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Xie X, Jaleel A, Zhan J, Ren M. Microalgae: towards human health from urban areas to space missions. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1419157. [PMID: 39220018 PMCID: PMC11361926 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1419157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Space exploration and interstellar migration are important strategies for long-term human survival. However, extreme environmental conditions, such as space radiation and microgravity, can cause adverse effects, including DNA damage, cerebrovascular disease, osteoporosis, and muscle atrophy, which would require prophylactic and remedial treatment en route. Production of oral drugs in situ is therefore critical for interstellar travel and can be achieved through industrial production utilizing microalgae, which offers high production efficiency, edibility, resource minimization, adaptability, stress tolerance, and genetic manipulation ease. Synthetic biological techniques using microalgae as a chassis offer several advantages in producing natural products, including availability of biosynthetic precursors, potential for synthesizing natural metabolites, superior quality and efficiency, environmental protection, and sustainable development. This article explores the advantages of bioproduction from microalgal chassis using synthetic biological techniques, suitability of microalgal bioreactor-based cell factories for producing value-added natural metabolites, and prospects and applications of microalgae in interstellar travel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiulan Xie
- Laboratory of Space Biology, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Abdul Jaleel
- Department of Integrative Agriculture, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jiasui Zhan
- Department of Forest Mycology and Plant Pathology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maozhi Ren
- Laboratory of Space Biology, Institute of Urban Agriculture, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Chengdu, China
- Zhengzhou Research Base, State Key Laboratory of Cotton Biology, School of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
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2
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Goold HD, Moseley JL, Lauersen KJ. The synthetic future of algal genomes. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100505. [PMID: 38395701 PMCID: PMC10943592 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
Algae are diverse organisms with significant biotechnological potential for resource circularity. Taking inspiration from fermentative microbes, engineering algal genomes holds promise to broadly expand their application ranges. Advances in genome sequencing with improvements in DNA synthesis and delivery techniques are enabling customized molecular tool development to confer advanced traits to algae. Efforts to redesign and rebuild entire genomes to create fit-for-purpose organisms currently being explored in heterotrophic prokaryotes and eukaryotic microbes could also be applied to photosynthetic algae. Future algal genome engineering will enhance yields of native products and permit the expression of complex biochemical pathways to produce novel metabolites from sustainable inputs. We present a historical perspective on advances in engineering algae, discuss the requisite genetic traits to enable algal genome optimization, take inspiration from whole-genome engineering efforts in other microbes for algal systems, and present candidate algal species in the context of these engineering goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugh D Goold
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia; ARC Center of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia; School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Jeffrey L Moseley
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Phycoil Biotechnology International, Inc., Fremont, CA 94538, USA
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
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3
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Patwari P, Pruckner F, Fabris M. Biosensors in microalgae: A roadmap for new opportunities in synthetic biology and biotechnology. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108221. [PMID: 37495181 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Biosensors are powerful tools to investigate, phenotype, improve and prototype microbial strains, both in fundamental research and in industrial contexts. Genetic and biotechnological developments now allow the implementation of synthetic biology approaches to novel different classes of microbial hosts, for example photosynthetic microalgae, which offer unique opportunities. To date, biosensors have not yet been implemented in phototrophic eukaryotic microorganisms, leaving great potential for novel biological and technological advancements untapped. Here, starting from selected biosensor technologies that have successfully been implemented in heterotrophic organisms, we project and define a roadmap on how these could be applied to microalgae research. We highlight novel opportunities for the development of new biosensors, identify critical challenges, and finally provide a perspective on the impact of their eventual implementation to tackle research questions and bioengineering strategies. From studying metabolism at the single-cell level to genome-wide screen approaches, and assisted laboratory evolution experiments, biosensors will greatly impact the pace of progress in understanding and engineering microalgal metabolism. We envision how this could further advance the possibilities for unraveling their ecological role, evolutionary history and accelerate their domestication, to further drive them as resource-efficient production hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payal Patwari
- SDU Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M DK-5230, Denmark
| | - Florian Pruckner
- SDU Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M DK-5230, Denmark
| | - Michele Fabris
- SDU Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M DK-5230, Denmark.
