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Wang Y, Wang J, Yang S, Liang Q, Gu Z, Wang Y, Mou H, Sun H. Selecting a preculture strategy for improving biomass and astaxanthin productivity of Chromochloris zofingiensis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:117. [PMID: 38204137 PMCID: PMC10781847 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12873-x] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Chromochloris zofingiensis is a potential source of natural astaxanthin; however, its rapid growth and astaxanthin enrichment cannot be achieved simultaneously. This study established autotrophic, mixotrophic, and heterotrophic preculture patterns to assess their ameliorative effect on the C. zofingiensis heterotrophic growth state. In comparison, mixotrophic preculture (MP) exhibited the best improving effect on heterotrophic biomass concentration of C. zofingiensis (up to 121.5 g L-1) in a 20 L fermenter, reaching the global leading level. The astaxanthin productivity achieved 111 mg L-1 day-1, 7.4-fold higher than the best record. The transcriptome and 13C tracer-based metabolic flux analysis were used for mechanism inquiry. The results revealed that MP promoted carotenoid and lipid synthesis, and supported synthesis preference of low unsaturated fatty acids represented by C18:1 and C16:0. The MP group maintained the best astaxanthin productivity via mastering the balance between increasing glucose metabolism and inhibition of carotenoid synthesis. The MP strategy optimized the physiological state of C. zofingiensis and realized its heterotrophic high-density growth for an excellent astaxanthin yield on a pilot scale. This strategy exhibits great application potential in the microalgae-related industry. KEY POINTS: • Preculture strategies changed carbon flux and gene expression in C. zofingiensis • C. zofingiensis realized a high-density culture with MP and fed-batch culture (FBC) • Astaxanthin productivity achieved 0.111 g L-1 day-1 with MP and FBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Jia Wang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Shufang Yang
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Qingping Liang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Ziqiang Gu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Marine Science research Institute of Shandong Province, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Haijin Mou
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao, 266003, China.
| | - Han Sun
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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Panahi B, Hosseinzadeh Gharajeh N, Mohammadzadeh Jalaly H, Hejazi MA. Harnessing systems biology approach for characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in microalgae. Biochem Biophys Rep 2024; 39:101759. [PMID: 39021674 PMCID: PMC11252604 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2024.101759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Systems biology is an interdisciplinary field that aims to understand complex biological processes at the system level. The data, driven by high-throughput omics technologies, can be used to study the underpinning mechanisms of metabolite production under different conditions to harness this knowledge for the construction of regulatory networks, protein networks, metabolic models, and engineering of strains with enhanced target metabolite production in microalgae. In the current study, we comprehensively reviewed the recent progress in the application of these technologies for the characterization of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways in microalgae. Moreover, harnessing integrated approaches such as network analysis, meta-analysis, and machine learning models for deciphering the complexity of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways were comprehensively discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Panahi
- Department of Genomics, Branch for Northwest & West Region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Hossein Mohammadzadeh Jalaly
- Department of Genomics, Branch for Northwest & West Region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Amin Hejazi
- Department of Food Biotechnology, Branch for Northwest & West Region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran
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3
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Liu HW, Urzica EI, Gallaher SD, Schmollinger S, Blaby-Haas CE, Iwai M, Merchant SS. Chlamydomonas cells transition through distinct Fe nutrition stages within 48 h of transfer to Fe-free medium. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2024; 161:213-232. [PMID: 39017982 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-024-01103-8] [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: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Low iron (Fe) bioavailability can limit the biosynthesis of Fe-containing proteins, which are especially abundant in photosynthetic organisms, thus negatively affecting global primary productivity. Understanding cellular coping mechanisms under Fe limitation is therefore of great interest. We surveyed the temporal responses of Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) cells transitioning from an Fe-rich to an Fe-free medium to document their short and long-term adjustments. While slower growth, chlorosis and lower photosynthetic parameters are evident only after one or more days in Fe-free medium, the abundance of some transcripts, such as those for genes encoding transporters and enzymes involved in Fe assimilation, change within minutes, before changes in intracellular Fe content are noticeable, suggestive of a sensitive mechanism for sensing Fe. Promoter reporter constructs indicate a transcriptional component to this immediate primary response. With acetate provided as a source of reduced carbon, transcripts encoding respiratory components are maintained relative to transcripts encoding components of photosynthesis and tetrapyrrole biosynthesis, indicating metabolic prioritization of respiration over photosynthesis. In contrast to the loss of chlorophyll, carotenoid content is maintained under Fe limitation despite a decrease in the transcripts for carotenoid biosynthesis genes, indicating carotenoid stability. These changes occur more slowly, only after the intracellular Fe quota responds, indicating a phased response in Chlamydomonas, involving both primary and secondary responses during acclimation to poor Fe nutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen W Liu
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 99354, USA
| | - Eugen I Urzica
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Competence Network IBD, Hopfenstrasse 60, 24103, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sean D Gallaher
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Stefan Schmollinger
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Plant Research Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Crysten E Blaby-Haas
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Masakazu Iwai
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sabeeha S Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 99354, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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4
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Panahi B. Global transcriptome analysis identifies critical functional modules associated with multiple abiotic stress responses in microalgae Chromochloris zofingiensis. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0307248. [PMID: 39172989 PMCID: PMC11341014 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0307248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In the current study, systems biology approach was applied to get a deep insight regarding the regulatory mechanisms of Chromochloris zofingiensis under overall stress conditions. Meta-analysis was performed using p-values combination of differentially expressed genes. To identify the informative models related to stress conditions, two distinct weighted gene co-expression networks were constructed and preservation analyses were performed using medianRankand Zsummary algorithms. Moreover, functional enrichment analysis of non-preserved modules was performed to shed light on the biological performance of underlying genes in the non-preserved modules. In the next step, the gene regulatory networks between top hub genes of non-preserved modules and transcription factors were inferred using ensemble of trees algorithm. Results showed that the power of beta = 7 was the best soft-thresholding value to ensure a scale-free network, leading to the determination of 12 co-expression modules with an average size of 128 genes. Preservation analysis showed that the connectivity pattern of the six modules including the blue, black, yellow, pink, greenyellow, and turquoise changed during stress condition which defined as non-preserved modules. Examples of enriched pathways in non-preserved modules were Oxidative phosphorylation", "Vitamin B6 metabolism", and "Arachidonic acid metabolism". Constructed regulatory network between identified TFs and top hub genes of non-preserved module such as Cz06g10250, Cz03g12130 showed that some specific TFs such as C3H and SQUAMOSA promoter binding protein (SBP) specifically regulates the specific hubs. The current findings add substantially to our understanding of the stress responsive underlying mechanism of C. zofingiensis for future studies and metabolite production programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahman Panahi
- Department of Genomics, Branch for Northwest & West Region, Agricultural Biotechnology Research Institute of Iran (ABRII), Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO), Tabriz, Iran
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Duenas MA, Craig RJ, Gallaher SD, Moseley JL, Merchant SS. Leaky ribosomal scanning enables tunable translation of bicistronic ORFs in green algae. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.24.605010. [PMID: 39091764 PMCID: PMC11291117 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.24.605010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Advances in sequencing technology have unveiled examples of nucleus-encoded polycistronic genes, once considered rare. Exclusively polycistronic transcripts are prevalent in green algae, although the mechanism by which multiple polypeptides are translated from a single transcript is unknown. Here, we used bioinformatic and in vivo mutational analyses to evaluate competing mechanistic models for polycistronic expression in green algae. High-confidence manually curated datasets of bicistronic loci from two divergent green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Auxenochlorella protothecoides, revealed 1) a preference for weak Kozak-like sequences for ORF 1 and 2) an underrepresentation of potential initiation codons before ORF 2, which are suitable conditions for leaky scanning to allow ORF 2 translation. We used mutational analysis in Auxenochlorella protothecoides to test the mechanism. In vivo manipulation of the ORF 1 Kozak-like sequence and start codon altered reporter expression at ORF 2, with a weaker Kozak-like sequence enhancing expression and a stronger one diminishing it. A synthetic bicistronic dual reporter demonstrated inversely adjustable activity of green fluorescent protein expressed from ORF 1 and luciferase from ORF 2, depending on the strength of the ORF 1 Kozak-like sequence. Our findings demonstrate that translation of multiple ORFs in green algal bicistronic transcripts is consistent with episodic leaky ribosome scanning of ORF 1 to allow translation at ORF 2. This work has implications for the potential functionality of upstream open reading frames found across eukaryotic genomes and for transgene expression in synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco A. Duenas
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Rory J. Craig
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sean D. Gallaher
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jeffrey L. Moseley
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology and Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, CA, USA
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Jeffers TL, Purvine SO, Nicora CD, McCombs R, Upadhyaya S, Stroumza A, Whang K, Gallaher SD, Dohnalkova A, Merchant SS, Lipton M, Niyogi KK, Roth MS. Iron rescues glucose-mediated photosynthesis repression during lipid accumulation in the green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6046. [PMID: 39025848 PMCID: PMC11258321 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50170-x] [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: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Energy status and nutrients regulate photosynthetic protein expression. The unicellular green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis switches off photosynthesis in the presence of exogenous glucose (+Glc) in a process that depends on hexokinase (HXK1). Here, we show that this response requires that cells lack sufficient iron (-Fe). Cells grown in -Fe+Glc accumulate triacylglycerol (TAG) while losing photosynthesis and thylakoid membranes. However, cells with an iron supplement (+Fe+Glc) maintain photosynthesis and thylakoids while still accumulating TAG. Proteomic analysis shows that known photosynthetic proteins are most depleted in heterotrophy, alongside hundreds of uncharacterized, conserved proteins. Photosynthesis repression is associated with enzyme and transporter regulation that redirects iron resources to (a) respiratory instead of photosynthetic complexes and (b) a ferredoxin-dependent desaturase pathway supporting TAG accumulation rather than thylakoid lipid synthesis. Combining insights from diverse organisms from green algae to vascular plants, we show how iron and trophic constraints on metabolism aid gene discovery for photosynthesis and biofuel production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim L Jeffers
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Samuel O Purvine
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Carrie D Nicora
- Biological Sciences Division, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Ryan McCombs
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Shivani Upadhyaya
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Adrien Stroumza
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Ken Whang
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Sean D Gallaher
- UCLA DOE Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Alice Dohnalkova
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Sabeeha S Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Quantitative Biosciences Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Mary Lipton
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99354, USA
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
| | - Melissa S Roth
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Gee CW, Andersen-Ranberg J, Boynton E, Rosen RZ, Jorgens D, Grob P, Holman HYN, Niyogi KK. Implicating the red body of Nannochloropsis in forming the recalcitrant cell wall polymer algaenan. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5456. [PMID: 38937455 PMCID: PMC11211512 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49277-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Stramenopile algae contribute significantly to global primary productivity, and one class, Eustigmatophyceae, is increasingly studied for applications in high-value lipid production. Yet much about their basic biology remains unknown, including the nature of an enigmatic, pigmented globule found in vegetative cells. Here, we present an in-depth examination of this "red body," focusing on Nannochloropsis oceanica. During the cell cycle, the red body forms adjacent to the plastid, but unexpectedly it is secreted and released with the autosporangial wall following cell division. Shed red bodies contain antioxidant ketocarotenoids, and overexpression of a beta-carotene ketolase results in enlarged red bodies. Infrared spectroscopy indicates long-chain, aliphatic lipids in shed red bodies and cell walls, and UHPLC-HRMS detects a C32 alkyl diol, a potential precursor of algaenan, a recalcitrant cell wall polymer. We propose that the red body transports algaenan precursors from plastid to apoplast to be incorporated into daughter cell walls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher W Gee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Johan Andersen-Ranberg
- University of Copenhagen, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Frederiksberg, DK-1871, Denmark
| | - Ethan Boynton
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Rachel Z Rosen
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94702, USA
| | - Danielle Jorgens
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Patricia Grob
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
- California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Hoi-Ying N Holman
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.
