suck An
- Marine Biology Research Division, National Marine Biodiversity Institute of Korea, Chungcheongnam-do, Seocheon, 33662, Republic of Korea
| | - Cho Rok Jin
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-E Choi
- Division of Environmental Science & Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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12
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Chakdar H, Hasan M, Pabbi S, Nevalainen H, Shukla P. High-throughput proteomics and metabolomic studies guide re-engineering of metabolic pathways in eukaryotic microalgae: A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 321:124495. [PMID: 33307484 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.124495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Eukaryotic microalgae are a rich source of commercially important metabolites including lipids, pigments, sugars, amino acids and enzymes. However, their inherent genetic potential is usually not enough to support high level production of metabolites of interest. In order to move on from the traditional approach of improving product yields by modification of the cultivation conditions, understanding the metabolic pathways leading to the synthesis of the bioproducts of interest is crucial. Identification of new targets for strain engineering has been greatly facilitated by the rapid development of high-throughput sequencing and spectroscopic techniques discussed in this review. Despite the availability of high throughput analytical tools, examples of gathering and application of proteomic and metabolomic data for metabolic engineering of microalgae are few and mainly limited to lipid production. The present review highlights the application of contemporary proteomic and metabolomic techniques in eukaryotic microalgae for redesigning pathways for enhanced production of algal metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hillol Chakdar
- ICAR-National Bureau of Agriculturally Important Microorganisms (NBAIM), Maunath Bhanjan, Uttar Pradesh 275103, India
| | - Mafruha Hasan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Sunil Pabbi
- Centre for Conservation and Utilisation of Blue Green Algae (CCUBGA), Division of Microbiology, ICAR - Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi 110 012
| | - Helena Nevalainen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, NSW 2109, Australia; Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Pratyoosh Shukla
- Enzyme Technology and Protein Bioinformatics Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak 124001, Haryana, India; School of Biotechnology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India.
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Khatiwada B, Sunna A, Nevalainen H. Molecular tools and applications of Euglena gracilis: From biorefineries to bioremediation. Biotechnol Bioeng 2020; 117:3952-3967. [PMID: 32710635 DOI: 10.1002/bit.27516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Euglena gracilis is a promising source of commercially important metabolites such as vitamins, wax esters, paramylon, and amino acids. However, the molecular tools available to create improved Euglena strains are limited compared to other microorganisms that are currently exploited in the biotechnology industry. The complex poly-endosymbiotic nature of the Euglena genome is a major bottleneck for obtaining a complete genome sequence and thus represents a notable shortcoming in gaining molecular information of this organism. Therefore, the studies and applications have been more focused on using the wild-type strain or its variants and optimizing the nutrient composition and cultivation conditions to enhance the production of biomass and valuable metabolites. In addition to producing metabolites, the E. gracilis biorefinery concept also provides means for the production of biofuels and biogas as well as residual biomass for the remediation of industrial and municipal wastewater. Using Euglena for bioremediation of environments contaminated with heavy metals is of special interest due to the strong ability of the organism to accumulate and sequester these compounds. The published draft genome and transcriptome will serve as a basis for further molecular studies of Euglena and provide a guide for the engineering of metabolic pathways of relevance for the already established as well as novel applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bishal Khatiwada
- Department Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Anwar Sunna
- Department Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Helena Nevalainen
- Department Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.,Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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Hasan MT, Sun A, Khatiwada B, McQuade L, Mirzaei M, Te'o J, Hobba G, Sunna A, Nevalainen H. Comparative proteomics investigation of central carbon metabolism in Euglena gracilis grown under predominantly phototrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic cultivations. ALGAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2019.101638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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Inwongwan S, Kruger NJ, Ratcliffe RG, O'Neill EC. Euglena Central Metabolic Pathways and Their Subcellular Locations. Metabolites 2019; 9:E115. [PMID: 31207935 PMCID: PMC6630311 DOI: 10.3390/metabo9060115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Euglenids are a group of algae of great interest for biotechnology, with a large and complex metabolic capability. To study the metabolic network, it is necessary to know where the component enzymes are in the cell, but despite a long history of research into Euglena, the subcellular locations of many major pathways are only poorly defined. Euglena is phylogenetically distant from other commonly studied algae, they have secondary plastids bounded by three membranes, and they can survive after destruction of their plastids. These unusual features make it difficult to assume that the subcellular organization of the metabolic network will be equivalent to that of other photosynthetic organisms. We analysed bioinformatic, biochemical, and proteomic information from a variety of sources to assess the subcellular location of the enzymes of the central metabolic pathways, and we use these assignments to propose a model of the metabolic network of Euglena. Other than photosynthesis, all major pathways present in the chloroplast are also present elsewhere in the cell. Our model demonstrates how Euglena can synthesise all the metabolites required for growth from simple carbon inputs, and can survive in the absence of chloroplasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sahutchai Inwongwan
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
| | - Nicholas J Kruger
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
| | - R George Ratcliffe
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
| | - Ellis C O'Neill
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3RB, UK.