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4
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Perozeni F, Baier T. Current Nuclear Engineering Strategies in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Life (Basel) 2023; 13:1566. [PMID: 37511941 PMCID: PMC10381326 DOI: 10.3390/life13071566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The green model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii recently emerged as a sustainable production chassis for the efficient biosynthesis of recombinant proteins and high-value metabolites. Its capacity for scalable, rapid and light-driven growth in minimal salt solutions, its simplicity for genetic manipulation and its "Generally Recognized As Safe" (GRAS) status are key features for its application in industrial biotechnology. Although nuclear transformation has typically resulted in limited transgene expression levels, recent developments now allow the design of powerful and innovative bioproduction concepts. In this review, we summarize the main obstacles to genetic engineering in C. reinhardtii and describe all essential aspects in sequence adaption and vector design to enable sufficient transgene expression from the nuclear genome. Several biotechnological examples of successful engineering serve as blueprints for the future establishment of C. reinhardtii as a green cell factory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Perozeni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas Baier
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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5
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Yahya RZ, Wellman GB, Overmans S, Lauersen KJ. Engineered production of isoprene from the model green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Metab Eng Commun 2023; 16:e00221. [PMID: 37006831 PMCID: PMC10063407 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2023.e00221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Isoprene is a clear, colorless, volatile 5-carbon hydrocarbon that is one monomer of all cellular isoprenoids and a platform chemical with multiple applications in industry. Many plants have evolved isoprene synthases (IspSs) with the capacity to liberate isoprene from dimethylallyl diphosphate (DMADP) as part of cellular thermotolerance mechanisms. Isoprene is hydrophobic and volatile, rapidly leaves plant tissues and is one of the main carbon emission sources from vegetation globally. The universality of isoprenoid metabolism allows volatile isoprene production from microbes expressing heterologous IspSs. Here, we compared heterologous overexpression from the nuclear genome and localization into the plastid of four plant terpene synthases (TPs) in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Using sealed vial mixotrophic cultivation, direct quantification of isoprene production was achieved from the headspace of living cultures, with the highest isoprene production observed in algae expressing the Ipomoea batatas IspS. Perturbations of the downstream carotenoid pathway through keto carotenoid biosynthesis enhanced isoprene titers, which could be further enhanced by increasing flux towards DMADP through heterologous co-expression of a yeast isopentenyl-DP delta isomerase. Multiplexed controlled-environment testing revealed that cultivation temperature, rather than illumination intensity, was the main factor affecting isoprene yield from the engineered alga. This is the first report of heterologous isoprene production from a eukaryotic alga and sets a foundation for further exploration of carbon conversion to this commodity chemical.
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Amendola S, Kneip JS, Meyer F, Perozeni F, Cazzaniga S, Lauersen KJ, Ballottari M, Baier T. Metabolic Engineering for Efficient Ketocarotenoid Accumulation in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:820-831. [PMID: 36821819 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Astaxanthin is a valuable ketocarotenoid with various pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. Green microalgae harbor natural capacities for pigment accumulation due to their 2-C-methyl-d-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway. Recently, a redesigned ß-carotene ketolase (BKT) was found to enable ketocarotenoid accumulation in the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, and transformants exhibited reduced photoinhibition under high-light. Here, a systematic screening by synthetic transgene design of carotenoid pathway enzymes and overexpression from the nuclear genome identified phytoene synthase (PSY/crtB) as a bottleneck for carotenoid accumulation in C. reinhardtii. Increased ß-carotene hydroxylase (CHYB) activity was found to be essential for engineered astaxanthin accumulation. A combined BKT, crtB, and CHYB expression strategy resulted in a volumetric astaxanthin production of 9.5 ± 0.3 mg L-1 (4.5 ± 0.1 mg g-1 CDW) in mixotrophic and 23.5 mg L-1 (1.09 mg L-1 h-1) in high cell density conditions, a 4-fold increase compared to previous reports in C. reinhardtii. This work presents a systematic investigation of bottlenecks in astaxanthin accumulation in C. reinhardtii and the phototrophic green cell factory design for competitive use in industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Amendola
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jacob S Kneip
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Florian Meyer
- Genetics of Prokaryotes, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Federico Perozeni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy
| | - Thomas Baier
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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7