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Steichen S, Deshpande A, Mosey M, Loob J, Douchi D, Knoshaug EP, Brown S, Nielsen R, Weissman J, Carrillo LR, Laurens LML. Central transcriptional regulator controls photosynthetic growth and carbon storage in response to high light. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4842. [PMID: 38844786 PMCID: PMC11156908 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49090-7] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Carbon capture and biochemical storage are some of the primary drivers of photosynthetic yield and productivity. To elucidate the mechanisms governing carbon allocation, we designed a photosynthetic light response test system for genetic and metabolic carbon assimilation tracking, using microalgae as simplified plant models. The systems biology mapping of high light-responsive photophysiology and carbon utilization dynamics between two variants of the same Picochlorum celeri species, TG1 and TG2 elucidated metabolic bottlenecks and transport rates of intermediates using instationary 13C-fluxomics. Simultaneous global gene expression dynamics showed 73% of the annotated genes responding within one hour, elucidating a singular, diel-responsive transcription factor, closely related to the CCA1/LHY clock genes in plants, with significantly altered expression in TG2. Transgenic P. celeri TG1 cells expressing the TG2 CCA1/LHY gene, showed 15% increase in growth rates and 25% increase in storage carbohydrate content, supporting a coordinating regulatory function for a single transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seth Steichen
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Arnav Deshpande
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Megan Mosey
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Jessica Loob
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Damien Douchi
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Eric P Knoshaug
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA
| | - Stuart Brown
- ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co. (EMTEC), CLD286 Annandale, 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ, 08801, USA
| | - Robert Nielsen
- ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co. (EMTEC), CLD286 Annandale, 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ, 08801, USA
| | - Joseph Weissman
- ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co. (EMTEC), CLD286 Annandale, 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ, 08801, USA
| | - L Ruby Carrillo
- ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Co. (EMTEC), CLD286 Annandale, 1545 Route 22 East, Annandale, NJ, 08801, USA
| | - Lieve M L Laurens
- Bioenergy Science and Technology Directorate, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 15013 Denver West Parkway, Golden, CO, 80401, USA.
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Lindsey CR, Knoll AH, Herron MD, Rosenzweig F. Fossil-calibrated molecular clock data enable reconstruction of steps leading to differentiated multicellularity and anisogamy in the Volvocine algae. BMC Biol 2024; 22:79. [PMID: 38600528 PMCID: PMC11007952 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01878-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Throughout its nearly four-billion-year history, life has undergone evolutionary transitions in which simpler subunits have become integrated to form a more complex whole. Many of these transitions opened the door to innovations that resulted in increased biodiversity and/or organismal efficiency. The evolution of multicellularity from unicellular forms represents one such transition, one that paved the way for cellular differentiation, including differentiation of male and female gametes. A useful model for studying the evolution of multicellularity and cellular differentiation is the volvocine algae, a clade of freshwater green algae whose members range from unicellular to colonial, from undifferentiated to completely differentiated, and whose gamete types can be isogamous, anisogamous, or oogamous. To better understand how multicellularity, differentiation, and gametes evolved in this group, we used comparative genomics and fossil data to establish a geologically calibrated roadmap of when these innovations occurred. RESULTS Our ancestral-state reconstructions, show that multicellularity arose independently twice in the volvocine algae. Our chronograms indicate multicellularity evolved during the Carboniferous-Triassic periods in Goniaceae + Volvocaceae, and possibly as early as the Cretaceous in Tetrabaenaceae. Using divergence time estimates we inferred when, and in what order, specific developmental changes occurred that led to differentiated multicellularity and oogamy. We find that in the volvocine algae the temporal sequence of developmental changes leading to differentiated multicellularity is much as proposed by David Kirk, and that multicellularity is correlated with the acquisition of anisogamy and oogamy. Lastly, morphological, molecular, and divergence time data suggest the possibility of cryptic species in Tetrabaenaceae. CONCLUSIONS Large molecular datasets and robust phylogenetic methods are bringing the evolutionary history of the volvocine algae more sharply into focus. Mounting evidence suggests that extant species in this group are the result of two independent origins of multicellularity and multiple independent origins of cell differentiation. Also, the origin of the Tetrabaenaceae-Goniaceae-Volvocaceae clade may be much older than previously thought. Finally, the possibility of cryptic species in the Tetrabaenaceae provides an exciting opportunity to study the recent divergence of lineages adapted to live in very different thermal environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Ross Lindsey
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Andrew H Knoll
- Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 26 Oxford St., Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Matthew D Herron
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA
| | - Frank Rosenzweig
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
- Parker H. Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Atlanta, GA, 30332, USA.
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10
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Wang B, Jia Y, Dang N, Yu J, Bush SJ, Gao S, He W, Wang S, Guo H, Yang X, Ma W, Ye K. Near telomere-to-telomere genome assemblies of two Chlorella species unveil the composition and evolution of centromeres in green algae. BMC Genomics 2024; 25:356. [PMID: 38600443 PMCID: PMC11005252 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10280-8] [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: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Centromeres play a crucial and conserved role in cell division, although their composition and evolutionary history in green algae, the evolutionary ancestors of land plants, remains largely unknown. RESULTS We constructed near telomere-to-telomere (T2T) assemblies for two Trebouxiophyceae species, Chlorella sorokiniana NS4-2 and Chlorella pyrenoidosa DBH, with chromosome numbers of 12 and 13, and genome sizes of 58.11 Mb and 53.41 Mb, respectively. We identified and validated their centromere sequences using CENH3 ChIP-seq and found that, similar to humans and higher plants, the centromeric CENH3 signals of green algae display a pattern of hypomethylation. Interestingly, the centromeres of both species largely comprised transposable elements, although they differed significantly in their composition. Species within the Chlorella genus display a more diverse centromere composition, with major constituents including members of the LTR/Copia, LINE/L1, and LINE/RTEX families. This is in contrast to green algae including Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Coccomyxa subellipsoidea, and Chromochloris zofingiensis, in which centromere composition instead has a pronounced single-element composition. Moreover, we observed significant differences in the composition and structure of centromeres among chromosomes with strong collinearity within the Chlorella genus, suggesting that centromeric sequence evolves more rapidly than sequence in non-centromeric regions. CONCLUSIONS This study not only provides high-quality genome data for comparative genomics of green algae but gives insight into the composition and evolutionary history of centromeres in early plants, laying an important foundation for further research on their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Wang
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- MOE Key Lab for Intelligent Networks & Networks Security, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanyan Jia
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- MOE Key Lab for Intelligent Networks & Networks Security, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ningxin Dang
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
- Genome Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jie Yu
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Stephen J Bush
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Shenghan Gao
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Wenxi He
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Sirui Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Hongtao Guo
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaofei Yang
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Weimin Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Kai Ye
- School of Automation Science and Engineering, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
- MOE Key Lab for Intelligent Networks & Networks Security, Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
- Genome Institute, the First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
- School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
- Faculty of Science, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
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11
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da Roza PA, Muller H, Sullivan GJ, Walker RSK, Goold HD, Willows RD, Palenik B, Paulsen IT. Chromosome-scale assembly of the streamlined picoeukaryote Picochlorum sp. SENEW3 genome reveals Rabl-like chromatin structure and potential for C 4 photosynthesis. Microb Genom 2024; 10. [PMID: 38625719 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.001223] [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] [Indexed: 04/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome sequencing and assembly of the photosynthetic picoeukaryotic Picochlorum sp. SENEW3 revealed a compact genome with a reduced gene set, few repetitive sequences, and an organized Rabl-like chromatin structure. Hi-C chromosome conformation capture revealed evidence of possible chromosomal translocations, as well as putative centromere locations. Maintenance of a relatively few selenoproteins, as compared to similarly sized marine picoprasinophytes Mamiellales, and broad halotolerance compared to others in Trebouxiophyceae, suggests evolutionary adaptation to variable salinity environments. Such adaptation may have driven size and genome minimization and have been enabled by the retention of a high number of membrane transporters. Identification of required pathway genes for both CAM and C4 photosynthetic carbon fixation, known to exist in the marine mamiellale pico-prasinophytes and seaweed Ulva, but few other chlorophyte species, further highlights the unique adaptations of this robust alga. This high-quality assembly provides a significant advance in the resources available for genomic investigations of this and other photosynthetic picoeukaryotes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick A da Roza
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Héloïse Muller
- Institut Curie, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Nuclear Dynamics, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Geraldine J Sullivan
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Roy S K Walker
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Hugh D Goold
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- New South Wales Department of Primary Industries, Orange, NSW 2800, Australia
| | - Robert D Willows
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
| | - Brian Palenik
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093-0202, USA
| | - Ian T Paulsen
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
- School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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12
