1
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Schmidt C, Aras M, Kayser O. Engineering cannabinoid production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Biotechnol J 2024; 19:e2300507. [PMID: 38403455 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300507] [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: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Phytocannabinoids are natural products with highly interesting pharmacological properties mainly produced by plants. The production of cannabinoids in a heterologous host system has gained interest in recent years as a promising alternative to production from plant material. However, the systems reported so far do not achieve industrially relevant titers, highlighting the need for alternative systems. Here, we show the production of the cannabinoids cannabigerolic acid and cannabigerol from glucose and hexanoic acid in a heterologous yeast system using the aromatic prenyltransferase NphB from Streptomyces sp. strain CL190. The production was significantly increased by introducing a fusion protein consisting of ERG20WW and NphB. Furthermore, we improved the production of the precursor olivetolic acid to a titer of 56 mg L-1 . The implementation of the cannabinoid synthase genes enabled the production of Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, cannabidiolic acid as well as cannabichromenic acid, where the heterologous biosynthesis of cannabichromenic acid in a yeast system was demonstrated for the first time. In addition, we found that the product spectrum of the cannabinoid synthases localized to the vacuoles of the yeast cells was highly dependent on extracellular pH, allowing for easy manipulation. Finally, using a fed-batch approach, we showed cannabigerolic acid and olivetolic acid titers of up to 18.2 mg L-1 and 117 mg L-1 , respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Schmidt
- Technical Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Marco Aras
- Technical Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Oliver Kayser
- Technical Biochemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Biochemical and Chemical Engineering, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Germany
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2
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Chen Z, Wu T, Yu S, Li M, Fan X, Huo YX. Self-assembly systems to troubleshoot metabolic engineering challenges. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:43-60. [PMID: 37451946 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.06.009] [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: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Enzyme self-assembly is a technology in which enzyme units can aggregate into ordered macromolecules, assisted by scaffolds. In metabolic engineering, self-assembly strategies have been explored for aggregating multiple enzymes in the same pathway to improve sequential catalytic efficiency, which in turn enables high-level production. The performance of the scaffolds is critical to the formation of an efficient and stable assembly system. This review comprehensively analyzes these scaffolds by exploring how they assemble, and it illustrates how to apply self-assembly strategies for different modules in metabolic engineering. Functional modifications to scaffolds will further promote efficient strategies for production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenya Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Tong Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Shengzhu Yu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Min Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Xuanhe Fan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China
| | - Yi-Xin Huo
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5 South Zhongguancun Street, 100081, Beijing, China.
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3
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Zhang Y, Guo J, Gao P, Yan W, Shen J, Luo X, Keasling JD. Development of an efficient yeast platform for cannabigerolic acid biosynthesis. Metab Eng 2023; 80:232-240. [PMID: 37890610 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2023.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoids are important therapeutical molecules for human ailments, cancer treatment, and SARS-CoV-2. The central cannabinoid, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA), is generated from geranyl pyrophosphate and olivetolic acid by Cannabis sativa prenyltransferase (CsPT4). Despite efforts to engineer microorganisms such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae) for CBGA production, their titers remain suboptimal because of the low conversion of hexanoate into olivetolic acid and the limited activity and stability of the CsPT4. To address the low hexanoate conversion, we eliminated hexanoate consumption by the beta-oxidation pathway and reduced its incorporation into fatty acids. To address CsPT4 limitations, we expanded the endoplasmic reticulum and fused an auxiliary protein to CsPT4. Consequently, the engineered S. cerevisiae chassis showed a marked improvement of 78.64-fold in CBGA production, reaching a titer of 510.32 ± 10.70 mg l-1 from glucose and hexanoate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunfeng Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jiulong Guo
- Synceres Biosciences (Shenzhen) CO., LTD, China
| | - PeiZhen Gao
- Synceres Biosciences (Shenzhen) CO., LTD, China
| | - Wei Yan
- Synceres Biosciences (Shenzhen) CO., LTD, China
| | - Junfeng Shen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Xiaozhou Luo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory for the Intelligent Microbial Manufacturing of Medicines, CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
| | - Jay D Keasling
- Center for Synthetic Biochemistry, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China; Joint BioEnergy Institute, Emeryville, CA, 94608, USA; Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering & Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Biosustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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4
