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Cagney MH, O'Neill EC. Strategies for producing high value small molecules in microalgae. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY AND BIOCHEMISTRY : PPB 2024; 214:108942. [PMID: 39024780 DOI: 10.1016/j.plaphy.2024.108942] [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: 03/01/2024] [Revised: 06/11/2024] [Accepted: 07/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotic microalgae are a diverse group of organisms that can be used for the sustainable production of a wide range of high value compounds, including lipids, flavours and dyes, bioplastics, and cosmetics. Optimising total biomass production often does not lead to optimal product yield and more sophisticated biphasic growth strategies are needed, introducing specific stresses to induce product synthesis. Genetic tools have been used to increase yields of natural products or to introduce new pathways to algae, and wider deployment of these tools offers promising routes for commercial production of high value compounds utilising minimal inputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael H Cagney
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Ellis C O'Neill
- School of Chemistry, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK; Biodiscovery Institute, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK.
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2
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Du F, Li Z, Li X, Zhang D, Zhang F, Zhang Z, Xu Y, Tang J, Li Y, Huang X, Gu Y, Sun X, Huang H. Optimizing multicopy chromosomal integration for stable high-performing strains. Nat Chem Biol 2024:10.1038/s41589-024-01650-0. [PMID: 38858530 DOI: 10.1038/s41589-024-01650-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
The copy number of genes in chromosomes can be modified by chromosomal integration to construct efficient microbial cell factories but the resulting genetic systems are prone to failure or instability from triggering homologous recombination in repetitive DNA sequences. Finding the optimal copy number of each gene in a pathway is also time and labor intensive. To overcome these challenges, we applied a multiple nonrepetitive coding sequence calculator that generates sets of coding DNA sequence (CDS) variants. A machine learning method was developed to calculate the optimal copy number combination of genes in a pathway. We obtained an engineered Yarrowia lipolytica strain for eicosapentaenoic acid biosynthesis in 6 months, producing the highest titer of 27.5 g l-1 in a 50-liter bioreactor. Moreover, the lycopene production in Escherichia coli was also greatly improved. Importantly, all engineered strains of Y. lipolytica, E. coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae constructed with nonrepetitive CDSs maintained genetic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Du
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zijia Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Duoduo Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Feng Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zixu Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingshuang Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jin Tang
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yongqian Li
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xingxu Huang
- Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yang Gu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoman Sun
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
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Song Y, Wang F, Chen L, Zhang W. Engineering Fatty Acid Biosynthesis in Microalgae: Recent Progress and Perspectives. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:216. [PMID: 38786607 PMCID: PMC11122798 DOI: 10.3390/md22050216] [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: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Microalgal lipids hold significant potential for the production of biodiesel and dietary supplements. To enhance their cost-effectiveness and commercial competitiveness, it is imperative to improve microalgal lipid productivity. Metabolic engineering that targets the key enzymes of the fatty acid synthesis pathway, along with transcription factor engineering, are effective strategies for improving lipid productivity in microalgae. This review provides a summary of the advancements made in the past 5 years in engineering the fatty acid biosynthetic pathway in eukaryotic microalgae. Furthermore, this review offers insights into transcriptional regulatory mechanisms and transcription factor engineering aimed at enhancing lipid production in eukaryotic microalgae. Finally, the review discusses the challenges and future perspectives associated with utilizing microalgae for the efficient production of lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhui Song
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (Y.S.); (L.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Fangzhong Wang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (Y.S.); (L.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (Y.S.); (L.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Weiwen Zhang
- Laboratory of Synthetic Microbiology, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China; (Y.S.); (L.C.)
- Key Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China
- Center for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
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Canini D, Ceschi E, Perozeni F. Toward the Exploitation of Sustainable Green Factory: Biotechnology Use of Nannochloropsis spp. BIOLOGY 2024; 13:292. [PMID: 38785776 PMCID: PMC11117969 DOI: 10.3390/biology13050292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Securing food, energy, and raw materials for a growing population is one of the most significant challenges of our century. Algae play a central role as an alternative to plants. Wastewater and flue gas can secure nutrients and CO2 for carbon fixation. Unfortunately, algae domestication is necessary to enhance biomass production and reduce cultivation costs. Nannochloropsis spp. have increased in popularity among microalgae due to their ability to accumulate high amounts of lipids, including PUFAs. Recently, the interest in the use of Nannochloropsis spp. as a green bio-factory for producing high-value products increased proportionally to the advances of synthetic biology and genetic tools in these species. In this review, we summarized the state of the art of current nuclear genetic manipulation techniques and a few examples of their application. The industrial use of Nannochloropsis spp. has not been feasible yet, but genetic tools can finally lead to exploiting this full-of-potential microalga.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Federico Perozeni
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, Italy; (D.C.); (E.C.)
