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Malik MR, Patterson N, Sharma N, Tang J, Burkitt C, Ji Y, Martino M, Hertig A, Schweitzer D, Peoples O, Snell KD. Polyhydroxybutyrate synthesis in Camelina: Towards coproduction of renewable feedstocks for bioplastics and fuels. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2023; 21:2671-2682. [PMID: 37610031 PMCID: PMC10651141 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based co-production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) and seed oil has the potential to create a viable domestic source of feedstocks for renewable fuels and plastics. PHAs, a class of biodegradable polyesters, can replace conventional plastics in many applications while providing full degradation in all biologically active environments. Here we report the production of the PHA poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) in the seed cytosol of the emerging bioenergy crop Camelina sativa engineered with a bacterial PHB biosynthetic pathway. Two approaches were used: cytosolic localization of all three enzymes of the PHB pathway in the seed, or localization of the first two enzymes of the pathway in the cytosol and anchoring of the third enzyme required for polymerization to the cytosolic face of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The ER-targeted approach was found to provide more stable polymer production with PHB levels up to 10.2% of the mature seed weight achieved in seeds with good viability. These results mark a significant step forward towards engineering lines for commercial use. Plant-based PHA production would enable a direct link between low-cost large-scale agricultural production of biodegradable polymers and seed oil with the global plastics and renewable fuels markets.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nii Patterson
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Aquatic and Crop Resource Development Research Center, National Research Council CanadaSaskatoonSaskatchewanCanada
| | | | - Jihong Tang
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Yuanyuan Ji
- Yield10 Oilseeds, Inc.SaskatoonSaskatchewanCanada
| | - Matthew Martino
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Middletown High SchoolMiddletownNew YorkUSA
| | - Andrew Hertig
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Qualigen TherapeuticsCarlsbadCaliforniaUSA
| | - Dirk Schweitzer
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
- Present address:
Impact Nano, LLCDevensMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Kristi D. Snell
- Yield10 Oilseeds, Inc.SaskatoonSaskatchewanCanada
- Yield10 Bioscience, Inc.WoburnMassachusettsUSA
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Yañez L, Conejeros R, Vergara-Fernández A, Scott F. Beyond Intracellular Accumulation of Polyhydroxyalkanoates: Chiral Hydroxyalkanoic Acids and Polymer Secretion. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:248. [PMID: 32318553 PMCID: PMC7147478 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) are ubiquitous prokaryotic storage compounds of carbon and energy, acting as sinks for reducing power during periods of surplus of carbon source relative to other nutrients. With close to 150 different hydroxyalkanoate monomers identified, the structure and properties of these polyesters can be adjusted to serve applications ranging from food packaging to biomedical uses. Despite its versatility and the intensive research in the area over the last three decades, the market share of PHAs is still low. While considerable rich literature has accumulated concerning biochemical, physiological, and genetic aspects of PHAs intracellular accumulation, the costs of substrates and processing costs, including the extraction of the polymer accumulated in intracellular granules, still hampers a more widespread use of this family of polymers. This review presents a comprehensive survey and critical analysis of the process engineering and metabolic engineering strategies reported in literature aimed at the production of chiral (R)-hydroxycarboxylic acids (RHAs), either from the accumulated polymer or by bypassing the accumulation of PHAs using metabolically engineered bacteria, and the strategies developed to recover the accumulated polymer without using conventional downstream separations processes. Each of these topics, that have received less attention compared to PHAs accumulation, could potentially improve the economy of PHAs production and use. (R)-hydroxycarboxylic acids can be used as chiral precursors, thanks to its easily modifiable functional groups, and can be either produced de-novo or be obtained from recycled PHA products. On the other hand, efficient mechanisms of PHAs release from bacterial cells, including controlled cell lysis and PHA excretion, could reduce downstream costs and simplify the polymer recovery process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luz Yañez
- Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Raúl Conejeros
- Escuela de Ingeniería Bioquímica, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Alberto Vergara-Fernández
- Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Felipe Scott
- Green Technology Research Group, Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Aplicadas, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
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Spekreijse J, Holgueras Ortega J, Sanders JPM, Bitter JH, Scott EL. Conversion of polyhydroxyalkanoates to methyl crotonate using whole cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 211:267-272. [PMID: 27023381 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2016] [Revised: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 03/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Isolated polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) can be used to produce biobased bulk chemicals. However, isolation is complex and costly. To circumvent this, whole cells containing PHA may be used. Here, PHA containing 3-hydroxybutyrate and small amounts of 3-hydroxyvalerate was produced from wastewater and used in the conversion of the 3-hydroxybutyrate monomer to methyl crotonate. Due to the increased complexity of whole cell reaction mixtures compared to pure PHA, the effect of 3-hydroxyvalerate content, magnesium salts and water content was studied in order to evaluate the need for downstream processing. A water content up to 20% and the presence of 3-hydroxyvalerate have no influence on the conversion of the 3-hydroxybutyrate to methyl crotonate. The presence of Mg(2+)-ions resulted either in an increased yield or in byproduct formation depending on the counter ion. Overall, it is possible to bypass a major part of the downstream processing of PHA for the production of biobased chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Spekreijse
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J Holgueras Ortega
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J P M Sanders
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J H Bitter
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - E L Scott
- Biobased Chemistry and Technology, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 17, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands.