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Xie Z, Mi Y, Kong L, Gao M, Chen S, Chen W, Meng X, Sun W, Chen S, Xu Z. Cannabis sativa: origin and history, glandular trichome development, and cannabinoid biosynthesis. HORTICULTURE RESEARCH 2023; 10:uhad150. [PMID: 37691962 PMCID: PMC10485653 DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhad150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Is Cannabis a boon or bane? Cannabis sativa has long been a versatile crop for fiber extraction (industrial hemp), traditional Chinese medicine (hemp seeds), and recreational drugs (marijuana). Cannabis faced global prohibition in the twentieth century because of the psychoactive properties of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol; however, recently, the perspective has changed with the recognition of additional therapeutic values, particularly the pharmacological potential of cannabidiol. A comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanism of cannabinoid biosynthesis is necessary to cultivate and promote globally the medicinal application of Cannabis resources. Here, we comprehensively review the historical usage of Cannabis, biosynthesis of trichome-specific cannabinoids, regulatory network of trichome development, and synthetic biology of cannabinoids. This review provides valuable insights into the efficient biosynthesis and green production of cannabinoids, and the development and utilization of novel Cannabis varieties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyan Xie
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Yaolei Mi
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Lingzhe Kong
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Maolun Gao
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Weiqiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Xiangxiao Meng
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Wei Sun
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Key Laboratory of Beijing for Identification and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Shilin Chen
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
- Institute of Herbgenomics, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Zhichao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Saline-alkali Vegetation Ecology Restoration (Northeast Forestry University), Ministry of Education, Harbin 150040, China
- College of Life Science, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China
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5
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Schwartz AM, Marcotte HA, Johnson CN. Evaluation of Alternative Colony Hybridization Methods for Pathogenic Vibrios. Foods 2023; 12:foods12071472. [PMID: 37048292 PMCID: PMC10093671 DOI: 10.3390/foods12071472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrios, such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, are naturally occurring halophilic bacteria that are a major cause of foodborne illness. Because of their autochthonous nature, managing vibrio levels in marine and estuarine environments is impossible. Instead, it is crucial to reliably enumerate their abundance to minimize human exposure. One method of achieving this is the direct plating/colony hybridization (DP/CH) method, which has been used to efficiently quantify pathogenic vibrios in oysters and other seafood products. Although successful, the method relies on proprietary resources. We examined alternative approaches, assessed the influence of the reagent suppliers’ source on enumeration accuracy, and made experimental adjustments that maximized efficiency, sensitivity, and specificity. We report here that in-house conjugation via Cell Mosaic is a viable alternative to the previously available sole-source distributor of the alkaline phosphatase-conjugated probes used to enumerate vibrios in oysters. We also report that milk was a viable alternative as a blocking reagent, pH must be eight, an orbital shaker was a viable alternative to a water bath, and narrow polypropylene containers were a viable alternative to Whirl-Pak bags. These modifications will be crucial to scientists enumerating vibrios and other pathogens in food products.
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6
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Zhu X, Ricci-Tam C, Hager ER, Sgro AE. Self-cleaving peptides for expression of multiple genes in Dictyostelium discoideum. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0281211. [PMID: 36862626 PMCID: PMC9980757 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0281211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum is a model for a wide range of biological processes including chemotaxis, cell-cell communication, phagocytosis, and development. Interrogating these processes with modern genetic tools often requires the expression of multiple transgenes. While it is possible to transfect multiple transcriptional units, the use of separate promoters and terminators for each gene leads to large plasmid sizes and possible interference between units. In many eukaryotic systems this challenge has been addressed through polycistronic expression mediated by 2A viral peptides, permitting efficient, co-regulated gene expression. Here, we screen the most commonly used 2A peptides, porcine teschovirus-1 2A (P2A), Thosea asigna virus 2A (T2A), equine rhinitis A virus 2A (E2A), and foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A (F2A), for activity in D. discoideum and find that all the screened 2A sequences are effective. However, combining the coding sequences of two proteins into a single transcript leads to notable strain-dependent decreases in expression level, suggesting additional factors regulate gene expression in D. discoideum that merit further investigation. Our results show that P2A is the optimal sequence for polycistronic expression in D. discoideum, opening up new possibilities for genetic engineering in this model system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwen Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Chiara Ricci-Tam