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Li X, Lan C, Li X, Hu Z, Jia B. A review on design-build-test-learn cycle to potentiate progress in isoprenoid engineering of photosynthetic microalgae. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 363:127981. [PMID: 36130687 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Currently, the generation of isoprenoid factories in microalgae relies on two strategies: 1) enhanced production of endogenous isoprenoids; or 2) production of heterologous terpenes by metabolic engineering. Nevertheless, low titers and productivity are still a feature of isoprenoid biotechnology and need to be addressed. In this context, the mechanisms underlying isoprenoid biosynthesis in microalgae and its relationship with central carbon metabolism are reviewed. Developments in microalgal biotechnology are discussed, and a new approach of integrated "design-build-test-learn" cycle is advocated to the trends, challenges and prospects involved in isoprenoid engineering. The emerging and promising strategies and tools are discussed for microalgal engineering in the future. This review encourages a systematic engineering perspective aimed at potentiating progress in isoprenoid engineering of photosynthetic microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangyu Li
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Marine Algal Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; College of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Chengxiang Lan
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Marine Algal Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Xinyi Li
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Marine Algal Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Zhangli Hu
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Marine Algal Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Bin Jia
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Marine Algal Bioengineering, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Longhua Innovation Institute for Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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8
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Einhaus A, Steube J, Freudenberg RA, Barczyk J, Baier T, Kruse O. Engineering a powerful green cell factory for robust photoautotrophic diterpenoid production. Metab Eng 2022; 73:82-90. [PMID: 35717002 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2022.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Diterpenoids display a large and structurally diverse class of natural compounds mainly found as specialized plant metabolites. Due to their diverse biological functions they represent an essential source for various industrially relevant applications as biopharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and fragrances. However, commercial production utilizing their native hosts is inhibited by low abundances, limited cultivability, and challenging extraction, while the precise stereochemistry displays a particular challenge for chemical synthesis. Due to a high carbon flux through their native 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol 4-phosphate (MEP) pathway towards photosynthetically active pigments, green microalgae hold great potential as efficient and sustainable heterologous chassis for sustainable biosynthesis of plant-derived diterpenoids. In this study, innovative synthetic biology and efficient metabolic engineering strategies were systematically combined to re-direct the metabolic flux through the MEP pathway for efficient heterologous diterpenoid synthesis in C. reinhardtii. Engineering of the 1-Deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) as the main rate-limiting enzyme of the MEP pathway and overexpression of diterpene synthase fusion proteins increased the production of high-value diterpenoids. Applying fully photoautotrophic high cell density cultivations demonstrate potent and sustainable production of the high-value diterpenoid sclareol up to 656 mg L-1 with a maximal productivity of 78 mg L-1 day-1 in a 2.5 L scale photobioreactor, which is comparable to sclareol titers reached by highly engineered yeast. Consequently, this work represents a breakthrough in establishing a powerful phototrophic green cell factory for the competetive use in industrial biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Einhaus
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jasmin Steube
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Robert Ansgar Freudenberg
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jonas Barczyk
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Baier
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany.
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9
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Overmans S, Lauersen KJ. Biocompatible fluorocarbon liquid underlays for in situ extraction of isoprenoids from microbial cultures. RSC Adv 2022; 12:16632-16639. [PMID: 35754885 PMCID: PMC9169902 DOI: 10.1039/d2ra01112c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Microbial production of heterologous metabolites is now a mature technology in many host organisms, opening new avenues for green production processes of specialty chemicals. At lab scale, petroleum-based hydrophobic bio-compatible solvents like dodecane can be used as a second phase on top of microbial cultures to act as a physical sink for heterologous hydrocarbon products like isoprenoids. However, this approach has significant drawbacks at scale due to the difficulty of handling solvents and their potential contamination with unwanted byproducts of their manufacture. We discovered that synthetic perfluorocarbon liquids (FCs), commonly used for heat transfer, can also act as physical sinks for microbially produced isoprenoid compounds. FCs are stable, inert, and are amenable to direct liquid-liquid extraction with alcohols for rapid product isolation. These liquids are more dense than water and form a lower phase to microbial cultures rather than an upper phase as with other solvents. Their ability to form an under-layer or 'underlay' also enables the cultivation of microbes directly at the FC-culture medium interface via gravity settling, which could open their application for filamentous or mat-forming organisms. We present comparisons of the isoprenoid extraction potential of three commercial FCs: FC-3283, FC-40, and FC-770 with engineered green microalga cultures producing patchoulol, taxadiene, casbene, or 13R(+) manoyl oxide. We demonstrate that FCs are promising alternatives to traditional solvents and open new avenues in bio-process design for microbial heterologous metabolite milking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Overmans