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Murik O, Geffen O, Shotland Y, Fernandez-Pozo N, Ullrich KK, Walther D, Rensing SA, Treves H. Genomic imprints of unparalleled growth. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 241:1144-1160. [PMID: 38072860 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19444] [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: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Chlorella ohadii was isolated from desert biological soil crusts, one of the harshest habitats on Earth, and is emerging as an exciting new green model for studying growth, photosynthesis and metabolism under a wide range of conditions. Here, we compared the genome of C. ohadii, the fastest growing alga on record, to that of other green algae, to reveal the genomic imprints empowering its unparalleled growth rate and resistance to various stressors, including extreme illumination. This included the genome of its close relative, but slower growing and photodamage sensitive, C. sorokiniana UTEX 1663. A larger number of ribosome-encoding genes, high intron abundance, increased codon bias and unique genes potentially involved in metabolic flexibility and resistance to photodamage are all consistent with the faster growth of C. ohadii. Some of these characteristics highlight general trends in Chlorophyta and Chlorella spp. evolution, and others open new broad avenues for mechanistic exploration of their relationship with growth. This work entails a unique case study for the genomic adaptations and costs of exceptionally fast growth and sheds light on the genomic signatures of fast growth in photosynthetic cells. It also provides an important resource for future studies leveraging the unique properties of C. ohadii for photosynthesis and stress response research alongside their utilization for synthetic biology and biotechnology aims.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omer Murik
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel
- Medical Genetics Institute, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, 93722, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Or Geffen
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, 39040, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Yoram Shotland
- Chemical Engineering, Shamoon College of Engineering, 84100, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Noe Fernandez-Pozo
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - Kristian Karsten Ullrich
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany
- Max-Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, 24306, Plön, Germany
| | - Dirk Walther
- Max-Planck Institute for Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Stefan Andreas Rensing
- Plant Cell Biology, Department of Biology, University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Biological Signaling Studies (BIOSS), University of Freiburg, 79098, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Haim Treves
- School of Plant Sciences and Food Security, Tel-Aviv University, 39040, Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Rheinland-Pfälzische Technische Universität Kaiserslautern-Landau, 67663, Kaiserslautern, Germany
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13
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Groussman RD, Blaskowski S, Coesel SN, Armbrust EV. MarFERReT, an open-source, version-controlled reference library of marine microbial eukaryote functional genes. Sci Data 2023; 10:926. [PMID: 38129449 PMCID: PMC10739892 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02842-4] [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: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Metatranscriptomics generates large volumes of sequence data about transcribed genes in natural environments. Taxonomic annotation of these datasets depends on availability of curated reference sequences. For marine microbial eukaryotes, current reference libraries are limited by gaps in sequenced organism diversity and barriers to updating libraries with new sequence data, resulting in taxonomic annotation of about half of eukaryotic environmental transcripts. Here, we introduce Marine Functional EukaRyotic Reference Taxa (MarFERReT), a marine microbial eukaryotic sequence library designed for use with taxonomic annotation of eukaryotic metatranscriptomes. We gathered 902 publicly accessible marine eukaryote genomes and transcriptomes and assessed their sequence quality and cross-contamination issues, selecting 800 validated entries for inclusion in MarFERReT. Version 1.1 of MarFERReT contains reference sequences from 800 marine eukaryotic genomes and transcriptomes, covering 453 species- and strain-level taxa, totaling nearly 28 million protein sequences with associated NCBI and PR2 Taxonomy identifiers and Pfam functional annotations. The MarFERReT project repository hosts containerized build scripts, documentation on installation and use case examples, and information on new versions of MarFERReT.
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Affiliation(s)
- R D Groussman
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Benjamin Hall IRB, Room 306 616 NE Northlake Place, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
| | - S Blaskowski
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Benjamin Hall IRB, Room 306 616 NE Northlake Place, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
- Molecular Engineering and Sciences Institute, University of Washington, Molecular Engineering & Sciences Building 3946 W Stevens Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - S N Coesel
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Benjamin Hall IRB, Room 306 616 NE Northlake Place, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA
| | - E V Armbrust
- School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Benjamin Hall IRB, Room 306 616 NE Northlake Place, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA.
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14
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Cutolo EA, Caferri R, Campitiello R, Cutolo M. The Clinical Promise of Microalgae in Rheumatoid Arthritis: From Natural Compounds to Recombinant Therapeutics. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:630. [PMID: 38132951 PMCID: PMC10745133 DOI: 10.3390/md21120630] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an invalidating chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by joint inflammation and progressive bone damage. Dietary intervention is an important component in the treatment of RA to mitigate oxidative stress, a major pathogenic driver of the disease. Alongside traditional sources of antioxidants, microalgae-a diverse group of photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes-are emerging as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory food supplements. Several species accumulate therapeutic metabolites-mainly lipids and pigments-which interfere in the pro-inflammatory pathways involved in RA and other chronic inflammatory conditions. The advancement of the clinical uses of microalgae requires the continuous exploration of phytoplankton biodiversity and chemodiversity, followed by the domestication of wild strains into reliable producers of said metabolites. In addition, the tractability of microalgal genomes offers unprecedented possibilities to establish photosynthetic microbes as light-driven biofactories of heterologous immunotherapeutics. Here, we review the evidence-based anti-inflammatory mechanisms of microalgal metabolites and provide a detailed coverage of the genetic engineering strategies to enhance the yields of endogenous compounds and to develop innovative bioproducts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Andrea Cutolo
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Roberto Caferri
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy;
| | - Rosanna Campitiello
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
| | - Maurizio Cutolo
- Research Laboratory and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, IRCCS San Martino Polyclinic Hospital, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV, 6, 16132 Genoa, Italy; (R.C.)
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15
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Cao K, Cui Y, Sun F, Zhang H, Fan J, Ge B, Cao Y, Wang X, Zhu X, Wei Z, Yao Q, Ma J, Wang Y, Meng C, Gao Z. Metabolic engineering and synthetic biology strategies for producing high-value natural pigments in Microalgae. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 68:108236. [PMID: 37586543 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 07/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are microorganisms capable of producing bioactive compounds using photosynthesis. Microalgae contain a variety of high value-added natural pigments such as carotenoids, phycobilins, and chlorophylls. These pigments play an important role in many areas such as food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Natural pigments have a health value that is unmatched by synthetic pigments. However, the current commercial production of natural pigments from microalgae is not able to meet the growing market demand. The use of metabolic engineering and synthetic biological strategies to improve the production performance of microalgal cell factories is essential to promote the large-scale production of high-value pigments from microalgae. This paper reviews the health and economic values, the applications, and the synthesis pathways of microalgal pigments. Overall, this review aims to highlight the latest research progress in metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in constructing engineered strains of microalgae with high-value pigments and the application of CRISPR technology and multi-omics in this context. Finally, we conclude with a discussion on the bottlenecks and challenges of microalgal pigment production and their future development prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Cao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Yulin Cui
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Fengjie Sun
- Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville, GA 30043, USA
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jianhua Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai 200237, China
| | - Baosheng Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing and Center for Bioengineering and Biotechnology, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
| | - Yujiao Cao
- School of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255090, China
| | - Xiaodong Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China; School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Zuoxi Wei
- School of Life Sciences and medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255049, China
| | - Qingshou Yao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Jinju Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China
| | - Chunxiao Meng
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
| | - Zhengquan Gao
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai 264003, China.
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16
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Yang Z, Ma X, Wang Q, Tian X, Sun J, Zhang Z, Xiao S, De Clerck O, Leliaert F, Zhong B. Phylotranscriptomics unveil a Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic origin and deep relationships of the Viridiplantae. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5542. [PMID: 37696791 PMCID: PMC10495350 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41137-5] [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: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The Viridiplantae comprise two main clades, the Chlorophyta (including a diverse array of marine and freshwater green algae) and the Streptophyta (consisting of the freshwater charophytes and the land plants). Lineages sister to core Chlorophyta, informally refer to as prasinophytes, form a grade of mainly planktonic green algae. Recently, one of these lineages, Prasinodermophyta, which is previously grouped with prasinophytes, has been identified as the sister lineage to both Chlorophyta and Streptophyta. Resolving the deep relationships among green plants is crucial for understanding the historical impact of green algal diversity on marine ecology and geochemistry, but has been proven difficult given the ancient timing of the diversification events. Through extensive taxon and gene sampling, we conduct large-scale phylogenomic analyses to resolve deep relationships and reveal the Prasinodermophyta as the lineage sister to Chlorophyta, raising questions about the necessity of classifying the Prasinodermophyta as a distinct phylum. We unveil that incomplete lineage sorting is the main cause of discordance regarding the placement of Prasinodermophyta. Molecular dating analyses suggest that crown-group green plants and crown-group Prasinodermophyta date back to the Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic. Our study establishes a plausible link between oxygen levels in the Paleoproterozoic-Mesoproterozoic and the origin of Viridiplantae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiping Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoya Ma
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiuping Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaolin Tian
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jingyan Sun
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhenhua Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuhai Xiao
- Department of Geosciences and Global Change Center, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, USA
| | - Olivier De Clerck
- Phycology Research Group and Center for Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | | | - Bojian Zhong
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China.