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Emily R. Hager
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Allyson E. Sgro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Biological Design Center, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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7
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Zhou Y, Mirts EN, Yook S, Waugh M, Martini R, Jin YS, Lu Y. Reshaping the 2-Pyrone Synthase Active Site for Chemoselective Biosynthesis of Polyketides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202212440. [PMID: 36398563 PMCID: PMC10107152 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202212440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Engineering enzymes with novel reactivity and applying them in metabolic pathways to produce valuable products are quite challenging due to the intrinsic complexity of metabolic networks and the need for high in vivo catalytic efficiency. Triacetic acid lactone (TAL), naturally generated by 2-pyrone synthase (2PS), is a platform molecule that can be produced via microbial fermentation and further converted into value-added products. However, these conversions require extra synthetic steps under harsh conditions. We herein report a biocatalytic system for direct generation of TAL derivatives under mild conditions with controlled chemoselectivity by rationally engineering the 2PS active site and then rewiring the biocatalytic pathway in the metabolic network of E. coli to produce high-value products, such as kavalactone precursors, with yields up to 17 mg/L culture. Computer modeling indicates sterics and hydrogen-bond interactions play key roles in tuning the selectivity, efficiency and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhou
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E 24th St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Evan N Mirts
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Sangdo Yook
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 905 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Matthew Waugh
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Rachel Martini
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 600 South Mathews Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yong-Su Jin
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 905 S. Goodwin Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA
| | - Yi Lu
- DOE Center for Advanced Bioenergy and Bioproducts Innovation, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 W Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.,Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas at Austin, 105 E 24th St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
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8
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Metabolic Engineering of Nicotiana benthamiana to Produce Cannabinoid Precursors and Their Analogues. Metabolites 2022; 12:metabo12121181. [PMID: 36557219 PMCID: PMC9786632 DOI: 10.3390/metabo12121181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the perspective towards the use of cannabis has slowly shifted from being an illicit drug to a medicinal plant. The pathway and enzymes involved in the production of cannabinoids are known; however, studies evaluating the production of cannabinoids in heterologous plants and cell cultures are still limited. In this study, we assessed the potential use of N. benthamiana (Nicotiana benthamiana) plants as a heterologous host for producing natural and novel cannabinoids. Transgenic N. benthamiana plants expressing genes encoding cannabis acyl-activating enzyme and olivetol synthase were generated, which were then used for transiently expressing other downstream pathway genes. Production of olivetolic acid and divarinic acid, the universal precursors for major and minor cannabinoids, respectively, was observed in transgenic N. benthamiana plants. To produce novel cannabinoid precursors with different side chains, various fatty acids were infiltrated into the transgenic N. benthamiana plants and the production of novel derivatives was observed. Although we were not able to derive the core intermediate, cannabigerolic acid, from our transgenic plants, possibly due to the low production levels of the precursors, our transgenics plants still serve as a high-potential platform for further development and exploring the N. benthamiana chemical space for generating novel cannabinoids.
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9
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Yellow polyketide pigment suppresses premature hatching in social amoeba. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2116122119. [PMID: 36252029 PMCID: PMC9618038 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116122119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Low-molecular-weight natural products from microbes are indispensable in the development of potent drugs. However, their biological roles within an ecological context often remain elusive. Here, we shed light on natural products from eukaryotic microorganisms that have the ability to transition from single cells to multicellular organisms: the social amoebae. These eukaryotes harbor a large number of polyketide biosynthetic genes in their genomes, yet virtually none of the corresponding products can be isolated or characterized. Using complementary molecular biology approaches, including CRISPR-Cas9, we generated polyketide synthase (pks5) inactivation and overproduction strains of the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum. Differential, untargeted metabolomics of wild-type versus mutant fruiting bodies allowed us to pinpoint candidate metabolites derived from the amoebal PKS5. Extrachromosomal expression of the respective gene led to the identification of a yellow polyunsaturated fatty acid. Analysis of the temporospatial production pattern of this compound in conjunction with detailed bioactivity studies revealed the polyketide to be a spore germination suppressor.
