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Zhang Z, Li Y, Wen S, Yang S, Zhu H, Zhou H. Metabolomics Reveals the Impact of Overexpression of Cytosolic Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase on Photosynthesis and Growth in Nannochloropsis gaditana. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:6800. [PMID: 38928505 PMCID: PMC11204352 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25126800] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Nannochloropsis gaditana, a microalga known for its photosynthetic efficiency, serves as a cell factory, producing valuable biomolecules such as proteins, lipids, and pigments. These components make it an ideal candidate for biofuel production and pharmaceutical applications. In this study, we genetically engineered N. gaditana to overexpress the enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (cyFBPase) using the Hsp promoter, aiming to enhance sugar metabolism and biomass accumulation. The modified algal strain, termed NgFBP, exhibited a 1.34-fold increase in cyFBPase activity under photoautotrophic conditions. This modification led to a doubling of biomass production and an increase in eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) content in fatty acids to 20.78-23.08%. Additionally, the genetic alteration activated the pathways related to glycine, protoporphyrin, thioglucosides, pantothenic acid, CoA, and glycerophospholipids. This shift in carbon allocation towards chloroplast development significantly enhanced photosynthesis and growth. The outcomes of this study not only improve our understanding of photosynthesis and carbon allocation in N. gaditana but also suggest new biotechnological methods to optimize biomass yield and compound production in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (S.Y.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (S.Y.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Shuting Wen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (S.Y.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Shu Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (S.Y.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
| | - Hongmei Zhu
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
| | - Hantao Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China; (Z.Z.); (Y.L.); (S.W.); (S.Y.)
- College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China;
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361000, China
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Kim M, Cazzaniga S, Jang J, Pivato M, Kim G, Ballottari M, Jin E. Photoautotrophic cultivation of a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant with zeaxanthin as the sole xanthophyll. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2024; 17:41. [PMID: 38486329 PMCID: PMC10941483 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-024-02483-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Photosynthetic microalgae are known for their sustainable and eco-friendly potential to convert carbon dioxide into valuable products. Nevertheless, the challenge of self-shading due to high cell density has been identified as a drawback, hampering productivity in sustainable photoautotrophic mass cultivation. To address this issue, mutants with altered pigment composition have been proposed to allow a more efficient light diffusion but further study on the role of the different pigments is still needed to correctly engineer this process. RESULTS We here investigated the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Δzl mutant with zeaxanthin as the sole xanthophyll. The Δzl mutant displayed altered pigment composition, characterized by lower chlorophyll content, higher chlorophyll a/b ratio, and lower chlorophyll/carotenoid ratio compared to the wild type (Wt). The Δzl mutant also exhibited a significant decrease in the light-harvesting complex II/Photosystem II ratio (LHCII/PSII) and the absence of trimeric LHCIIs. This significantly affects the organization and stability of PSII supercomplexes. Consequently, the estimated functional antenna size of PSII in the Δzl mutant was approximately 60% smaller compared to that of Wt, and reduced PSII activity was evident in this mutant. Notably, the Δzl mutant showed impaired non-photochemical quenching. However, the Δzl mutant compensated by exhibiting enhanced cyclic electron flow compared to Wt, seemingly offsetting the impaired PSII functionality. Consequently, the Δzl mutant achieved significantly higher cell densities than Wt under high-light conditions. CONCLUSIONS Our findings highlight significant changes in pigment content and pigment-protein complexes in the Δzl mutant compared to Wt, resulting in an advantage for high-density photoautotrophic cultivation. This advantage is attributed to the decreased chlorophyll content of the Δzl mutant, allowing better light penetration. In addition, the accumulated zeaxanthin in the mutant could serve as an antioxidant, offering protection against reactive oxygen species generated by chlorophylls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjae Kim
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | | | - Junhwan Jang
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | - Matteo Pivato
- Dipartimento di Biotecnologie, Università di Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Gueeda Kim
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea
| | | | - EonSeon Jin
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea.
- Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Hanyang University, Seoul, 04763, Korea.