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17
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Kolackova M, Janova A, Dobesova M, Zvalova M, Chaloupsky P, Krystofova O, Adam V, Huska D. Role of secondary metabolites in distressed microalgae. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 224:115392. [PMID: 36746204 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115392] [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: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Proficient photosynthetic microalgae/cyanobacteria produce a remarkable amount of various biomolecules. Secondary metabolites (SM) represent high value products for global biotrend application. Production improvement can be achieved by nutritional, environmental, and physiological stress as a first line tools for their stimulation. In recent decade, an increasing interest in algal stress biology and omics techniques have deepened knowledge in this area. However, deep understanding and connection of specific stress elucidator are missing. Hence, the present review summarizes recent evidence with an emphasis on the carotenoids, phenolic, and less-discussed compounds (glycerol, proline, mycosporins-like amino acids). Even when they are synthesized at very low concentrations, it highlights the need to expand knowledge in this area using genome-editing tools and omics approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Kolackova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Anna Janova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marketa Dobesova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Zvalova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Chaloupsky
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Krystofova
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Vojtech Adam
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Dalibor Huska
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Mendel University in Brno, Zemedelska 1, 613 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
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18
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Chowdhary AK, Kishi M, Toda T. A novel process for the production of Chromochloris zofingiensis through dark-induced multi-nuclei formation. ALGAL RES 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2023.103053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
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19
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Jiménez-Marín B, Rakijas JB, Tyagi A, Pandey A, Hanschen ER, Anderson J, Heffel MG, Platt TG, Olson BJSC. Gene loss during a transition to multicellularity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5268. [PMID: 37002250 PMCID: PMC10066295 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29742-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Multicellular evolution is a major transition associated with momentous diversification of multiple lineages and increased developmental complexity. The volvocine algae comprise a valuable system for the study of this transition, as they span from unicellular to undifferentiated and differentiated multicellular morphologies despite their genomes being similar, suggesting multicellular evolution requires few genetic changes to undergo dramatic shifts in developmental complexity. Here, the evolutionary dynamics of six volvocine genomes were examined, where a gradual loss of genes was observed in parallel to the co-option of a few key genes. Protein complexes in the six species exhibited novel interactions, suggesting that gene loss could play a role in evolutionary novelty. This finding was supported by gene network modeling, where gene loss outpaces gene gain in generating novel stable network states. These results suggest gene loss, in addition to gene gain and co-option, may be important for the evolution developmental complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Berenice Jiménez-Marín
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
- Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Jessica B Rakijas
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Antariksh Tyagi
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Aakash Pandey
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | | | - Jaden Anderson
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Matthew G Heffel
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
- Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
| | - Thomas G Platt
- Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506, USA
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20
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Craig RJ, Gallaher SD, Shu S, Salomé PA, Jenkins JW, Blaby-Haas CE, Purvine SO, O’Donnell S, Barry K, Grimwood J, Strenkert D, Kropat J, Daum C, Yoshinaga Y, Goodstein DM, Vallon O, Schmutz J, Merchant SS. The Chlamydomonas Genome Project, version 6: Reference assemblies for mating-type plus and minus strains reveal extensive structural mutation in the laboratory. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:644-672. [PMID: 36562730 PMCID: PMC9940879 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koac347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Five versions of the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii reference genome have been produced over the last two decades. Here we present version 6, bringing significant advances in assembly quality and structural annotations. PacBio-based chromosome-level assemblies for two laboratory strains, CC-503 and CC-4532, provide resources for the plus and minus mating-type alleles. We corrected major misassemblies in previous versions and validated our assemblies via linkage analyses. Contiguity increased over ten-fold and >80% of filled gaps are within genes. We used Iso-Seq and deep RNA-seq datasets to improve structural annotations, and updated gene symbols and textual annotation of functionally characterized genes via extensive manual curation. We discovered that the cell wall-less classical reference strain CC-503 exhibits genomic instability potentially caused by deletion of the helicase RECQ3, with major structural mutations identified that affect >100 genes. We therefore present the CC-4532 assembly as the primary reference, although this strain also carries unique structural mutations and is experiencing rapid proliferation of a Gypsy retrotransposon. We expect all laboratory strains to harbor gene-disrupting mutations, which should be considered when interpreting and comparing experimental results. Collectively, the resources presented here herald a new era of Chlamydomonas genomics and will provide the foundation for continued research in this important reference organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory J Craig
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Institute of Ecology and Evolution, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FL, UK
| | - Sean D Gallaher
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Shengqiang Shu
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Patrice A Salomé
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
- Institute for Genomics and Proteomics, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Jerry W Jenkins
- HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama 35806, USA
| | - Crysten E Blaby-Haas
- The Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Samuel O Purvine
- Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, Washington 99354, USA
| | - Samuel O’Donnell
- Laboratory of Computational and Quantitative Biology, UMR 7238, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Paris-Seine, Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005, France
| | - Kerrie Barry
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Jane Grimwood
- HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama 35806, USA
| | - Daniela Strenkert
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Janette Kropat
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA
| | - Chris Daum
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Yuko Yoshinaga
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - David M Goodstein
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - Olivier Vallon
- Unité Mixte de Recherche 7141, CNRS, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jeremy Schmutz
- United States Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- HudsonAlpha Genome Sequencing Center, HudsonAlpha Institute for Biotechnology, Huntsville, Alabama 35806, USA
| | - Sabeeha S Merchant
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
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Kumar A, Baldia A, Rajput D, Kateriya S, Babu V, Dubey KK. Multiomics and optobiotechnological approaches for the development of microalgal strain for production of aviation biofuel and biorefinery. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 369:128457. [PMID: 36503094 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.128457] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Demand and consumption of fossil fuels is increasing daily, and oil reserves are depleting. Technological developments are required towards developing sustainable renewable energy sources and microalgae are emerging as a potential candidate for various application-driven research. Molecular understanding attained through omics and system biology approach empowering researchers to modify various metabolic pathways of microalgal system for efficient extraction of biofuel and important biomolecules. This review furnish insight into different "advanced approaches" like optogenetics, systems biology and multi-omics for enhanced production of FAS (Fatty Acid Synthesis) and lipids in microalgae and their associated challenges. These new approaches would be helpful in the path of developing microalgae inspired technological platforms for optobiorefinery, which could be explored as source material to produce biofuels and other valuable bio-compounds on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Kumar
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Anshu Baldia
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Deepanshi Rajput
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Suneel Kateriya
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Vikash Babu
- Fermentation & Microbial Biotechnology Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu 180001, India
| | - Kashyap Kumar Dubey
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
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22
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Wu H, Yang P, Li A, Jin X, Zhang Z, Lv H. Chlorella sp.-ameliorated undesirable microenvironment promotes diabetic wound healing. Acta Pharm Sin B 2023; 13:410-424. [PMID: 36815029 PMCID: PMC9939294 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic diabetic wound remains a critical challenge suffering from the complicated negative microenvironments, such as high-glucose, excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), hypoxia and malnutrition. Unfortunately, few strategies have been developed to ameliorate the multiple microenvironments simultaneously. In this study, Chlorella sp. (Chlorella) hydrogels were prepared against diabetic wounds. In vitro experiments demonstrated that living Chlorella could produce dissolved oxygen by photosynthesis, actively consume glucose and deplete ROS with the inherent antioxidants, during the daytime. At night, Chlorella was inactivated in situ by chlorine dioxide with human-body harmless concentration to utilize its abundant contents. It was verified in vitro that the inactivated-Chlorella could supply nutrition, relieve inflammation and terminate the oxygen-consumption of Chlorella-respiration. The advantages of living Chlorella and its contents were integrated ingeniously. The abovementioned functions were proven to accelerate cell proliferation, migration and angiogenesis in vitro. Then, streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were employed for further validation. The in vivo outcomes confirmed that Chlorella could ameliorate the undesirable microenvironments, including hypoxia, high-glucose, excessive-ROS and chronic inflammation, thereby synergistically promoting tissue regeneration. Given the results above, Chlorella is considered as a tailor-made therapeutic strategy for diabetic wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangyi Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Pei Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Aiqin Li
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China
| | - Xin Jin
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China,The Affiliated Suqian First People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suqian 223800, China
| | - Zhenhai Zhang
- Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, China,Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, China,Corresponding authors. Tel./Fax.: +86 13912965842; +86 18913823932.
| | - HuiXia Lv
- Department of Pharmaceutics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, China,Corresponding authors. Tel./Fax.: +86 13912965842; +86 18913823932.
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23
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Integrated pathway engineering and transcriptome analysis for improved astaxanthin biosynthesis in Yarrowia lipolytica. Synth Syst Biotechnol 2022; 7:1133-1141. [PMID: 36092272 PMCID: PMC9428815 DOI: 10.1016/j.synbio.2022.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Astaxanthin is a high value carotenoid with a broad range of commercial applications due to its superior antioxidant properties. In this study, β-carotene-producing Yarrowia lipolytica XK17 constructed in the lab was employed for astaxanthin biosynthesis. The catalytic effects of β-carotene ketolase CrtW and β-carotene hydroxylase CrtZ from various species were investigated. The PspCrtW from Paracoccus sp. and HpCrtZ# from Haematococcus pluvialis were confirmed to be the best combination in converting β-carotene. Several key bottlenecks in biomass and astaxanthin biosynthesis were effectively eliminated by optimizing the expression of the above enzymes and restoring uracil/leucine biosynthesis. In addition, the effects of astaxanthin biosynthesis on cell metabolism were investigated by integrated analysis of pathway modification and transcriptome information. After further optimization, strain DN30 was able to synthesize up to 730.3 mg/L astaxanthin in laboratory 5-L fermenter. This study provides a good metabolic strategy and a sustainable development platform for high-value carotenoid production.