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Gissibl A, Sun A, Care A, Nevalainen H, Sunna A. Bioproducts From Euglena gracilis: Synthesis and Applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2019; 7:108. [PMID: 31157220 PMCID: PMC6530250 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2019.00108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the versatile phototrophic protist Euglena gracilis has emerged as an interesting candidate for application-driven research and commercialisation, as it is an excellent source of dietary protein, pro(vitamins), lipids, and the β-1,3-glucan paramylon only found in euglenoids. From these, paramylon is already marketed as an immunostimulatory agent in nutraceuticals. Bioproducts from E. gracilis can be produced under various cultivation conditions discussed in this review, and their yields are relatively high when compared with those achieved in microalgal systems. Future challenges include achieving the economy of large-scale cultivation. Recent insights into the complex metabolism of E. gracilis have highlighted unique metabolic pathways, which could provide new leads for product enhancement by genetic modification of the organism. Also, development of molecular tools for strain improvement are emerging rapidly, making E. gracilis a noteworthy challenger for microalgae such as Chlorella spp. and their products currently on the market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gissibl
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Angela Sun
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Andrew Care
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Helena Nevalainen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Anwar Sunna
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Gissibl A, Care A, Sun A, Hobba G, Nevalainen H, Sunna A. Development of screening strategies for the identification of paramylon-degrading enzymes. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2019; 46:769-781. [PMID: 30806871 DOI: 10.1007/s10295-019-02157-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/17/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Enzymatic degradation of the β-1,3-glucan paramylon could enable the production of bioactive compounds for healthcare and renewable substrates for biofuels. However, few enzymes have been found to degrade paramylon efficiently and their enzymatic mechanisms remain poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this work was to find paramylon-degrading enzymes and ways to facilitate their identification. Towards this end, a Euglena gracilis-derived cDNA expression library was generated and introduced into Escherichia coli. A flow cytometry-based screening assay was developed to identify E. gracilis enzymes that could hydrolyse the fluorogenic substrate fluorescein di-β-D-glucopyranoside in combination with time-saving auto-induction medium. In parallel, four amino acid sequences of potential E. gracilis β-1,3-glucanases were identified from proteomic data. The open reading frame encoding one of these candidate sequences (light_m.20624) was heterologously expressed in E. coli. Finally, a Congo Red dye plate assay was developed for the screening of enzyme preparations potentially able to degrade paramylon. This assay was validated with enzymes assumed to have paramylon-degrading activity and then used to identify four commercial preparations with previously unknown paramylon degradation ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Gissibl
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew Care
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Angela Sun
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Graham Hobba
- Agritechnology Pty Ltd, 36 Underwood Road, Borenore, NSW, 2800, Australia
| | - Helena Nevalainen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Anwar Sunna
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- Australian Research Council Industrial Transformation Training Centre for Molecular Technology in the Food Industry, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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Tomita Y, Takeya M, Suzuki K, Nitta N, Higuchi C, Marukawa-Hashimoto Y, Osanai T. Amino acid excretion from Euglena gracilis cells in dark and anaerobic conditions. ALGAL RES 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2018.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Sun A, Hasan MT, Hobba G, Nevalainen H, Te'o J. Comparative assessment of the Euglena gracilis var. saccharophila variant strain as a producer of the β-1,3-glucan paramylon under varying light conditions. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2018; 54:529-538. [PMID: 29889303 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.12758] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2018] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Euglena gracilis Z and a "sugar loving" variant strain E. gracilis var. saccharophila were investigated as producers of paramylon, a β-1,3-glucan polysaccharide with potential medicinal and industrial applications. The strains were grown under diurnal or dark growth conditions on a glucose-yeast extract medium supporting high-level paramylon production. Both strains produced the highest paramylon yields (7.4-8 g · L-1 , respectively) while grown in the dark, but the maximum yield was achieved faster by E. gracilis var. saccharophila (48 h vs. 72 h). The glucose-to-paramylon yield coefficient Ypar/glu = 0.46 ± 0.03 in the E. gracilis var. saccharophila cultivation, obtained in this study, is the highest reported to date. Proteomic analysis of the metabolic pathways provided molecular clues for the strain behavior observed during cultivation. For example, overexpression of enzymes in the gluconeogenesis/glycolysis pathways including fructokinase-1 and chloroplastic fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP) may have contributed to the faster rate of paramylon accumulation in E. gracilis var. saccharophila. Differentially expressed proteins in the early steps of chloroplastogenesis pathway including plastid uroporphyrinogen decarboxylases, photoreceptors, and a highly abundant (68-fold increase) plastid transketolase may have provided the E. gracilis var. saccharophila strain an advantage in paramylon production during diurnal cultivations. In conclusion, the variant strain E. gracilis var. saccharophila seems to be well suited for producing large amounts of paramylon. This work has also resulted in the identification of molecular targets for future improvement of paramylon production in E. gracilis, including the FBP and phosophofructokinase 1, the latter being a key regulator of glycolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Sun
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mafruha Tasnin Hasan
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Graham Hobba
- Agritechnology Pty Ltd, Borenore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Helena Nevalainen
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Junior Te'o
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Biomolecular Discovery and Design Research Centre, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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