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Jia YL, Zhang Y, Xu LW, Zhang ZX, Xu YS, Ma W, Gu Y, Sun XM. Enhanced fatty acid storage combined with the multi-factor optimization of fermentation for high-level production of docosahexaenoic acid in Schizochytrium sp. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 398:130532. [PMID: 38447618 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.130532] [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: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Schizochytrium sp. hasreceived much attention for itsability to synthesize and accumulate high-level docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), which can reach nearly 40 % of total fatty acids. In this study, the titer of DHA in Schizochytrium sp. was successfully improved by enhancing DHA storage through overexpressing the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (ScDGAT2C) gene, as well as optimizing the supply of precursors and cofactors required for DHA synthesis by response surface methodology. Notably, malic acid, citric acid, and biotin showed synergistic and time-dependent effects on DHA accumulation. The maximum lipid and DHA titers of the engineered Schizochytrium sp. strain reached 84.28 ± 1.02 g/L and 42.23 ± 0.69 g/L, respectively, with the optimal concentration combination (1.62 g/L malic acid + 0.37 g/L citric acid + 8.28 mg/L biotin) were added 48 h after inoculation. This study provides an effective strategy for improving lipid and DHA production in Schizochytrium sp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lei Jia
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Lu-Wei Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Zi-Xu Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Ying-Shuang Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Wang Ma
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Yang Gu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xiao-Man Sun
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210000, China.
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Jia YL, Zhang QM, Du F, Yang WQ, Zhang ZX, Xu YS, Ma W, Sun XM, Huang H. Identification of lipid synthesis genes in Schizochytrium sp. and their application in improving eicosapentaenoic acid synthesis in Yarrowia lipolytica. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2024; 17:32. [PMID: 38402213 PMCID: PMC10894473 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02471-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is widely used in the functional food and nutraceutical industries due to its important benefits to human health. Oleaginous microorganisms are considered a promising alternative resource for the production of EPA lipids. However, the storage of EPA in triglyceride (TG) becomes a key factor limiting its level. RESULTS This study aimed to incorporate more EPA into TG storage through metabolic engineering. Firstly, key enzymes for TG synthesis, the diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAT) genes from Schizochytrium sp. HX-308 were expressed in Yarrowia lipolytica to enhance lipid and EPA accumulation. In addition, engineering the enzyme activity of DGATs through protein engineering was found to be effective in enhancing lipid synthesis by replacing the conserved motifs "HFS" in ScDGAT2A and "FFG" in ScDGAT2B with the motif "YFP". Notably, combined with lipidomic analysis, the expression of ScDGAT2C and GPAT2 enhanced the storage of EPA in TG. Finally, the accumulation of lipid and EPA was further promoted by identifying and continuing to introduce the ScACC, ScACS, ScPDC, and ScG6PD genes from Schizochytrium sp., and the lipid and EPA titer of the final engineered strain reached 2.25 ± 0.03 g/L and 266.44 ± 5.74 mg/L, respectively, which increased by 174.39% (0.82 ± 0.02 g/L) and 282.27% (69.70 ± 0.80 mg/L) compared to the initial strain, respectively. CONCLUSION This study shows that the expression of lipid synthesis genes from Schizochytrium sp. in Y. lipolytica effectively improves the synthesis of lipids and EPA, which provided a promising target for EPA-enriched microbial oil production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Lei Jia
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Qing-Ming Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Fei Du
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Wen-Qian Yang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Zi-Xu Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Ying-Shuang Xu
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Wang Ma
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
| | - Xiao-Man Sun
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China.