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24
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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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25
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Shi M, Yu L, Shi J, Liu J. A conserved MYB transcription factor is involved in regulating lipid metabolic pathways for oil biosynthesis in green algae. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2022; 235:576-594. [PMID: 35342951 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Green algae can accumulate high levels of triacylglycerol (TAG), yet knowledge remains fragmented on the regulation of lipid metabolic pathways by transcription factors (TFs). Here, via bioinformatics and in vitro and in vivo analyses, we revealed the roles of a myeloblastosis (MYB) TF in regulating TAG accumulation in green algae. CzMYB1, an R2R3-MYB from Chromochloris zofingiensis, was transcriptionally upregulated upon TAG-inducing conditions and correlated well with many genes involved in the de novo fatty acid synthesis, fatty acid activation and desaturation, membrane lipid turnover, and TAG assembly. Most promoters of these genes were transactivated by CzMYB1 in the yeast one-hybrid assay and contained the binding elements CNGTTA that were recognized by CzMYB1 through the electrophoretic mobility shift assay. CrMYB1, a close homologue of CzMYB1 from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that recognized similar elements for binding, also transcriptionally correlated with many lipid metabolic genes. Insertional disruption of CrMYB1 severely suppressed the transcriptional expression of CrMYB1, as well as of key lipogenic genes, and impaired TAG level considerably under stress conditions. Our results reveal that this MYB, conserved in green algae, is involved in regulating global lipid metabolic pathways for TAG biosynthesis and accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meicheng Shi
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jianan Shi
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
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26
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Calhoun S, Kamel B, Bell TA, Kruse CP, Riley R, Singan V, Kunde Y, Gleasner CD, Chovatia M, Sandor L, Daum C, Treen D, Bowen BP, Louie KB, Northen TR, Starkenburg SR, Grigoriev IV. Multi-omics profiling of the cold tolerant Monoraphidium minutum 26B-AM in response to abiotic stress. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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27
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Wood EE, Ross ME, Jubeau S, Montalescot V, Stanley MS. Progress towards a targeted biorefinery of Chromochloris zofingiensis: a review. BIOMASS CONVERSION AND BIOREFINERY 2022; 14:8127-8152. [PMID: 38510795 PMCID: PMC10948469 DOI: 10.1007/s13399-022-02955-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Biorefinery approaches offer the potential to improve the economics of the microalgae industry by producing multiple products from a single source of biomass. Chromochloris zofingiensis shows great promise for biorefinery due to high biomass productivity and a diverse range of products including secondary carotenoids, predominantly astaxanthin; lipids such as TAGs; carbohydrates including starch; and proteins and essential amino acids. Whilst this species has been demonstrated to accumulate multiple products, the development of an integrated downstream process to obtain these is lacking. The objective of this review paper is to assess the research that has taken place and to identify the steps that must be taken to establish a biorefinery approach for C. zofingiensis. In particular, the reasons why C. zofingiensis is a promising species to target for biorefinery are discussed in terms of cellular structure, potential products, and means to accumulate desirable components via the alteration of culture conditions. Future advances and the challenges that lie ahead for successful biorefinery of this species are also reviewed along with potential solutions to address them. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13399-022-02955-7.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor E. Wood
- University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI); Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, PA37 1QA UK
- Xanthella Ltd, Malin House, European Marine Science Park, Dunstaffnage, Argyll, Oban PA37 1SZ Scotland, UK
| | - Michael E. Ross
- University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI); Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, PA37 1QA UK
| | - Sébastien Jubeau
- Xanthella Ltd, Malin House, European Marine Science Park, Dunstaffnage, Argyll, Oban PA37 1SZ Scotland, UK
| | | | - Michele S. Stanley
- University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI); Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), Scottish Marine Institute, Oban, PA37 1QA UK
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28
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Romero-Losada AB, Arvanitidou C, de Los Reyes P, García-González M, Romero-Campero FJ. ALGAEFUN with MARACAS, microALGAE FUNctional enrichment tool for MicroAlgae RnA-seq and Chip-seq AnalysiS. BMC Bioinformatics 2022; 23:113. [PMID: 35361110 PMCID: PMC8973887 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-022-04639-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Microalgae are emerging as promising sustainable sources for biofuels, biostimulants in agriculture, soil bioremediation, feed and human nutrients. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms underpinning microalgae physiology and the biosynthesis of compounds of biotechnological interest are largely uncharacterized. This hinders the development of microalgae full potential as cell-factories. The recent application of omics technologies into microalgae research aims at unraveling these systems. Nevertheless, the lack of specific tools for analysing omics raw data generated from microalgae to provide biological meaningful information are hampering the impact of these technologies. The purpose of ALGAEFUN with MARACAS consists in providing researchers in microalgae with an enabling tool that will allow them to exploit transcriptomic and cistromic high-throughput sequencing data. Results ALGAEFUN with MARACAS consists of two different tools. First, MARACAS (MicroAlgae RnA-seq and Chip-seq AnalysiS) implements a fully automatic computational pipeline receiving as input RNA-seq (RNA sequencing) or ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing) raw data from microalgae studies. MARACAS generates sets of differentially expressed genes or lists of genomic loci for RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis respectively. Second, ALGAEFUN (microALGAE FUNctional enrichment tool) is a web-based application where gene sets generated from RNA-seq analysis as well as lists of genomic loci from ChIP-seq analysis can be used as input. On the one hand, it can be used to perform Gene Ontology and biological pathways enrichment analysis over gene sets. On the other hand, using the results of ChIP-seq data analysis, it identifies a set of potential target genes and analyses the distribution of the loci over gene features. Graphical representation of the results as well as tables with gene annotations are generated and can be downloaded for further analysis. Conclusions ALGAEFUN with MARACAS provides an integrated environment for the microalgae research community that facilitates the process of obtaining relevant biological information from raw RNA-seq and ChIP-seq data. These applications are designed to assist researchers in the interpretation of gene lists and genomic loci based on functional enrichment analysis. ALGAEFUN with MARACAS is publicly available on https://greennetwork.us.es/AlgaeFUN/.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana B Romero-Losada
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain.,Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Sevilla, Escuela Técnica Superior en Ingeniería Informática, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Christina Arvanitidou
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain.,Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Sevilla, Escuela Técnica Superior en Ingeniería Informática, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Seville, Spain
| | - Pedro de Los Reyes
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Mercedes García-González
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco J Romero-Campero
- Institute for Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis, Universidad de Sevilla - Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Centro de Investigaciones Científicas Isla de La Cartuja, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092, Seville, Spain. .,Department of Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence, University of Sevilla, Escuela Técnica Superior en Ingeniería Informática, Avenida Reina Mercedes s/n, 41012, Seville, Spain.
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29
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Ren Y, Deng J, Lin Y, Huang J, Chen F. Developing a Chromochloris zofingiensis Mutant for Enhanced Production of Lutein under CO2 Aeration. Mar Drugs 2022; 20:md20030194. [PMID: 35323493 PMCID: PMC8950978 DOI: 10.3390/md20030194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Microalgae are competitive and commercial sources for health-benefit carotenoids. In this study, a Chromochloris zofingiensis mutant (Cz-pkg), which does not shut off its photosystem and stays green upon glucose treatment, was generated and characterized. Cz-pkg was developed by treating the algal cells with a chemical mutagen as N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and followed by a color-based colony screening approach. Cz-pkg was found to contain a dysfunctional cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG). By cultivated with CO2 aeration under mixotrophy, the mutant accumulated lutein up to 31.93 ± 1.91 mg L−1 with a productivity of 10.57 ± 0.73 mg L−1 day−1, which were about 2.5- and 8.5-fold of its mother strain. Besides, the lutein content of Cz-pkg could reach 7.73 ± 0.52 mg g−1 of dry weight, which is much higher than that of marigold flower, the most common commercial source of lutein. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that in the mutant Cz-pkg, most of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of lutein and chlorophylls were not down-regulated upon glucose addition, suggesting that PKG may regulate the metabolisms of photosynthetic pigments. This study demonstrated that Cz-pkg could serve as a promising strain for both lutein production and glucose sensing study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Ren
- Institute for Food and Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China;
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Jinquan Deng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Junchao Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (F.C.)
| | - Feng Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; (J.D.); (Y.L.)
- Institute for Innovative Development of Food Industry, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
- Correspondence: (J.H.); (F.C.)
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30
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Strenkert D, Mingay M, Schmollinger S, Chen C, O'Malley RC, Merchant SS. An optimized ChIP-Seq framework for profiling histone modifications in Chromochloris zofingiensis. PLANT DIRECT 2022; 6:e392. [PMID: 35382117 PMCID: PMC8961045 DOI: 10.1002/pld3.392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The eukaryotic green alga Chromochloris zofingiensis is a reference organism for studying carbon partitioning and a promising candidate for the production of biofuel precursors. Recent transcriptome profiling transformed our understanding of its biology and generally algal biology, but epigenetic regulation remains understudied and represents a fundamental gap in our understanding of algal gene expression. Chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by deep sequencing (ChIP-Seq) is a powerful tool for the discovery of such mechanisms, by identifying genome-wide histone modification patterns and transcription factor-binding sites alike. Here, we established a ChIP-Seq framework for Chr. zofingiensis yielding over 20 million high-quality reads per sample. The most critical steps in a ChIP experiment were optimized, including DNA shearing to obtain an average DNA fragment size of 250 bp and assessment of the recommended formaldehyde concentration for optimal DNA-protein cross-linking. We used this ChIP-Seq framework to generate a genome-wide map of the H3K4me3 distribution pattern and to integrate these data with matching RNA-Seq data. In line with observations from other organisms, H3K4me3 marks predominantly transcription start sites of genes. Our H3K4me3 ChIP-Seq data will pave the way for improved genome structural annotation in the emerging reference alga Chr. zofingiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Strenkert
- California Institute for Quantitative BiosciencesUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Matthew Mingay
- DOE Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Stefan Schmollinger
- California Institute for Quantitative BiosciencesUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Cindy Chen
- DOE Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Ronan C. O'Malley
- DOE Joint Genome InstituteLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Sabeeha S. Merchant
- Department of Plant and Microbial BiologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Department of Molecular & Cell BiologyUniversity of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyCAUSA
- Division of Environmental Genomics and Systems BiologyLawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeleyCAUSA
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31
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The role of key genes in astaxanthin biosynthesis in Phaffia rhodozyma by transcript level and gene knockout. Process Biochem 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2021.12.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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32
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Di Marsico M, Paytuvi Gallart A, Sanseverino W, Aiese Cigliano R. GreeNC 2.0: a comprehensive database of plant long non-coding RNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:D1442-D1447. [PMID: 34723326 PMCID: PMC8728176 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The Green Non-Coding Database (GreeNC) is one of the reference databases for the study of plant long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Here we present our most recent update where 16 species have been updated, while 78 species have been added, resulting in the annotation of more than 495 000 lncRNAs. Moreover, sequence clustering was applied providing information about sequence conservation and gene families. The current version of the database is available at: http://greenc.sequentiabiotech.com/wiki2/Main_Page.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Di Marsico
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy
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Chen HH, He YJ, Liang MH, Yan B, Jiang JG. The expression pattern of β-carotene ketolase gene restricts the accumulation of astaxanthin in Dunaliella under salt stress. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:1607-1616. [PMID: 34812495 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Dunaliella salina can accumulate a large amount of β-carotene which is generally considered to be its terminal product of carotenoid metabolism. In this study, it was proved that D. salina has the ketolase (DsBKT) of catalyzing the synthesis of astaxanthin, the downstream products of β-carotene. Therefore, the reason why D. salina does not synthesize astaxanthin is the purpose of this study. The enzymatic activity of DsBKT was detected by functional complementation assays in Escherichia coli, results showed that DsBKT had efficient ketolase activity toward β-carotene and zeaxanthin to produce astaxanthin, indicating that there were complete astaxanthin-producing genes in Dunaliella. Unlike the induced expression of Lycopene cyclase (catalyzing β-carotene synthesis) under salt stress, the expression of DsBKT was very low under both normal and stress conditions, which may be the main reason why D. salina cannot accumulate astaxanthin. On the contrary, with the astaxanthin-rich Haematococcus pluvialis as a control, its BKT gene was significantly upregulated under salt stress. Further study showed that DsBKT promoter had strong promoter ability and could stably drive the expression of ble-egfp in D. salina. Obviously, DsBKT promoter is not the reason of DsBKT not being expressed which may be caused by Noncoding RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Hong Chen
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yu-Jing He
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ming-Hua Liang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bing Yan
- Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai, China
| | - Jian-Guo Jiang
- School of Food Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China.,Guangxi Key Lab of Mangrove Conservation and Utilization, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Guangxi Mangrove Research Center, Beihai, China
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A review on the progress, challenges and prospects in commercializing microalgal fucoxanthin. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 53:107865. [PMID: 34763051 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Fucoxanthin, the most abundant but nearly untapped carotenoid resource, is in the spotlight in the last decade from various perspectives due to a wide range of bioactivities and healthy benefits. The exploitation of fucoxanthin for nutraceutical and pharmaceutical purposes encompasses enormous scientific and economic potentials. Traditional production of fucoxanthin from brown algae (macroalgae) is constrained by limited yield and prohibitively high cost. Microalgae, as the most diverse photoautotrophs, hold the promises as sustainable sources and ideal cell factories for commercial fucoxanthin production, owing to their rich fucoxanthin content and excellent biomass productivity. In this work, the recent progress in upstream (microalgae selection, optimization of culture conditions, trophic modes, cultivation strategies and biosynthesis pathway) as well as downstream processes (extraction) of fucoxanthin production has been comprehensively and critically reviewed. The major bottlenecks, such as screening of fucoxanthin-producers, conflict between biomass and fucoxanthin accumulation under high light condition, unclear steps in biosynthesis pathway and limited evaluation of outdoor scale-up cultivation and extraction, have been pinpointed. Most importantly, the applications of emerging and conventional techniques facilitating commercialization of microalgal fucoxanthin are highlighted. The reviewed and evaluated include breeding and high-throughput screening methods of elite strains; flashing light effect inducing concurrent biomass and fucoxanthin accumulation; fucoxanthin biosynthesis and the regulatory mechanisms associating with its accumulation elucidated with the development of genetic engineering and omics techniques; and photobioreactors, harvesting and extraction techniques suitable for scaling up fucoxanthin production. In conclusion, the prospects of microalgal fucoxanthin commercialization can be expected with the joint development of fundamental phycology and biotechnology.