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Dennis G, Posewitz MC. Advances in light system engineering across the phototrophic spectrum. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1332456. [PMID: 38410727 PMCID: PMC10895028 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1332456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Current work in photosynthetic engineering is progressing along the lines of cyanobacterial, microalgal, and plant research. These are interconnected through the fundamental mechanisms of photosynthesis and advances in one field can often be leveraged to improve another. It is worthwhile for researchers specializing in one or more of these systems to be aware of the work being done across the entire research space as parallel advances of techniques and experimental approaches can often be applied across the field of photosynthesis research. This review focuses on research published in recent years related to the light reactions of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria, eukaryotic algae, and plants. Highlighted are attempts to improve photosynthetic efficiency, and subsequent biomass production. Also discussed are studies on cross-field heterologous expression, and related work on augmented and novel light capture systems. This is reviewed in the context of translatability in research across diverse photosynthetic organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galen Dennis
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
| | - Matthew C Posewitz
- Department of Chemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, United States
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Chen H, Yang QL, Xu JX, Deng X, Zhang YJ, Liu T, Rots MG, Xu GL, Huang KY. Efficient methods for multiple types of precise gene-editing in Chlamydomonas. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2023. [PMID: 37310200 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Precise gene-editing using CRISPR/Cas9 technology remains a long-standing challenge, especially for genes with low expression and no selectable phenotypes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a classic model for photosynthesis and cilia research. Here, we developed a multi-type and precise genetic manipulation method in which a DNA break was generated by Cas9 nuclease and the repair was mediated using a homologous DNA template. The efficacy of this method was demonstrated for several types of gene editing, including inactivation of two low-expression genes (CrTET1 and CrKU80), the introduction of a FLAG-HA epitope tag into VIPP1, IFT46, CrTET1 and CrKU80 genes, and placing a YFP tag into VIPP1 and IFT46 for live-cell imaging. We also successfully performed a single amino acid substitution for the FLA3, FLA10 and FTSY genes, and documented the attainment of the anticipated phenotypes. Lastly, we demonstrated that precise fragment deletion from the 3'-UTR of MAA7 and VIPP1 resulted in a stable knock-down effect. Overall, our study has established efficient methods for multiple types of precise gene editing in Chlamydomonas, enabling substitution, insertion and deletion at the base resolution, thus improving the potential of this alga in both basic research and industrial applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Qing-Lin Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Jia-Xi Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Xuan Deng
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Yun-Jie Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
| | - Ting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
| | - Marianne G Rots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guo-Liang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai, 201210, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Medical College of Fudan University, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (RU069), Shanghai, China
| | - Kai-Yao Huang
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, 430072, China
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Advances in Genetic Engineering in Improving Photosynthesis and Microalgal Productivity. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24031898. [PMID: 36768215 PMCID: PMC9915242 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24031898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Even though sunlight energy far outweighs the energy required by human activities, its utilization is a key goal in the field of renewable energies. Microalgae have emerged as a promising new and sustainable feedstock for meeting rising food and feed demand. Because traditional methods of microalgal improvement are likely to have reached their limits, genetic engineering is expected to allow for further increases in the photosynthesis and productivity of microalgae. Understanding the mechanisms that control photosynthesis will enable researchers to identify targets for genetic engineering and, in the end, increase biomass yield, offsetting the costs of cultivation systems and downstream biomass processing. This review describes the molecular events that happen during photosynthesis and microalgal productivity through genetic engineering and discusses future strategies and the limitations of genetic engineering in microalgal productivity. We highlight the major achievements in manipulating the fundamental mechanisms of microalgal photosynthesis and biomass production, as well as promising approaches for making significant contributions to upcoming microalgal-based biotechnology.
