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Gee CW, Andersen-Ranberg J, Boynton E, Rosen RZ, Jorgens D, Grob P, Holman HYN, Niyogi KK. Implicating the red body of Nannochloropsis in forming the recalcitrant cell wall polymer algaenan. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5456. [PMID: 38937455 PMCID: PMC11211512 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49277-y] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Stramenopile algae contribute significantly to global primary productivity, and one class, Eustigmatophyceae, is increasingly studied for applications in high-value lipid production. Yet much about their basic biology remains unknown, including the nature of an enigmatic, pigmented globule found in vegetative cells. Here, we present an in-depth examination of this "red body," focusing on Nannochloropsis oceanica. During the cell cycle, the red body forms adjacent to the plastid, but unexpectedly it is secreted and released with the autosporangial wall following cell division. Shed red bodies contain antioxidant ketocarotenoids, and overexpression of a beta-carotene ketolase results in enlarged red bodies. Infrared spectroscopy indicates long-chain, aliphatic lipids in shed red bodies and cell walls, and UHPLC-HRMS detects a C32 alkyl diol, a potential precursor of algaenan, a recalcitrant cell wall polymer. We propose that the red body transports algaenan precursors from plastid to apoplast to be incorporated into daughter cell walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Gee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Frederiksberg, DK-1871, Denmark
| | - Ethan Boynton
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rachel Z Rosen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94702, USA
| | - Danielle Jorgens
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Patricia Grob
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Hoi-Ying N Holman
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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2
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Zhang F, Li Y, Miao X. Quantum dot-based light conversion strategy for customized cultivation of microalgae. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 397:130489. [PMID: 38403170 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms with the potential to mitigate the atmospheric greenhouse effect by carbon fixation. However, their growth is typically limited by light availability. A wavelength converter utilizing red, blue, and green quantum dots (QDs) was developed to optimize light quality for enhancing microalgal production. The growth, lipid content, and eicosapentaenoic acid titer of Nannochloropsis increased by 11.2%, 9.5%, and 15.5% with red QDs, respectively. The biomass and triacylglycerol content of Phaeodactylum tricornutum increased by 8.6% and 35.0%, respectively. Simultaneously, biodiesel production was accelerated in Nannochloropsis (20.2%) and P. tricornutum (11.6%), and improved with increased cetane number and reduced iodine value. Furthermore, red QDs increased the growth and biomass accumulation of Nannochloropsis under low light, while green QDs shielded Nannochloropsis from photoinhibition under high light. This customizable QD-based methodology overcomes microalgal light limitations, demonstrating a universally applicable approach to improve microalgal cultivation and biochemical component production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Biomass Energy Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Yulu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Biomass Energy Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China
| | - Xiaoling Miao
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Metabolism, School of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Joint International Research Laboratory of Metabolic & Developmental Sciences, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China; Biomass Energy Research Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200240, China.
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3
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Südfeld C, Kiyani A, Wefelmeier K, Wijffels RH, Barbosa MJ, D’Adamo S. Expression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase increases non-polar lipid accumulation in Nannochloropsis oceanica. Microb Cell Fact 2023; 22:12. [PMID: 36647076 PMCID: PMC9844033 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01987-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are considered a suitable production platform for high-value lipids and oleochemicals. Several species including Nannochloropsis oceanica produce large amounts of essential [Formula: see text]-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) which are integral components of food and feed and have been associated with health-promoting effects. N. oceanica can further accumulate high contents of non-polar lipids with chemical properties that render them a potential replacement for plant oils such as palm oil. However, biomass and lipid productivities obtained with microalgae need to be improved to reach commercial feasibility. Genetic engineering can improve biomass and lipid productivities, for instance by increasing carbon flux to lipids. Here, we report the overexpression of glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) in N. oceanica during favorable growth conditions as a strategy to increase non-polar lipid content. Transformants overproducing either an endogenous (NoGPAT) or a heterologous (Acutodesmus obliquus GPAT) GPAT enzyme targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum had up to 42% and 51% increased non-polar lipid contents, respectively, compared to the wild type. Biomass productivities of transformant strains were not substantially impaired, resulting in lipid productivities that were increased by up to 37% and 42% for NoGPAT and AoGPAT transformants, respectively. When exposed to nutrient stress, transformants and wild type had similar lipid contents, suggesting that GPAT enzyme exerts strong flux control on lipid synthesis in N. oceanica under favorable growth conditions. NoGPAT transformants further accumulated PUFAs in non-polar lipids, reaching a total of 6.8% PUFAs per biomass, an increase of 24% relative to the wild type. Overall, our results indicate that GPAT is an interesting target for engineering of lipid metabolism in microalgae, in order to improve non-polar lipid and PUFAs accumulation in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Südfeld
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Aamna Kiyani
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands ,grid.412621.20000 0001 2215 1297Department of Microbiology, Quaid-I-Azam University, Islamabad, 45320 Pakistan
| | - Katrin Wefelmeier
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - René H. Wijffels
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands ,grid.465487.cFaculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, N-8049 Bodø, Norway
| | - Maria J. Barbosa
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarah D’Adamo
- grid.4818.50000 0001 0791 5666Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