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35
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Pigment modulation in response to irradiance intensity in the fast-growing alga Picochlorum celeri. ALGAL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2021.102370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
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36
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Sun H, Ren Y, Fan Y, Lu X, Zhao W, Chen F. Systematic metabolic tools reveal underlying mechanism of product biosynthesis in Chromochloris zofingiensis. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 337:125406. [PMID: 34147773 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study comprehensively explored underlying mechanism of fed-batch culture on product biosynthesis in Chromochloris zofingiensis by dynamic model, targeted metabolite determination, enzyme activity analysis, and 13C tracer-based metabolic flux analysis. Based on dynamic models of cell growth and product formation, exponential fed-batch culture and fed-batch culture based on pH changes were established to increase biomass concentration by 20.05-fold and 18.28-fold, respectively. Exponential fed-batch culture exhibited great potentials in biodiesel and protein productions from microalgae. Systematic metabolic tools revealed fed-batch culture limited photosynthetic efficiency by inhibiting photosystem and Rubisco activity, while strengthened respiratory action to provide more substances and energy for product biosynthesis. Fed-batch culture elevated biosynthetic capability for carotenoid and lipid by promoting related metabolic flux and contents of pyruvate and ace-CoA. Finally, economic analysis revealed biomass cost was decreased to 1.99 $/kg from 2.39 $/kg, suggesting fed-batch culture was a cost-effective strategy to improve economic viability of microalgal production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Sun
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China; Institute for Food & Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ren
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Institute for Food & Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Yuwei Fan
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xue Lu
- Institute for Food & Bioresource Engineering, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Weiyang Zhao
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Feng Chen
- Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China.
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Wu T, Yu L, Zhang Y, Liu J. Characterization of fatty acid desaturases reveals stress-induced synthesis of C18 unsaturated fatty acids enriched in triacylglycerol in the oleaginous alga Chromochloris zofingiensis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:184. [PMID: 34535156 PMCID: PMC8447527 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-02037-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The green microalga Chromochloris zofingiensis is capable of producing high levels of triacylglycerol rich in C18 unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). FA desaturation degree is regulated by FA desaturases (FADs). Nevertheless, it remains largely unknown regarding what FADs are involved in FA desaturations and how these FADs collaborate to contribute to the high abundance of C18 UFAs in triacylglycerol in C. zofingiensis. RESULTS To address these issues, we firstly determined the transcription start sites of 11 putative membrane-bound FAD-coding genes (CzFADs) and updated their gene models. Functional validation of these CzFADs in yeast and cyanobacterial cells revealed that seven are bona fide FAD enzymes with distinct substrates. Combining the validated functions and predicted subcellular compartments of CzFADs and the FA profiles of C. zofingiensis, the FA desaturation pathways in this alga were reconstructed. Furthermore, a multifaceted lipidomic analysis by systematically integrating thin-layer chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry techniques was conducted, unraveling profiles of polar membrane lipids in C. zofingiensis and major desaturation steps occurring in these lipids. By correlating transcriptional patterns of CzFAD genes and changes of lipids upon abiotic stress conditions, our results highlighted collaboration of CzFADs for C18 UFA synthesis and supported that both de novo FA synthesis and membrane lipid remodeling contributed C18 UFAs to triacylglycerol for storage. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our study for the first time elucidated the pathways of C18 FA desaturations and comprehensive profiles of polar membrane lipids in C. zofingiensis and shed light on collaboration of CzFADs for the synthesis and enrichment of C18 UFAs in triacylglycerol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Lihua Yu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology & Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871 China
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Nelson DR, Hazzouri KM, Lauersen KJ, Jaiswal A, Chaiboonchoe A, Mystikou A, Fu W, Daakour S, Dohai B, Alzahmi A, Nobles D, Hurd M, Sexton J, Preston MJ, Blanchette J, Lomas MW, Amiri KMA, Salehi-Ashtiani K. Large-scale genome sequencing reveals the driving forces of viruses in microalgal evolution. Cell Host Microbe 2021; 29:250-266.e8. [PMID: 33434515 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2020.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Being integral primary producers in diverse ecosystems, microalgal genomes could be mined for ecological insights, but representative genome sequences are lacking for many phyla. We cultured and sequenced 107 microalgae species from 11 different phyla indigenous to varied geographies and climates. This collection was used to resolve genomic differences between saltwater and freshwater microalgae. Freshwater species showed domain-centric ontology enrichment for nuclear and nuclear membrane functions, while saltwater species were enriched in organellar and cellular membrane functions. Further, marine species contained significantly more viral families in their genomes (p = 8e-4). Sequences from Chlorovirus, Coccolithovirus, Pandoravirus, Marseillevirus, Tupanvirus, and other viruses were found integrated into the genomes of algal from marine environments. These viral-origin sequences were found to be expressed and code for a wide variety of functions. Together, this study comprehensively defines the expanse of protein-coding and viral elements in microalgal genomes and posits a unified adaptive strategy for algal halotolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- David R Nelson
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
| | - Khaled M Hazzouri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (KCGEB), UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Kyle J Lauersen
- Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashish Jaiswal
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | | | - Alexandra Mystikou
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Weiqi Fu
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Sarah Daakour
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Bushra Dohai
- Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Amnah Alzahmi
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - David Nobles
- UTEX Culture Collection of Algae at the University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA
| | - Mark Hurd
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Julie Sexton
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Michael J Preston
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Joan Blanchette
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Michael W Lomas
- National Center for Marine Algae and Microbiota, East Boothbay, ME, USA
| | - Khaled M A Amiri
- Khalifa Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (KCGEB), UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Biology Department, College of Science, UAE University, Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, UAE
| | - Kourosh Salehi-Ashtiani
- Center for Genomics and Systems Biology, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE; Division of Science and Math, New York University Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, UAE.