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Rathod MK, Nellaepalli S, Ozawa SI, Kuroda H, Kodama N, Bujaldon S, Wollman FA, Takahashi Y. Assembly Apparatus of Light-Harvesting Complexes: Identification of Alb3.1-cpSRP-LHCP Complexes in the Green Alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 63:70-81. [PMID: 34592750 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The unicellular green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, contains many light-harvesting complexes (LHCs) associating chlorophylls a/b and carotenoids; the major LHCIIs (types I, II, III and IV) and minor light-harvesting complexes, CP26 and CP29, for photosystem II, as well as nine LHCIs (LHCA1-9), for photosystem I. A pale green mutant BF4 exhibited impaired accumulation of LHCs due to deficiency in the Alb3.1 gene, which encodes the insertase involved in insertion, folding and assembly of LHC proteins in the thylakoid membranes. To elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ALB3.1 assists LHC assembly, we complemented BF4 to express ALB3.1 fused with no, single or triple Human influenza hemagglutinin (HA) tag at its C-terminus (cAlb3.1, cAlb3.1-HA or cAlb3.1-3HA). The resulting complemented strains accumulated most LHC proteins comparable to wild-type (WT) levels. The affinity purification of Alb3.1-HA and Alb3.1-3HA preparations showed that ALB3.1 interacts with cpSRP43 and cpSRP54 proteins of the chloroplast signal recognition particle (cpSRP) and several LHC proteins; two major LHCII proteins (types I and III), two minor LHCII proteins (CP26 and CP29) and eight LHCI proteins (LHCA1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 and 9). Pulse-chase labeling experiments revealed that the newly synthesized major LHCII proteins were transiently bound to the Alb3.1 complex. We propose that Alb3.1 interacts with cpSRP43 and cpSRP54 to form an assembly apparatus for most LHCs in the thylakoid membranes. Interestingly, photosystem I (PSI) proteins were also detected in the Alb3.1 preparations, suggesting that the integration of LHCIs to a PSI core complex to form a PSI-LHCI subcomplex occurs before assembled LHCIs dissociate from the Alb3.1-cpSRP complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mithun Kumar Rathod
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
| | - Sreedhar Nellaepalli
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
| | - Shin-Ichiro Ozawa
- Institute of Plant Science and Resources, Okayama University, Kurashiki, 710-0046 Japan
| | - Hiroshi Kuroda
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
| | - Natsumi Kodama
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
| | - Sandrine Bujaldon
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, UMR7141 CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005, France
| | - Francis-André Wollman
- Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, UMR7141 CNRS-Sorbonne Université, Paris 75005, France
| | - Yuichiro Takahashi
- Research Institute for Interdisciplinary Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530 Japan
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Muthukrishnan L. Bio‐engineering of microalgae: Challenges and future prospects toward industrial and environmental applications. J Basic Microbiol 2022; 62:310-329. [DOI: 10.1002/jobm.202100417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lakshmipathy Muthukrishnan
- Department of Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Chennai Tamil Nadu India
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Kselíková V, Singh A, Bialevich V, Čížková M, Bišová K. Improving microalgae for biotechnology - From genetics to synthetic biology - Moving forward but not there yet. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 58:107885. [PMID: 34906670 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Microalgae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that can be exploited for the production of different compounds, ranging from crude biomass and biofuels to high value-added biochemicals and synthetic proteins. Traditionally, algal biotechnology relies on bioprospecting to identify new highly productive strains and more recently, on forward genetics to further enhance productivity. However, it has become clear that further improvements in algal productivity for biotechnology is impossible without combining traditional tools with the arising molecular genetics toolkit. We review recent advantages in developing high throughput screening methods, preparing genome-wide mutant libraries, and establishing genome editing techniques. We discuss how algae can be improved in terms of photosynthetic efficiency, biofuel and high value-added compound production. Finally, we critically evaluate developments over recent years and explore future potential in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kselíková
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anjali Singh
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Vitali Bialevich
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Čížková
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Bišová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic.