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10
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Kufs JE, Reimer C, Steyer E, Valiante V, Hillmann F, Regestein L. Scale-up of an amoeba-based process for the production of the cannabinoid precursor olivetolic acid. Microb Cell Fact 2022; 21:217. [PMID: 36266656 PMCID: PMC9585784 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-022-01943-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The availability of new biological platform organisms to get access to innovative products and processes is fundamental for the progress in biotechnology and bioeconomy. The amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum represents a novel host system that has recently been employed for both the discovery of new natural products and as a cell factory for the production of bioactive compounds such as phytochemicals. However, an essential parameter to evaluate the potential of a new host system is the demonstration of its scalability to allow industrial applicability. Here, we aimed to develop a bioprocess for the production of olivetolic acid, the main precursor of cannabinoids synthesized by a recently engineered D. discoideum strain. Results In this study, a sophisticated approach is described to scale-up an amoeba-based polyketide production process in stirred tank bioreactors. Due to the shear sensitivity of the cell wall lacking amoebae, the maximum local energy dissipation rate (εmax) was selected as a measure for the hydromechanical stress level among different scales. By performing 1.6-L scale batch fermentations with different stress conditions, we determined a maximum tolerable εmax of 3.9 W/kg for D. discoideum. Further, we used this parameter as scale-up criterion to develop a bioprocess for olivetolic acid production starting from a 7-L stirred tank reactor to the industrially relevant 300-L scale with a product concentration of 4.8 µg/L, a productivity of 0.04 µg/L/h and a yield of 0.56 µg/g glucose. Conclusion We developed a robust and reliable scale-up strategy for amoeba-based bioprocesses and evaluated its applicability for the production of the cannabinoid precursor olivetolic acid. By determining the maximum tolerable hydromechanical stress level for D. discoideum, we were able to scale-up the process from shake flasks to the 300-L stirred tank reactor without any yield reduction from cell shearing. Hence, we showed the scalability and biotechnological exploitation of amoeba-based processes that can provide a reasonable alternative to chemical syntheses or extractions of phytochemicals from plant biomass. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12934-022-01943-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann E Kufs
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christin Reimer
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Emily Steyer
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Vito Valiante
- Biobricks of Microbial Natural Product Syntheses, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Hillmann
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany.,Biochemistry/Biotechnology, Faculty of Engineering, Hochschule Wismar University of Applied Sciences Technology, Business and Design, Wismar, Germany
| | - Lars Regestein
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany.
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11
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Vollmann DJ, Winand L, Nett M. Emerging concepts in the semisynthetic and mutasynthetic production of natural products. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 77:102761. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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12
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Saito T, Iijima T, Koyama K, Shinagawa T, Yamanaka A, Araki T, Suzuki N, Usuki T, Kay RR. Generating polyketide diversity in Dictyostelium: a Steely hybrid polyketide synthase produces alternate products at different developmental stages. Proc Biol Sci 2022; 289:20221176. [PMID: 36126683 PMCID: PMC9489281 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The soil is a rich ecosystem where many ecological interactions are mediated by small molecules, and in which amoebae are low-level predators and also prey. The social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum has a high genomic potential for producing polyketides to mediate its ecological interactions, including the unique 'Steely' enzymes, consisting of a fusion between a fatty acid synthase and a chalcone synthase. We report here that D. discoideum further increases its polyketide potential by using the StlB Steely enzyme, and a downstream chlorinating enzyme, to make both a chlorinated signal molecule, DIF-1, during its multi-cellular development, and a set of abundant polyketides in terminally differentiated stalk cells. We identify one of these as a chlorinated dibenzofuran with potent anti-bacterial activity. To do this, StlB switches expression from prespore to stalk cells in late development and is cleaved to release the chalcone synthase domain. Expression of this domain alone in StlB null cells allows synthesis of the stalk-associated, chlorinated polyketides. Thus, by altered expression and processing of StlB, cells make first a signal molecule, and then abundant secondary metabolites, which we speculate help to protect the mature spores from bacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamao Saito
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Tomoyuki Iijima
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Kohei Koyama
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Tomonori Shinagawa
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Ayaka Yamanaka
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Araki
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Suzuki
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Toyonobu Usuki
- Faculty of Science and Technology, Sophia University, Tokyo 102-8554, Japan
| | - Robert R. Kay
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
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Kufs JE, Reimer C, Stallforth P, Hillmann F, Regestein L. The potential of amoeba-based processes for natural product syntheses. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2022; 77:102766. [PMID: 35944344 DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2022.102766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The identification of novel platform organisms for the production and discovery of small molecules is of high interest for the pharmaceutical industry. In particular, the structural complexity of most natural products with therapeutic potential restricts an industrial production since chemical syntheses often require complex multistep routes. The amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum can be easily cultivated in bioreactors due to its planktonic growth behavior and contains numerous polyketide and terpene synthase genes with only a few compounds being already elucidated. Hence, the amoeba both bears a wealth of hidden natural products and allows for the development of new bioprocesses for existing pharmaceuticals. In this mini review, we present D. discoideum as a novel platform for the production of complex secondary metabolites and discuss its suitability for industrial processes. We also provide initial insights into future bioprocesses, both involving bacterial coculture setups and for the production of plant-based pharmaceuticals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johann E Kufs
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Christin Reimer
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany; Faculty of Biological Sciences, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Pierre Stallforth
- Paleobiotechnology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany; Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for Organic Chemistry and Macromolecular Chemistry, Jena, Germany
| | - Falk Hillmann
- Evolution of Microbial Interactions, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Lars Regestein
- Bio Pilot Plant, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), Jena, Germany.