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal 23955-6900 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division (BESE), King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal 23955-6900 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
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10
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King SJ, Jerkovic A, Brown LJ, Petroll K, Willows RD. Synthetic biology for improved hydrogen production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Microb Biotechnol 2022; 15:1946-1965. [PMID: 35338590 PMCID: PMC9249334 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Hydrogen is a clean alternative to fossil fuels. It has applications for electricity generation and transportation and is used for the manufacturing of ammonia and steel. However, today, H2 is almost exclusively produced from coal and natural gas. As such, methods to produce H2 that do not use fossil fuels need to be developed and adopted. The biological manufacturing of H2 may be one promising solution as this process is clean and renewable. Hydrogen is produced biologically via enzymes called hydrogenases. There are three classes of hydrogenases namely [FeFe], [NiFe] and [Fe] hydrogenases. The [FeFe] hydrogenase HydA1 from the model unicellular algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been studied extensively and belongs to the A1 subclass of [FeFe] hydrogenases that have the highest turnover frequencies amongst hydrogenases (21,000 ± 12,000 H2 s−1 for CaHydA from Clostridium acetobutyliticum). Yet to date, limitations in C. reinhardtii H2 production pathways have hampered commercial scale implementation, in part due to O2 sensitivity of hydrogenases and competing metabolic pathways, resulting in low H2 production efficiency. Here, we describe key processes in the biogenesis of HydA1 and H2 production pathways in C. reinhardtii. We also summarize recent advancements of algal H2 production using synthetic biology and describe valuable tools such as high‐throughput screening (HTS) assays to accelerate the process of engineering algae for commercial biological H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J King
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ante Jerkovic
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Louise J Brown
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kerstin Petroll
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Robert D Willows
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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Kang NK, Baek K, Koh HG, Atkinson CA, Ort DR, Jin YS. Microalgal metabolic engineering strategies for the production of fuels and chemicals. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 345:126529. [PMID: 34896527 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are promising sustainable resources because of their ability to convert CO2 into biofuels and chemicals directly. However, the industrial production and economic feasibility of microalgal bioproducts are still limited. As such, metabolic engineering approaches have been undertaken to enhance the productivities of microalgal bioproducts. In the last decade, impressive advances in microalgae metabolic engineering have been made by developing genetic engineering tools and multi-omics analysis. This review presents comprehensive microalgal metabolic pathways and metabolic engineering strategies for producing lipids, long chain-polyunsaturated fatty acids, terpenoids, and carotenoids. Additionally, promising metabolic engineering approaches specific to target products are summarized. Finally, this review discusses current challenges and provides future perspectives for the effective production of chemicals and fuels via microalgal metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nam Kyu Kang
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Kwangryul Baek
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Hyun Gi Koh
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Christine Anne Atkinson
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Donald R Ort
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Global Change and Photosynthesis Research Unit, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Crop Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Yong-Su Jin
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA; Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
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12
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Fal S, Aasfar A, Rabie R, Smouni A, Arroussi HEL. Salt induced oxidative stress alters physiological, biochemical and metabolomic responses of green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08811. [PMID: 35118209 PMCID: PMC8792077 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Salinity is one of the most significant environmental factors limiting microalgal biomass productivity. In the present study, the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii) was exposed to 200 mM NaCl for eight days to explore the physiological, biochemical and metabolomic changes. C. reinhradtii exhibited a significant decrease in growth rate, and Chl a and Chl b levels. 200 mM NaCl induced ROS generation in C. reinhardtii with increase in H2O2 content. This caused lipid peroxidation with increase in MDA levels. C. reinhardtii also exhibited an increase in carbohydrate and lipid accumulation under 200 mM NaCl conditions as storage molecules in cells to maintain microalgal survival. In addition, NaCl stress increased the content of carotenoids, polyphenols and osmoprotectant molecules such as proline. SOD and APX activities decreased, while ROS-scavenger enzymes (POD and CAT) decreased. Metabolomic response showed an accumulation of the major molecules implicated in membrane remodelling and stress resistance such oleic acid (40.29%), linolenic acid (19.29%), alkanes, alkenes and phytosterols. The present study indicates the physiological, biochemical and metabolomic responses of C. reinhardtii to salt stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soufiane Fal