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39
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Mochdia K, Tamaki S. Transcription Factor-Based Genetic Engineering in Microalgae. PLANTS 2021; 10:plants10081602. [PMID: 34451646 PMCID: PMC8399792 DOI: 10.3390/plants10081602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Revised: 07/16/2021] [Accepted: 07/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factors (TFs) are key components of gene regulatory networks. Advances in high-throughput sequencing have facilitated the rapid acquisition of whole genome assembly and TF repertoires in microalgal species. In this review, we summarize recent advances in gene discovery and functional analyses, especially for transcription factors in microalgal species. Specifically, we provide examples of the genome-scale identification of transcription factors in genome-sequenced microalgal species and showcase their application in the discovery of regulators involved in various cellular functions. Herein, we highlight TF-based genetic engineering as a promising framework for designing microalgal strains for microalgal-based bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiichi Mochdia
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Totsuka-ku, Yokohama 244-0813, Japan
- RIKEN Baton Zone Program, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
- School of Information and Data Sciences, Nagasaki University, Bunkyo-machi, Nagasaki 852-8521, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-045-503-9111
| | - Shun Tamaki
- RIKEN Baton Zone Program, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Japan;
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40
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Xu Y, Pan X, Lu J, Wang J, Shan Q, Stout J, Chen G. Evolutionary and biochemical characterization of a Chromochloris zofingiensis MBOAT with wax synthase and diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:5584-5598. [PMID: 34037747 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Wax synthase (WS) catalyzes the last step in wax ester biosynthesis in green plants. Two unrelated sub-families of WS, including the bifunctional acyltransferase and plant-like WS have been reported, but the latter is largely uncharacterized in microalgae. Here, we functionally characterized a putative plant-like WS (CzWS1) from the emerging model green microalga Chromochloris zofingiensis. Our results showed that plant-like WS evolved under different selection constraints in plants and microalgae, with positive selection likely contributing to functional divergence. Unlike jojoba with high amounts of wax ester in seeds and a highly active WS enzyme, C. zofingiensis has no detectable wax ester but a high abundance of WS transcripts. Co-expression analysis showed that C. zofingiensis WS has different expression correlation with lipid biosynthetic genes from jojoba, and may have a divergent function. In vitro characterization indicated that CzWS1 had diacylglycerol acyltransferase activity along with WS activity, and overexpression of CzWS1 in yeast and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii affected triacylglycerol accumulation. Moreover, biochemical and bioinformatic analyses revealed the relevance of the C-terminal region of CzWS1 in enzyme function. Taken together, our results indicated a functional divergence of plant-like WS in plants and microalgae, and the importance of its C-terminal region in specialization of enzyme function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Xu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Xue Pan
- Center for Plant Cell Biology, Institute of Integrative Genome Biology, and Department of Botany and Plant Sciences, University of California, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Junhao Lu
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Juli Wang
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Qiyuan Shan
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jake Stout
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Guanqun Chen
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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Abstract
Historically, it has been understood that for gene expression in eukaryotes, each messenger RNA encodes a single protein. With the recent development of technologies to sequence full-length transcripts en masse, we have discovered hundreds of examples in two species of green algae where two, three, or more proteins are translated from a single transcript. These “polycistronic” transcripts are found in diverse species throughout the green algal lineage, which highlights their biological importance. We have leveraged these findings to coexpress pairs of genes on polycistronic transcripts in vitro, which should facilitate efforts to engineer algae for research and industrial applications. Polycistronic gene expression, common in prokaryotes, was thought to be extremely rare in eukaryotes. The development of long-read sequencing of full-length transcript isomers (Iso-Seq) has facilitated a reexamination of that dogma. Using Iso-Seq, we discovered hundreds of examples of polycistronic expression of nuclear genes in two divergent species of green algae: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Chromochloris zofingiensis. Here, we employ a range of independent approaches to validate that multiple proteins are translated from a common transcript for hundreds of loci. A chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis using trimethylation of lysine 4 on histone H3 marks confirmed that transcription begins exclusively at the upstream gene. Quantification of polyadenylated [poly(A)] tails and poly(A) signal sequences confirmed that transcription ends exclusively after the downstream gene. Coexpression analysis found nearly perfect correlation for open reading frames (ORFs) within polycistronic loci, consistent with expression in a shared transcript. For many polycistronic loci, terminal peptides from both ORFs were identified from proteomics datasets, consistent with independent translation. Synthetic polycistronic gene pairs were transcribed and translated in vitro to recapitulate the production of two distinct proteins from a common transcript. The relative abundance of these two proteins can be modified by altering the Kozak-like sequence of the upstream gene. Replacement of the ORFs with selectable markers or reporters allows production of such heterologous proteins, speaking to utility in synthetic biology approaches. Conservation of a significant number of polycistronic gene pairs between C. reinhardtii, C. zofingiensis, and five other species suggests that this mechanism may be evolutionarily ancient and biologically important in the green algal lineage.
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42
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Foflonker F, Blaby-Haas CE. Colocality to Cofunctionality: Eukaryotic Gene Neighborhoods as a Resource for Function Discovery. Mol Biol Evol 2021; 38:650-662. [PMID: 32886760 PMCID: PMC7826186 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msaa221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverging from the classic paradigm of random gene order in eukaryotes, gene proximity can be leveraged to systematically identify functionally related gene neighborhoods in eukaryotes, utilizing techniques pioneered in bacteria. Current methods of identifying gene neighborhoods typically rely on sequence similarity to characterized gene products. However, this approach is not robust for nonmodel organisms like algae, which are evolutionarily distant from well-characterized model organisms. Here, we utilize a comparative genomic approach to identify evolutionarily conserved proximal orthologous gene pairs conserved across at least two taxonomic classes of green algae. A total of 317 gene neighborhoods were identified. In some cases, gene proximity appears to have been conserved since before the streptophyte–chlorophyte split, 1,000 Ma. Using functional inferences derived from reconstructed evolutionary relationships, we identified several novel functional clusters. A putative mycosporine-like amino acid, “sunscreen,” neighborhood contains genes similar to either vertebrate or cyanobacterial pathways, suggesting a novel mosaic biosynthetic pathway in green algae. One of two putative arsenic-detoxification neighborhoods includes an organoarsenical transporter (ArsJ), a glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase-like gene, homologs of which are involved in arsenic detoxification in bacteria, and a novel algal-specific phosphoglycerate kinase-like gene. Mutants of the ArsJ-like transporter and phosphoglycerate kinase-like genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were found to be sensitive to arsenate, providing experimental support for the role of these identified neighbors in resistance to arsenate. Potential evolutionary origins of neighborhoods are discussed, and updated annotations for formerly poorly annotated genes are presented, highlighting the potential of this strategy for functional annotation.
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Lu Y, Gu X, Lin H, Melis A. Engineering microalgae: transition from empirical design to programmable cells. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2021; 41:1233-1256. [PMID: 34130561 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2021.1917507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Domesticated microalgae hold great promise for the sustainable provision of various bioresources for human domestic and industrial consumption. Efforts to exploit their potential are far from being fully realized due to limitations in the know-how of microalgal engineering. The associated technologies are not as well developed as those for heterotrophic microbes, cyanobacteria, and plants. However, recent studies on microalgal metabolic engineering, genome editing, and synthetic biology have immensely helped to enhance transformation efficiencies and are bringing new insights into this field. Therefore, this article, summarizes recent developments in microalgal biotechnology and examines the prospects for generating specialty and commodity products through the processes of metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. After a brief examination of empirical engineering methods and vector design, this article focuses on quantitative transformation cassette design, elaborates on target editing methods and emerging digital design of algal cellular metabolism to arrive at high yields of valuable products. These advances have enabled a transition of manners in microalgal engineering from single-gene and enzyme-based metabolic engineering to systems-level precision engineering, from cells created with genetically modified (GM) tags to that without GM tags, and ultimately from proof of concept to tangible industrial applications. Finally, future trends are proposed in microalgal engineering, aiming to establish individualized transformation systems in newly identified species for strain-specific specialty and commodity products, while developing sophisticated universal toolkits in model algal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, China.,Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Xinping Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hanzhi Lin
- Institute of Marine & Environmental Technology, Center for Environmental Science, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
| | - Anastasios Melis
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
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44
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Craig RJ, Hasan AR, Ness RW, Keightley PD. Comparative genomics of Chlamydomonas. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:1016-1041. [PMID: 33793842 PMCID: PMC8226300 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite its role as a reference organism in the plant sciences, the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii entirely lacks genomic resources from closely related species. We present highly contiguous and well-annotated genome assemblies for three unicellular C. reinhardtii relatives: Chlamydomonas incerta, Chlamydomonas schloesseri, and the more distantly related Edaphochlamys debaryana. The three Chlamydomonas genomes are highly syntenous with similar gene contents, although the 129.2 Mb C. incerta and 130.2 Mb C. schloesseri assemblies are more repeat-rich than the 111.1 Mb C. reinhardtii genome. We identify the major centromeric repeat in C. reinhardtii as a LINE transposable element homologous to Zepp (the centromeric repeat in Coccomyxa subellipsoidea) and infer that centromere locations and structure are likely conserved in C. incerta and C. schloesseri. We report extensive rearrangements, but limited gene turnover, between the minus mating type loci of these Chlamydomonas species. We produce an eight-species core-Reinhardtinia whole-genome alignment, which we use to identify several hundred false positive and missing genes in the C. reinhardtii annotation and >260,000 evolutionarily conserved elements in the C. reinhardtii genome. In summary, these resources will enable comparative genomics analyses for C. reinhardtii, significantly extending the analytical toolkit for this emerging model system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ahmed R Hasan
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Onatrio, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - Rob W Ness
- Department of Biology, University of Toronto Mississauga, Mississauga, Onatrio, Canada L5L 1C6
| | - Peter D Keightley
- School of Biological Sciences, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Edinburgh, EH9 3FL Edinburgh, UK
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45
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Zhang Y, Ye Y, Bai F, Liu J. The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:119. [PMID: 33992124 PMCID: PMC8126118 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01969-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The algal lipids-based biodiesel, albeit having advantages over plant oils, still remains high in the production cost. Co-production of value-added products with lipids has the potential to add benefits and is thus believed to be a promising strategy to improve the production economics of algal biodiesel. Chromochloris zofingiensis, a unicellular green alga, has been considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its robust growth and ability of accumulating high levels of triacylglycerol under multiple trophic conditions. This alga is also able to synthesize high-value keto-carotenoids and has been cited as a candidate producer of astaxanthin, the strongest antioxidant found in nature. The concurrent accumulation of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin enables C. zofingiensis an ideal cell factory for integrated production of the two compounds and has potential to improve algae-based production economics. Furthermore, with the advent of chromosome-level whole genome sequence and genetic tools, C. zofingiensis becomes an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the production of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin by C. zofingiensis. We also update our understanding in the distinctive molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis, with an emphasis on triacylglycerol and astaxanthin biosynthesis and crosstalk between the two pathways. Furthermore, strategies for trait improvements are discussed regarding triacylglycerol and astaxanthin synthesis in C. zofingiensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Ying Ye
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Fan Bai
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China
| | - Jin Liu
- Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