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, 210000, China
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Ye Y, Liu M, Yu L, Sun H, Liu J. Nannochloropsis as an Emerging Algal Chassis for Light-Driven Synthesis of Lipids and High-Value Products. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:54. [PMID: 38393025 PMCID: PMC10890015 DOI: 10.3390/md22020054] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/14/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In light of the escalating global energy crisis, microalgae have emerged as highly promising producers of biofuel and high-value products. Among these microalgae, Nannochloropsis has received significant attention due to its capacity to generate not only triacylglycerol (TAG) but also eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and valuable carotenoids. Recent advancements in genetic tools and the field of synthetic biology have revolutionized Nannochloropsis into a powerful biofactory. This comprehensive review provides an initial overview of the current state of cultivation and utilization of the Nannochloropsis genus. Subsequently, our review examines the metabolic pathways governing lipids and carotenoids, emphasizing strategies to enhance oil production and optimize carbon flux redirection toward target products. Additionally, we summarize the utilization of advanced genetic manipulation techniques in Nannochloropsis. Together, the insights presented in this review highlight the immense potential of Nannochloropsis as a valuable model for biofuels and synthetic biology. By effectively integrating genetic tools and metabolic engineering, the realization of this potential becomes increasingly feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Ye
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
| | - Meijing Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Center for Algae Innovation & Engineering Research, School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
| | - Han Sun
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; (Y.Y.); (M.L.); (L.Y.)
- Key Laboratory of Poyang Lake Environment and Resource Utilization, Ministry of Education, Center for Algae Innovation & Engineering Research, School of Resources and Environment, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
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Yan CX, Zhang Y, Yang WQ, Ma W, Sun XM, Huang H. Universal and unique strategies for the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids in industrial oleaginous microorganisms. Biotechnol Adv 2024; 70:108298. [PMID: 38048920 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108298] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), especially docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA), are beneficial for reducing blood cholesterol and enhancing memory. Traditional PUFA production relies on extraction from plants and animals, which is unsustainable. Thus, using microorganisms as lipid-producing factories holds promise as an alternative way for PUFA production. Several oleaginous microorganisms have been successfully industrialized to date. These can be divided into universal and specialized hosts according to the products range of biosynthesis. The Yarrowia lipolytica is universal oleaginous host that has been engineered to produce a variety of fatty acids, such as γ-linolenic acid (GLA), EPA, ARA and so on. By contrast, the specialized host are used to produce only certain fatty acids, such as ARA in Mortierella alpina, EPA in Nannochloropsis, and DHA in Thraustochytrids. The metabolic engineering and fermentation strategies for improving PUFA production in universal and specialized hosts are different, which is the subject of this review. In addition, the widely applicable strategies for microbial lipid production that are not specific to individual hosts were also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Xiao Yan
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Qian Yang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Wang Ma
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiao-Man Sun
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
| | - He Huang
- School of Food Science and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Normal University, 2 Xuelin Road, Qixia District, Nanjing, People's Republic of China
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Qian X, Lei H, Zhou X, Zhang L, Cui W, Zhou J, Xin F, Dong W, Jiang M, Ochsenreither K. Engineering Scheffersomyces segobiensis for palmitoleic acid-rich lipid production. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14301. [PMID: 37351580 PMCID: PMC10832558 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Palmitoleic acid (POA; C16:1) is an essential high-value ω-7-conjugated fatty acid with beneficial bioactivities and potential applications in the nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Previously, the oleaginous yeast Scheffersomyces segobiensis DSM27193 has been identified as a promising production host as an alternative for POA extraction from plant or animal sources. Here, the POA-producing capacity of this host was further expanded by optimizing the fermentation process and molecular strain engineering. Specifically, a dual fermentation strategy (O-S dynamic regulation strategy) focused on the substrate and dissolved oxygen concentration was designed to eliminate ethanol and pyruvate accumulation during fermentation. Key genes influencing POA production, such as jen, dgat, ole were identified on the transcriptional level and were subsequently over-expressed. Furthermore, the phosphoketolase (Xpk)/phosphotransacetylase (Pta) pathway was introduced to improve the yield of the precursor acetyl-CoA from glucose. The resulting cell factory SS-12 produced 7.3 g/L of POA, corresponding to an 11-fold increase compared to the wild type, presenting the highest POA titre reported using oleaginous yeast to date. An economic evaluation based on the raw materials, utilities and facility-dependent costs showed that microbial POA production using S. segobiensis can supersede the current extraction method from plant oil and marine fish. This study reports the construction of a promising cell factory and an effective microbial fermentation strategy for commercial POA production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiujuan Qian