- Green Biotechnology Laboratory, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MASCIR), Rabat Design Center, Rue Mohamed Al Jazouli – Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
- Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Team, Center of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Abderahim Aasfar
- Green Biotechnology Laboratory, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MASCIR), Rabat Design Center, Rue Mohamed Al Jazouli – Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
| | - Reda Rabie
- Green Biotechnology Laboratory, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MASCIR), Rabat Design Center, Rue Mohamed Al Jazouli – Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
- University Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques of Fez, Laboratory of Applied Organic Chemistry, Fez, Morocco
| | - Abelaziz Smouni
- Plant Physiology and Biotechnology Team, Center of Plant and Microbial Biotechnology, Biodiversity and Environment, Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
| | - Hicham EL. Arroussi
- Green Biotechnology Laboratory, Moroccan Foundation for Advanced Science, Innovation and Research (MASCIR), Rabat Design Center, Rue Mohamed Al Jazouli – Madinat Al Irfane, Rabat, Morocco
- Agrobiosciences Program, University Mohamed 6 Polytechnic (UM6P), Ben-Guerir, Morocco
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13
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García-Cubero R, Kleinegris DMM, Barbosa MJ. Predicting biomass and hydrocarbon productivities and colony size in continuous cultures of Botryococcus braunii showa. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 340:125653. [PMID: 34330006 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Mathematical models were developed to predict biomass and hydrocarbon productivities and colony size (ouputs) of Botryococcus braunii showa cultures based on light intensity, temperature and dilution rate (inputs). These models predicted the following maximum values: biomass productivity, 1.3 g L-1 d-1; hydrocarbon productivity, 1.5 mg L-1 d-1; colony size, 320 µm under different culture conditions respectively. These values were confirmed experimentally. Additionally, the combination of inputs that simultaneously maximize all the possible outputs combinations were determined. The prediction for biomass-hydrocarbon-colony size were 1 g L-1 d-1, 12.05 mg L-1 d-1 and 156.8 µm respectively; biomass productivity-hydrocarbon productivities: 1 g L-1 d-1 and 13.94 mg L-1 d-1 respectively; biomass productivity-colony size: 1 g L-1 d-1 and 172.8 µm respectively; hydrocarbon productivity-colony size: 9 mg L-1 d-1 and 240 µm respectively. All these predictions were validated experimentally. These models might be very useful to implement a Botryococcus braunii showa large scale production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael García-Cubero
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands; Wageningen UR Food & Biobased Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands.
| | | | - María J Barbosa
- Wageningen University, Bioprocess Engineering, AlgaePARC, PO Box 16, 6700 AA, Wageningen, the Netherlands
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14
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Dementyeva P, Freudenberg RA, Baier T, Rojek K, Wobbe L, Weisshaar B, Kruse O. A novel, robust and mating-competent Chlamydomonas reinhardtii strain with an enhanced transgene expression capacity for algal biotechnology. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 31:e00644. [PMID: 34168966 PMCID: PMC8209186 DOI: 10.1016/j.btre.2021.e00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In the future, algae biotechnology could play an important role in sustainable development, especially with regard to the production of valuable chemicals. Among the established laboratory strains with efficient transgene expression, there are none that have demonstrated the required robustness for industrial applications, which generally require growth at larger scale. Here, we created a robust and mating-competent cell line of the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which also possesses a high transgene expression capacity. This strain shows a comparably high resistance to shear stress by accumulating increased amounts of biomass under these conditions. As a proof-of-concept, a high phototrophic productivity of cadaverine from CO2 and nitrate was demonstrated by efficiently expressing a bacterial l-lysine decarboxylase. In contrast to other established strains, this novel chassis strain for phototrophic production schemes is equipped with the traits required for industrial applications, by combining mating-competence, cell wall-mediated robustness and high level transgene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Polina Dementyeva
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Robert A Freudenberg
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Thomas Baier
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Kristin Rojek
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Lutz Wobbe
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Bernd Weisshaar
- Faculty of Biology, Genetics and Genomics of Plants, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Algae Biotechnology and Bioenergy, Faculty of Biology, Bielefeld University, Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany