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Hosseini H, Al-Jabri HM, Moheimani NR, Siddiqui SA, Saadaoui I. Marine microbial bioprospecting: Exploitation of marine biodiversity towards biotechnological applications-a review. J Basic Microbiol 2022; 62:1030-1043. [PMID: 35467037 DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202100504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The increase in the human population causes an increase in the demand for nutritional supplies and energy resources. Thus, the novel, natural, and renewable resources became of great interest. Here comes the optimistic role of bioprospecting as a promising tool to isolate novel and interesting molecules and microorganisms from the marine environment as alternatives to the existing resources. Bioprospecting of marine metabolites and microorganisms with high biotechnological potentials has gained wide interest due to the variability and richness of the marine environment. Indeed, the existence of extreme conditions that increases the adaptability of marine organisms, especially planktons, allow the presence of interesting biological species that are able to produce novel compounds with multiple health benefits and high economical value. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of marine microbial bioprospecting as a growing field of interest. It emphasizes functional bioprospecting that facilitates the discovery of interesting metabolites. Marine bioprospecting was also discussed from a legal aspect for the first time, focusing on the shortcomings of international law. We also summarized the challenges facing bioprospecting in the marine environment including economic feasibility issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda Hosseini
- Algal Technologies Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Hareb M Al-Jabri
- Algal Technologies Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Navid R Moheimani
- Algae R&D Centre, Harry Buttler Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Simil A Siddiqui
- Algal Technologies Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Imen Saadaoui
- Algal Technologies Program, Centre for Sustainable Development, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar.,Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Südfeld C, Pozo-Rodríguez A, Manjavacas Díez SA, Wijffels RH, Barbosa MJ, D'Adamo S. The nucleolus as a genomic safe harbor for strong gene expression in Nannochloropsis oceanica. MOLECULAR PLANT 2022; 15:340-353. [PMID: 34775107 DOI: 10.1016/j.molp.2021.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are used in food and feed, and they are considered a potential feedstock for sustainably produced chemicals and biofuel. However, production of microalgal-derived chemicals is not yet economically feasible. Genetic engineering could bridge the gap to industrial application and facilitate the production of novel products from microalgae. Here, we report the discovery of a novel gene expression system in the oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis that exploits the highly efficient transcriptional activity of RNA polymerase I and an internal ribosome entry site for translation. We identified the nucleolus as a genomic safe harbor for Pol I transcription and used it to construct transformant strains with consistently strong transgene expression. The new expression system provides an outstanding tool for genetic and metabolic engineering of microalgae and thus will probably make substantial contributions to microalgal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Südfeld
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands.
| | - Ana Pozo-Rodríguez
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sara A Manjavacas Díez
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - René H Wijffels
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands; Faculty of Biosciences and Aquaculture, Nord University, 8049 Bodø, Norway
| | - Maria J Barbosa
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Sarah D'Adamo
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, PO Box 16, 6700 AA Wageningen, Netherlands
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Naduthodi MIS, Südfeld C, Avitzigiannis EK, Trevisan N, van Lith E, Alcaide Sancho J, D’Adamo S, Barbosa M, van der Oost J. Comprehensive Genome Engineering Toolbox for Microalgae Nannochloropsis oceanica Based on CRISPR-Cas Systems. ACS Synth Biol 2021; 10:3369-3378. [PMID: 34793143 PMCID: PMC8689688 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.1c00329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
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Microalgae can produce
industrially relevant metabolites using
atmospheric CO2 and sunlight as carbon and energy sources,
respectively. Developing molecular tools for high-throughput genome
engineering could accelerate the generation of tailored strains with
improved traits. To this end, we developed a genome editing strategy
based on Cas12a ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) and homology-directed repair
(HDR) to generate scarless and markerless mutants of the microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. We also developed an episomal
plasmid-based Cas12a system for efficiently introducing indels at
the target site. Additionally, we exploited the ability of Cas12a
to process an associated CRISPR array to perform multiplexed genome
engineering. We efficiently targeted three sites in the host genome
in a single transformation, thereby making a major step toward high-throughput
genome engineering in microalgae. Furthermore, a CRISPR interference
(CRISPRi) tool based on Cas9 and Cas12a was developed for effective
downregulation of target genes. We observed up to 85% reduction in
the transcript levels upon performing CRISPRi with dCas9 in N. oceanica. Overall, these developments substantially
accelerate genome engineering efforts in N. oceanica and potentially provide a general toolbox for improving other microalgal
strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihris Ibnu Saleem Naduthodi
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Christian Südfeld
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | | | - Nicola Trevisan
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Eduard van Lith
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Javier Alcaide Sancho
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
| | - Sarah D’Adamo
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - Maria Barbosa
- Bioprocess Engineering, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 PB, The Netherlands
| | - John van der Oost
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Wageningen 6708 WE, The Netherlands
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Patnaik R, Mallick N. Microalgal Biodiesel Production: Realizing the Sustainability Index. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 9:620777. [PMID: 34124015 PMCID: PMC8193856 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2021.620777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Search for new and renewable sources of energy has made research reach the tiny little tots, microalgae for the production of biodiesel. But despite years of research on the topic, a definitive statement, declaring microalgae as an economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable resource is yet to be seen or heard of. With technological and scientific glitches being blamed for this delay in the progress of the production system, an assessment of the sustainability indices achieved so far by the microalgal biodiesel is important to be done so as to direct future research efforts in a more coordinated manner to achieve the sustainability mark. This article provides a review of the current economic, environmental, and social status of microalgal biodiesel and the strategies adopted to achieve them, with suggestions to address the challenges faced by the microalgal biodiesel production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reeza Patnaik
- Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
| | - Nirupama Mallick
- Department of Agricultural and Food Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur, Kharagpur, India
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