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Huirui Lei
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Xinhai Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Lili Zhang
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Wenxing Cui
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Jie Zhou
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Fengxue Xin
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Weiliang Dong
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Min Jiang
- College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
- State Key Laboratory of Materials‐Oriented Chemical EngineeringNanjing Tech UniversityNanjingP. R. China
| | - Katrin Ochsenreither
- Institute of Process Engineering in Life Sciences, Section II: Technical BiologyKarlsruhe Institute of TechnologyKarlsruheGermany
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Li J, Chen H, Chang L, Wu C, Zhang H, Chen YQ, Chen W. Functions and substrate selectivity of diacylglycerol acyltransferases from Mortierella alpina. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5761-5774. [PMID: 37498333 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12694-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Mortierella alpina produces various polyunsaturated fatty acids in the form of triacylglycerols (TAG). Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT) catalyzes the binding of acyl-CoA to diacylglycerol to form TAG and is the key enzyme involved in TAG synthesis. A variety of DGATs are present in M. alpina; however, comparative analysis of the functional properties and substrate selectivity of these DGATs is insufficient. In this study, DGAT1 (MaDGAT1A/1B/1C) and DGAT2 (MaDGAT2A/2B) isoforms from M. alpina were analyzed and heterologously expressed in S. cerevisiae H1246. The results showed that MaDGAT1A/1B/2A/2B were able to restore TAG synthesis, and the corresponding TAG content in recombinant yeasts was 2.92 ± 0.42%, 3.62 ± 0.22%, 0.86 ± 0.34%, and 0.18 ± 0.09%, respectively. In S. cerevisiae H1246, MaDGAT1A preferred C16:1 among monounsaturated fatty acids, MaDGAT1B preferred C16:0 among saturated fatty acids (SFAs), and MaDGAT2A/2B preferred C18:0 among SFAs. Under exogenous addition of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), MaDGAT1A and 2A preferentially assembled linoleic acid into TAG, and MaDGAT2B had substrate selectivity for eicosapentaenoic and linoleic acids in ω-6 PUFAs. In vitro, MaDGAT1A showed no obvious acyl-CoA selectivity and MaDGAT1B preferred C20:5-CoA. MaDGAT1A/1B preferred C18:1/C18:1-DAG compared with C20:4/C20:4-DAG. This study indicates that MaDGATs have the potential to be used in the production of LA/EPA-rich TAG and provide a reference for improving the production of TAGs in oleaginous fungi. KEY POINTS: • MaDGAT1A preferred C16:1 among MUFAs, MaDGAT1B and MaDGAT2A/2B preferred C16:0 and C18:0 among SFAs, respectively • MaDGAT1A/2A preferentially assembled linoleic acid into TAG, and MaDGAT2B has substrate selectivity for eicosapentaenoic acid and linoleic acid in ω-6 PUFAs • MaDGAT1A showed no obvious acyl-CoA selectivity, and MaDGAT1B preferred C20:5-CoA. MaDGAT1A/1B preferred to select C18:1/C18:1-DAG compared with C20:4/C20:4-DAG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Haiqin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lulu Chang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Q Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- Wuxi School of Medicine, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- Department of Cancer Biology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Resources, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
- National Engineering Research Center for Functional Food, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214122, People's Republic of China
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Liu M, Ding W, Pan Y, Hu H, Liu J. Zeaxanthin epoxidase is involved in the carotenoid biosynthesis and light-dependent growth of the marine alga Nannochloropsis oceanica. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2023; 16:74. [PMID: 37138328 PMCID: PMC10157934 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-023-02326-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The marine alga Nannochloropsis oceanica, an emerging model belonging to Heterokont, is considered as a promising light-driven eukaryotic chassis for transforming carbon dioxide to various compounds including carotenoids. Nevertheless, the carotenogenic genes and their roles in the alga remain less understood and to be further explored. RESULTS Here, two phylogenetically distant zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) genes from N. oceanica (NoZEP1 and NoZEP2) were functionally characterized. Subcellular localization experiment demonstrated that both NoZEP1 and NoZEP2 reside in the chloroplast yet with differential distribution patterns. Overexpression of NoZEP1 or NoZEP2 led to increases of violaxanthin and its downstream carotenoids at the expense of zeaxanthin in N. oceanica, with the extent of changes mediated by NoZEP1 overexpression being greater as compared to NoZEP2 overexpression. Suppression of NoZEP1 or NoZEP2, on the other hand, caused decreases of violaxanthin and its downstream carotenoids as well as increases of zeaxanthin; similarly, the extent of changes mediated by NoZEP1 suppression was larger than that by NoZEP2 suppression. Interestingly, chlorophyll a dropped following violaxanthin decrease in a well-correlated manner in response to NoZEP suppression. The thylakoid membrane lipids including monogalactosyldiacylglycerol also correlated with the violaxanthin decreases. Accordingly, NoZEP1 suppression resulted in more attenuated algal growth than NoZEP2 suppression did under either normal light or high light stage. CONCLUSIONS The results together support that both NoZEP1 and NoZEP2, localized in the chloroplast, have overlapping roles in epoxidating zeaxanthin to violaxanthin for the light-dependent growth, yet with NoZEP1 being more functional than NoZEP2 in N. oceanica. Our study provides implications into the understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis and future manipulation of N. oceanica for carotenoid production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijing Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Wei Ding