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Livingston SJ, Rensing KH, Page JE, Samuels AL. A polarized supercell produces specialized metabolites in cannabis trichomes. Curr Biol 2022; 32:4040-4047.e4. [PMID: 35917819 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
For centuries, humans have cultivated cannabis for the pharmacological properties that result from consuming its specialized metabolites, primarily cannabinoids and terpenoids. Today, cannabis is a multi-billion-dollar industry whose existence rests on the biological activity of tiny cell clusters, called glandular trichomes, found mainly on flowers. Cannabinoids are toxic to cannabis cells,1 and how the trichome cells can produce and secrete massive quantities of lipophilic metabolites is not known.1 To address this gap in knowledge, we investigated cannabis glandular trichomes using ultra-rapid cryofixation, quantitative electron microscopy, and immuno-gold labeling of cannabinoid pathway enzymes. We demonstrate that the metabolically active cells in cannabis form a "supercell," with extensive cytoplasmic bridges across the cell walls and a polar distribution of organelles adjacent to the apical surface where metabolites are secreted. The predicted metabolic role of the non-photosynthetic plastids is supported by unusual membrane arrays in the plastids and the localization of the start of the cannabinoid/terpene pathway in the stroma of the plastids. Abundant membrane contact sites connected plastid paracrystalline cores with the plastid envelope, plastid with endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and ER with plasma membrane. The final step of cannabinoid biosynthesis, catalyzed by tetrahydrocannabinolic acid synthase (THCAS), was localized in the cell-surface wall facing the extracellular storage cavity. We propose a new model of how the cannabis cells can support abundant metabolite production, with emphasis on the key role of membrane contact sites and extracellular THCA biosynthesis. This new model can inform synthetic biology approaches for cannabinoid production in yeast or cell cultures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel J Livingston
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
| | | | - Jonathan E Page
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - A Lacey Samuels
- Department of Botany, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Ogasawara T, Watanabe J, Adachi R, Ono Y, Kamimura Y, Muramoto T. CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screening of Dictyostelium. Sci Rep 2022; 12:11215. [PMID: 35780186 PMCID: PMC9250498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-15500-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome-wide screening is powerful method used to identify genes and pathways associated with a phenotype of interest. The simple eukaryote Dictyostelium discoideum has a unique life cycle and is often used as a crucial research model for a wide range of biological processes and rare metabolites. To address the inadequacies of conventional genetic screening approaches, we developed a highly efficient CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screening system for Dictyostelium. A genome-wide library of 27,405 gRNAs and a kinase library of 4,582 gRNAs were compiled and mutant pools were generated. The resulting mutants were screened for defects in cell growth and more than 10 candidate genes were identified. Six of these were validated and five recreated mutants presented with growth abnormalities. Finally, the genes implicated in developmental defects were screened to identify the unknown genes associated with a phenotype of interest. These findings demonstrate the potential of the CRISPR/Cas9 system as an efficient genome-wide screening method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takanori Ogasawara
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan
| | - Jun Watanabe
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan
| | - Remi Adachi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan
| | - Yusuke Ono
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan
| | - Yoichiro Kamimura
- Laboratory for Cell Signaling Dynamics, RIKEN, Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Suita, Osaka, 565-0874, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Muramoto
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Toho University, 2-2-1 Miyama, Funabashi, Chiba, 274-8510, Japan.
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Courdavault V, Papon N. Social amoebae as a new chassis for drug production. Trends Biotechnol 2022; 40:529-531. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2022.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Slime moulds souped up with plant genes churn out drugs. Nature 2022. [DOI: 10.1038/d41586-022-00067-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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