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Malik MR, Yang W, Patterson N, Tang J, Wellinghoff RL, Preuss ML, Burkitt C, Sharma N, Ji Y, Jez JM, Peoples OP, Jaworski JG, Cahoon EB, Snell KD. Production of high levels of poly-3-hydroxybutyrate in plastids of Camelina sativa seeds. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:675-88. [PMID: 25418911 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2013] [Accepted: 10/07/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production in plastids of Camelina sativa seeds was investigated by comparing levels of polymer produced upon transformation of plants with five different binary vectors containing combinations of five seed-specific promoters for expression of transgenes. Genes encoding PHB biosynthetic enzymes were modified at the N-terminus to encode a plastid targeting signal. PHB levels of up to 15% of the mature seed weight were measured in single sacrificed T1 seeds with a genetic construct containing the oleosin and glycinin promoters. A more detailed analysis of the PHB production potential of two of the best performing binary vectors in a Camelina line bred for larger seed size yielded lines containing up to 15% polymer in mature T2 seeds. Transmission electron microscopy showed the presence of distinct granules of PHB in the seeds. PHB production had varying effects on germination, emergence and survival of seedlings. Once true leaves formed, plants grew normally and were able to set seeds. PHB synthesis lowered the total oil but not the protein content of engineered seeds. A change in the oil fatty acid profile was also observed. High molecular weight polymer was produced with weight-averaged molecular weights varying between 600 000 and 1 500 000, depending on the line. Select lines were advanced to later generations yielding a line with 13.7% PHB in T4 seeds. The levels of polymer produced in this study are the highest reported to date in a seed and are an important step forward for commercializing an oilseed-based platform for PHB production.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenyu Yang
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | | | - Mary L Preuss
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Webster University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | | | - Yuanyuan Ji
- Metabolix Oilseeds Inc, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Joseph M Jez
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Biology, Washington University, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | | | - Jan G Jaworski
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Edgar B Cahoon
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, Saint Louis, MO, USA
- Center for Plant Science Innovation and Department of Biochemistry, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - Kristi D Snell
- Metabolix Oilseeds Inc, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
- Metabolix Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
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McQualter RB, Petrasovits LA, Gebbie LK, Schweitzer D, Blackman DM, Chrysanthopoulos P, Hodson MP, Plan MR, Riches JD, Snell KD, Brumbley SM, Nielsen LK. The use of an acetoacetyl-CoA synthase in place of a β-ketothiolase enhances poly-3-hydroxybutyrate production in sugarcane mesophyll cells. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2015; 13:700-707. [PMID: 25532451 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Revised: 10/10/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Engineering the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) into high biomass bioenergy crops has the potential to provide a sustainable supply of bioplastics and energy from a single plant feedstock. One of the major challenges in engineering C4 plants for the production of poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate] (PHB) is the significantly lower level of polymer produced in the chloroplasts of mesophyll (M) cells compared to bundle sheath (BS) cells, thereby limiting the full PHB yield-potential of the plant. In this study, we provide evidence that the access to substrate for PHB synthesis may limit polymer production in M chloroplasts. Production of PHB in M cells of sugarcane is significantly increased by replacing β-ketothiolase, the first enzyme in the bacterial PHA pathway, with acetoacetyl-CoA synthase. This novel pathway enabled the production of PHB reaching an average of 6.3% of the dry weight of total leaf biomass, with levels ranging from 3.6 to 11.8% of the dry weight (DW) of individual leaves. These yields are more than twice the level reported in PHB-producing sugarcane containing the β-ketothiolase and illustrate the importance of producing polymer in mesophyll plastids to maximize yield. The molecular weight of the polymer produced was greater than 2 × 10(6) Da. These results are a major step forward in engineering a high biomass C4 grass for the commercial production of PHB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard B McQualter
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Lars A Petrasovits
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Leigh K Gebbie
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | | | - Deborah M Blackman
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Panagiotis Chrysanthopoulos
- Metabolomics Australia Queensland Node, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Mark P Hodson
- Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Manuel R Plan
- Central Analytical Research Facility, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - James D Riches
- Metabolomics Australia Queensland Node, Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | | | - Stevens M Brumbley
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
| | - Lars K Nielsen
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Schweitzer
- Metabolix, 21 Erie Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
| | - Kristi D. Snell
- Metabolix, 21 Erie Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, United States
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