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Yufang Pan
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Hanhua Hu
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072 China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
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Jeong BR, Jang J, Jin E. Genome engineering via gene editing technologies in microalgae. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 373:128701. [PMID: 36746216 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas has revolutionized genetic modification with its comparative simplicity and accuracy, and it can be used even at the genomic level. Microalgae are excellent feedstocks for biofuels and nutraceuticals because they contain high levels of fatty acids, carotenoids, and other metabolites; however, genome engineering for microalgae is not yet as developed as for other model organisms. Microalgal engineering at the genetic and metabolic levels is relatively well established, and a few genomic resources are available. Their genomic information was used for a "safe harbor" site for stable transgene expression in microalgae. This review proposes further genome engineering schemes including the construction of sgRNA libraries, pan-genomic and epigenomic resources, and mini-genomes, which can together be developed into synthetic biology for carbon-based engineering in microalgae. Acetyl-CoA is at the center of carbon metabolic pathways and is further reviewed for the production of molecules including terpenoids in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byeong-Ryool Jeong
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - Junhwan Jang
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea
| | - EonSeon Jin
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea.
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13
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Xu Y. Biochemistry and Biotechnology of Lipid Accumulation in the Microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2022; 70:11500-11509. [PMID: 36083864 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.2c05309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Oils are among the most important agricultural commodities and have wide applications in food/nutrition, biofuels, and oleochemicals. The oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis oceanica can produce large amounts of oils and the high-value ω-3 eicosapentaenoic acid, which represents a promising resource for oil production targeting biodiesel, nutraceutical, and aquaculture industries. In recent years, with the availability of omics databases and the development of genetic tools, N. oceanica has been extensively investigated as a model photosynthetic organism for studying lipid metabolism and as a green cellular factory to produce lipids for industrial applications. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the lipid composition and biosynthetic pathways of N. oceanica and reviews the recent advances in metabolic engineering of lipid production in this microalga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Liu M, Ding W, Yu L, Shi Y, Liu J. Functional characterization of carotenogenic genes provides implications into carotenoid biosynthesis and engineering in the marine alga Nannochloropsis oceanica. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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15
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Chen G, Harwood JL, Lemieux MJ, Stone SJ, Weselake RJ. Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase: Properties, physiological roles, metabolic engineering and intentional control. Prog Lipid Res 2022; 88:101181. [PMID: 35820474 DOI: 10.1016/j.plipres.2022.101181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Acyl-CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase (DGAT, EC 2.3.1.20) catalyzes the last reaction in the acyl-CoA-dependent biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG). DGAT activity resides mainly in membrane-bound DGAT1 and DGAT2 in eukaryotes and bifunctional wax ester synthase-diacylglycerol acyltransferase (WSD) in bacteria, which are all membrane-bound proteins but exhibit no sequence homology to each other. Recent studies also identified other DGAT enzymes such as the soluble DGAT3 and diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (EaDAcT), as well as enzymes with DGAT activities including defective in cuticular ridges (DCR) and steryl and phytyl ester synthases (PESs). This review comprehensively discusses research advances on DGATs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes with a focus on their biochemical properties, physiological roles, and biotechnological and therapeutic applications. The review begins with a discussion of DGAT assay methods, followed by a systematic discussion of TAG biosynthesis and the properties and physiological role of DGATs. Thereafter, the review discusses the three-dimensional structure and insights into mechanism of action of human DGAT1, and the modeled DGAT1 from Brassica napus. The review then examines metabolic engineering strategies involving manipulation of DGAT, followed by a discussion of its therapeutic applications. DGAT in relation to improvement of livestock traits is also discussed along with DGATs in various other eukaryotic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada.
| | - John L Harwood
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - M Joanne Lemieux
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Membrane Protein Disease Research Group, Edmonton T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Scot J Stone
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5E5, Canada.
| | - Randall J Weselake
- Department of Agricultural, Food, and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6H 2P5, Canada
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