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15
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Jackson HO, Taunt HN, Mordaka PM, Smith AG, Purton S. The Algal Chloroplast as a Testbed for Synthetic Biology Designs Aimed at Radically Rewiring Plant Metabolism. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:708370. [PMID: 34630459 PMCID: PMC8497815 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.708370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Sustainable and economically viable support for an ever-increasing global population requires a paradigm shift in agricultural productivity, including the application of biotechnology to generate future crop plants. Current genetic engineering approaches aimed at enhancing the photosynthetic efficiency or composition of the harvested tissues involve relatively simple manipulations of endogenous metabolism. However, radical rewiring of central metabolism using new-to-nature pathways, so-called "synthetic metabolism", may be needed to really bring about significant step changes. In many cases, this will require re-programming the metabolism of the chloroplast, or other plastids in non-green tissues, through a combination of chloroplast and nuclear engineering. However, current technologies for sophisticated chloroplast engineering ("transplastomics") of plants are limited to just a handful of species. Moreover, the testing of metabolic rewiring in the chloroplast of plant models is often impractical given their obligate phototrophy, the extended time needed to create stable non-chimeric transplastomic lines, and the technical challenges associated with regeneration of whole plants. In contrast, the unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a facultative heterotroph that allows for extensive modification of chloroplast function, including non-photosynthetic designs. Moreover, chloroplast engineering in C. reinhardtii is facile, with the ability to generate novel lines in a matter of weeks, and a well-defined molecular toolbox allows for rapid iterations of the "Design-Build-Test-Learn" (DBTL) cycle of modern synthetic biology approaches. The recent development of combinatorial DNA assembly pipelines for designing and building transgene clusters, simple methods for marker-free delivery of these clusters into the chloroplast genome, and the pre-existing wealth of knowledge regarding chloroplast gene expression and regulation in C. reinhardtii further adds to the versatility of transplastomics using this organism. Herein, we review the inherent advantages of the algal chloroplast as a simple and tractable testbed for metabolic engineering designs, which could then be implemented in higher plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harry O. Jackson
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry N. Taunt
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel M. Mordaka
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Alison G. Smith
- Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Saul Purton
- Department of Structural and Molecular Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Saul Purton
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Klassen V, Blifernez-Klassen O, Bax J, Kruse O. Wastewater-borne microalga Chlamydomonas sp.: A robust chassis for efficient biomass and biomethane production applying low-N cultivation strategy. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2020; 315:123825. [PMID: 32693344 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2020.123825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Biogas/biomethane generation from microalgae biomass via anaerobic fermentation is increasingly gaining attention as CO2-neutral energy source. Intensive research has shown, however, that microalgae represent a rather challenging substrate for anaerobic digestion (AD) due to their high cell wall recalcitrance and unfavourable protein content. Previously, the utilization of nitrogen-limited (low-N) microalgal biomass for continuous AD-processes was demonstrated (as proof-of-concept) with remarkable biomethane productivity. The present study shows the efficient portability of the low-N cultivation/fermentation strategy on a robust, wastewater-borne microalga isolate that tolerates high temperature and light conditions and can perfectly cope with microbial contaminations. Continuous long-term anaerobic digestion was characterized by stable and efficient specific biogas and biomethane productivity (765 ± 20 and 478 ± 15 mLNg-1 volatile solids (VS) d-1, respectively), equivalent to volumetric methane productivity of 1912 mLN L-1d-1. The present work underlines the applicability of low-N-biomass of wastewater-borne, robust microalgae as mono-substrate for highly efficient continuous methane generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktor Klassen
- Algenbiotechnology and Bioenergy, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany.
| | - Olga Blifernez-Klassen
- Algenbiotechnology and Bioenergy, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jördis Bax
- Algenbiotechnology and Bioenergy, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Olaf Kruse
- Algenbiotechnology and Bioenergy, Bielefeld University, Faculty of Biology, Center for Biotechnology (CeBiTec), Universitätsstrasse 27, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
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Reski R, Rybicki E, Foster G. Editorial overview: Plant biotechnology. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2020; 61:iii-v. [PMID: 32204851 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ralf Reski
- Plant Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ed Rybicki
- Biopharming Research Unit, Molecular & Cell Biology Department, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Gary Foster
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
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