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46
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Fernández-Marín B, Roach T, Verhoeven A, García-Plazaola JI. Shedding light on the dark side of xanthophyll cycles. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 230:1336-1344. [PMID: 33452715 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Xanthophyll cycles are broadly important in photoprotection, and the reversible de-epoxidation of xanthophylls typically occurs in excess light conditions. However, as presented in this review, compiling evidence in a wide range of photosynthetic eukaryotes shows that xanthophyll de-epoxidation also occurs under diverse abiotic stress conditions in darkness. Light-driven photochemistry usually leads to the pH changes that activate de-epoxidases (e.g. violaxanthin de-epoxidase), but in darkness alternative electron transport pathways and luminal domains enriched in monogalactosyl diacyl glycerol (which enhance de-epoxidase activity) likely enable de-epoxidation. Another 'dark side' to sustaining xanthophyll de-epoxidation is inactivation and/or degradation of epoxidases (e.g. zeaxanthin epoxidase). There are obvious benefits of such activity regarding stress tolerance, and indeed this phenomenon has only been reported in stressful conditions. However, more research is required to unravel the mechanisms and understand the physiological roles of dark-induced formation of zeaxanthin. Notably, the de-epoxidation of violaxanthin to antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin in darkness is still a frequently ignored process, perhaps because it questions a previous paradigm. With that in mind, this review seeks to shed some light on the dark side of xanthophyll de-epoxidation, and point out areas for future work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Marín
- Department of Botany, Ecology and Plant Physiology, University of La Laguna (ULL), Tenerife, 38200, Spain
| | - Thomas Roach
- Department of Botany, University of Innsbruck and Center for Molecular Biosciences Innsbruck (CMBI), Sternwartestrasse 15, Innsbruck, 6020, Austria
| | - Amy Verhoeven
- Department of Biology, University of St Thomas, 2115 Summit Ave, St Paul, MN, 55105, USA
| | - José Ignacio García-Plazaola
- Department of Plant Biology and Ecology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, 48940, Spain
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Hu Q, Huang D, Li A, Hu Z, Gao Z, Yang Y, Wang C. Transcriptome-based analysis of the effects of salicylic acid and high light on lipid and astaxanthin accumulation in Haematococcus pluvialis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:82. [PMID: 33794980 PMCID: PMC8017637 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01933-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The unicellular alga Haematococcus pluvialis has achieved considerable interests for its capacity to accumulate large amounts of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin under various environmental stresses. To our knowledge, studies focusing on transcriptome research of H. pluvialis under exogenous hormones together with physical stresses are rare. In the present study, the change patterns at transcriptome level were analyzed to distinguish the multiple defensive systems of astaxanthin and fatty acid metabolism against exogenous salicylic acid and high light (SAHL) stresses. RESULTS Based on RNA-seq data, a total of 112,463 unigenes and 61,191 genes were annotated in six databases, including NR, KEGG, Swiss-Prot, PFAM, COG and GO. Analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in KEGG identified many transcripts that associated with the biosynthesis of primary and secondary metabolites, photosynthesis, and immune system responses. Furthermore, 705 unigenes predicted as putative transcription factors (TFs) were identified, and the most abundant TFs families were likely to be associated with the biosynthesis of astaxanthin and fatty acid in H. pluvialis upon exposure to SAHL stresses. Additionally, majority of the fifteen key genes involved in astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthesis pathways presented the same expression pattern, resulting in increased accumulation of astaxanthin and fatty acids in single celled H. pluvialis, in which astaxanthin content increased from 0.56 ± 0.05 mg·L-1 at stage Control to 0.89 ± 0.12 mg·L-1 at stage SAHL_48. And positive correlations were observed among these studied genes by Pearson Correlation (PC) analysis, indicating the coordination between astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthesis. In addition, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis also demonstrated that this coordination might be at transcriptional level. CONCLUSION The results in this study provided valuable information to illustrate the molecular mechanisms of coordinate relations between astaxanthin and fatty acid biosynthesis. And salicylic acid might play a role in self-protection processes of cells, helping adaption of H. pluvialis to high light stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunju Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Nanshan District, Xueyuan Road No. 1066, Shenzhen, 518060 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Devices and Systems of Ministry of Education and Guangdong Province, College of Optoelectronic Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060 China
- College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041 China
| | - Danqiong Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Nanshan District, Xueyuan Road No. 1066, Shenzhen, 518060 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Anguo Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Nanshan District, Xueyuan Road No. 1066, Shenzhen, 518060 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhangli Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Nanshan District, Xueyuan Road No. 1066, Shenzhen, 518060 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhengquan Gao
- College of Life Sciences, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255049 China
| | - Yongli Yang
- College of Food Engineering and Biotechnology, Hanshan Normal University, Chaozhou, 521041 China
| | - Chaogang Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Bioresource and Eco-Environmental Science, Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Marine Algal Biotechnology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory for Plant Epigenetics, College of Life Sciences and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Nanshan District, Xueyuan Road No. 1066, Shenzhen, 518060 Guangdong People’s Republic of China
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Calhoun S, Bell TAS, Dahlin LR, Kunde Y, LaButti K, Louie KB, Kuftin A, Treen D, Dilworth D, Mihaltcheva S, Daum C, Bowen BP, Northen TR, Guarnieri MT, Starkenburg SR, Grigoriev IV. A multi-omic characterization of temperature stress in a halotolerant Scenedesmus strain for algal biotechnology. Commun Biol 2021; 4:333. [PMID: 33712730 PMCID: PMC7955037 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-01859-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae efficiently convert sunlight into lipids and carbohydrates, offering bio-based alternatives for energy and chemical production. Improving algal productivity and robustness against abiotic stress requires a systems level characterization enabled by functional genomics. Here, we characterize a halotolerant microalga Scenedesmus sp. NREL 46B-D3 demonstrating peak growth near 25 °C that reaches 30 g/m2/day and the highest biomass accumulation capacity post cell division reported to date for a halotolerant strain. Functional genomics analysis revealed that genes involved in lipid production, ion channels and antiporters are expanded and expressed. Exposure to temperature stress shifts fatty acid metabolism and increases amino acids synthesis. Co-expression analysis shows that many fatty acid biosynthesis genes are overexpressed with specific transcription factors under cold stress. These and other genes involved in the metabolic and regulatory response to temperature stress can be further explored for strain improvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Calhoun
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Tisza Ann Szeremy Bell
- Applied Genomics Team, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences, Genome Core, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | - Lukas R Dahlin
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Yuliya Kunde
- Applied Genomics Team, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA
| | - Kurt LaButti
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Katherine B Louie
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Andrea Kuftin
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Daniel Treen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - David Dilworth
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Sirma Mihaltcheva
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Christopher Daum
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin P Bowen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Trent R Northen
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Michael T Guarnieri
- National Bioenergy Center, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, USA
| | - Shawn R Starkenburg
- Applied Genomics Team, Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, USA.
| | - Igor V Grigoriev
- US Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Chromochloris zofingiensis (Chlorophyceae) Divides by Consecutive Multiple Fission Cell-Cycle under Batch and Continuous Cultivation. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10020157. [PMID: 33669470 PMCID: PMC7920477 DOI: 10.3390/biology10020157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Simple Summary Microalgae are plant-like micro-organisms naturally found in fresh and marine water environments, inhabiting a vast range of ecosystems. They capture light energy through photosynthesis and convert low energy inorganic compounds (carbon dioxide and water) into high energy complex organic compounds, such as carbohydrates and fats. Chromochloris zofingiensis is a unicellular microalga currently under intensive research, due to its ability to produce high value pharmaceutical and nutritional pigments. Understanding its growth characteristics is crucial for the establishment of an efficient commercial production of those pigments from this alga. Thus, we have developed a method to stain the nucleus of the alga which enabled us to follow the division pattern under commonly used cultivation methods. We found that C. zofingiensis cells conduct consecutive DNA synthesis and divisions of the nucleus to produce 8 or 16 nuclei before it divides into 8 or 16 daughter cells, respectively. Under high light illumination, the whole process lasts several days, through which cells grow during the light period and divide during the dark period. These findings can be assimilated for the development of the biotechnology process for high pigment productivity. Abstract Several green algae can divide by multiple fission and spontaneously synchronize their cell cycle with the available light regime. The yields that can be obtained from a microalgal culture are directly affected by cell cycle events. Chromochloris zofingiensis is considered as one of the most promising microalgae for biotechnological applications due to its fast growth and the flexible trophic capabilities. It is intensively investigated in the context of bio-commodities production (carotenoids, storage lipids); however, the pattern of cell-cycle events under common cultivation strategies was not yet characterized for C. zofingiensis. In this study, we have employed fluorescence microscopy to characterize the basic cell-cycle dynamics under batch and continuous modes of phototrophic C. zofingiensis cultivation. Staining with SYBR green—applied in DMSO solution—enabled, for the first time, the clear and simple visualization of polynuclear stages in this microalga. Accordingly, we concluded that C. zofingiensis divides by a consecutive pattern of multiple fission, whereby it spontaneously synchronizes growth and cell division according to the available illumination regime. In high-light continuous culture or low-light batch culture, C. zofingiensis cell-cycle was completed within several light-dark (L/D) cycles (14 h/10 h); however, cell divisions were synchronized with the dark periods only in the high-light continuous culture. In both modes of cultivation, daughter cell release was mainly facilitated by division of 8 and 16-polynuclear cells. The results of this study are of both fundamental and applied science significance and are also important for the development of an efficient nuclear transformation system for C. zofingiensis.
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Zhang Z, Sun D, Cheng KW, Chen F. Investigation of carbon and energy metabolic mechanism of mixotrophy in Chromochloris zofingiensis. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2021; 14:36. [PMID: 33541405 PMCID: PMC7863362 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-021-01890-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mixotrophy can confer a higher growth rate than the sum of photoautotrophy and heterotrophy in many microalgal species. Thus, it has been applied to biodiesel production and wastewater utilization. However, its carbon and energy metabolic mechanism is currently poorly understood. RESULTS To elucidate underlying carbon and energy metabolic mechanism of mixotrophy, Chromochloris zofingiensis was employed in the present study. Photosynthesis and glucose metabolism were found to operate in a dynamic balance during mixotrophic cultivation, the enhancement of one led to the lowering of the other. Furthermore, compared with photoautotrophy, non-photochemical quenching and photorespiration, considered by many as energy dissipation processes, were significantly reduced under mixotrophy. Comparative transcriptome analysis suggested that the intermediates of glycolysis could directly enter the chloroplast and replace RuBisCO-fixed CO2 to provide carbon sources for chloroplast organic carbon metabolism under mixotrophy. Therefore, the photosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme, RuBisCO, was skipped, allowing for more efficient utilization of photoreaction-derived energy. Besides, compared with heterotrophy, photoreaction-derived ATP reduced the need for TCA-derived ATP, so the glucose decomposition was reduced, which led to higher biomass yield on glucose. Based on these results, a mixotrophic metabolic mechanism was identified. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that the intermediates of glycolysis could directly enter the chloroplast and replace RuBisCO-fixed CO2 to provide carbon for photosynthesis in mixotrophy. Therefore, the photosynthesis rate-limiting enzyme, RuBisCO, was skipped in mixotrophy, which could reduce energy waste of photosynthesis while promote cell growth. This finding provides a foundation for future studies on mixotrophic biomass production and photosynthetic metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhao Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China
- Institute of Life Science and Green Development, Hebei University, Baoding, 071000, China
| | - Dongzhe Sun
- Nutrition & Health Research Institute, China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (COFCO), Beijing, 102209, People's Republic of China
| | - Ka-Wing Cheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Feng Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Marine Microbiome Engineering, Institute for Advanced Study, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China.
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