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Cecchin M, Jeong J, Son W, Kim M, Park S, Zuliani L, Cazzaniga S, Pompa A, Young Kang C, Bae S, Ballottari M, Jin E. LPA2 protein is involved in photosystem II assembly in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 107:1648-1662. [PMID: 34218480 PMCID: PMC8518032 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic eukaryotes require the proper assembly of photosystem II (PSII) in order to strip electrons from water and fuel carbon fixation reactions. In Arabidopsis thaliana, one of the PSII subunits (CP43/PsbC) was suggested to be assembled into the PSII complex via its interaction with an auxiliary protein called Low PSII Accumulation 2 (LPA2). However, the original articles describing the role of LPA2 in PSII assembly have been retracted. To investigate the function of LPA2 in the model organism for green algae, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we generated knockout lpa2 mutants by using the CRISPR-Cas9 target-specific genome editing system. Biochemical analyses revealed the thylakoidal localization of LPA2 protein in the wild type (WT), whereas lpa2 mutants were characterized by a drastic reduction in the levels of D1, D2, CP47 and CP43 proteins. Consequently, reduced PSII supercomplex accumulation, chlorophyll content per cell, PSII quantum yield and photosynthetic oxygen evolution were measured in the lpa2 mutants, leading to the almost complete impairment of photoautotrophic growth. Pulse-chase experiments demonstrated that the absence of LPA2 protein caused reduced PSII assembly and reduced PSII turnover. Taken together, our data indicate that, in C. reinhardtii, LPA2 is required for PSII assembly and proper function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Cecchin
- Dipartimento di BiotecnologieUniversità di VeronaStrada le Grazie 15Verona37134Italy
| | - Jooyeon Jeong
- Department of Life ScienceHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Woojae Son
- Department of ChemistryHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Minjae Kim
- Department of Life ScienceHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Seunghye Park
- Department of Life ScienceHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Luca Zuliani
- Dipartimento di BiotecnologieUniversità di VeronaStrada le Grazie 15Verona37134Italy
| | - Stefano Cazzaniga
- Dipartimento di BiotecnologieUniversità di VeronaStrada le Grazie 15Verona37134Italy
| | - Andrea Pompa
- Dipartimento di Scienze BiomolecolariUniversità degli studi di UrbinoVia Aurelio Saffi, 2Urbino61029Italy
- Istituto di Bioscienze e BiorisorseConsiglio Nazionale delle RicercheVia Madonna Alta, 130Perugia06128Italy
| | - Chan Young Kang
- Department of ChemistryHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Sangsu Bae
- Department of ChemistryHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
| | - Matteo Ballottari
- Dipartimento di BiotecnologieUniversità di VeronaStrada le Grazie 15Verona37134Italy
| | - EonSeon Jin
- Department of Life ScienceHanyang University222, Wangsimni‐ro, Seongdong‐guSeoul04763Korea
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Sizova I, Kelterborn S, Verbenko V, Kateriya S, Hegemann P. Chlamydomonas POLQ is necessary for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene targeting. G3 (BETHESDA, MD.) 2021; 11:jkab114. [PMID: 33836052 PMCID: PMC8495919 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkab114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The use of CRISPR/Cas endonucleases has revolutionized gene editing techniques for research on Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. To better utilize the CRISPR/Cas system, it is essential to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the DNA repair pathways involved in genome editing. In this study, we have analyzed contributions from canonical KU80/KU70-dependent nonhomologous end-joining (cNHEJ) and DNA polymerase theta (POLQ)-mediated end joining on SpCas9-mediated untemplated mutagenesis and homology-directed repair (HDR)/gene inactivation in Chlamydomonas. Using CRISPR/SpCas9 technology, we generated DNA repair-defective mutants ku80, ku70, polQ for gene targeting experiments. Our results show that untemplated repair of SpCas9-induced double strand breaks results in mutation spectra consistent with an involvement of both KU80/KU70 and POLQ. In addition, the inactivation of POLQ was found to negatively affect HDR of the inactivated paromomycin-resistant mut-aphVIII gene when donor single-stranded oligos were used. Nevertheless, mut-aphVIII was still repaired by homologous recombination in these mutants. POLQ inactivation suppressed random integration of transgenes co-transformed with the donor ssDNA. KU80 deficiency did not affect these events but instead was surprisingly found to stimulate HDR/gene inactivation. Our data suggest that in Chlamydomonas, POLQ is the main contributor to CRISPR/Cas-induced HDR and random integration of transgenes, whereas KU80/KU70 potentially plays a secondary role. We expect our results will lead to improvement of genome editing in C. reinhardtii and can be used for future development of algal biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina Sizova
- Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin D-10099, Germany
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Gatchina 188300, Russia
- Kurchatov Genome Center - PNPI, Gatchina 188300, Russia
| | - Simon Kelterborn
- Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin D-10099, Germany
| | - Valeriy Verbenko
- Petersburg Nuclear Physics Institute named by B.P. Konstantinov of National Research Centre “Kurchatov Institute”, Gatchina 188300, Russia
- Kurchatov Genome Center - PNPI, Gatchina 188300, Russia
| | - Suneel Kateriya
- Laboratory of Optobiology School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Peter Hegemann
- Experimental Biophysics, Institute of Biology, Humboldt University of Berlin, Berlin D-10099, Germany
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Nymark M, Grønbech Hafskjold MC, Volpe C, Fonseca DDM, Sharma A, Tsirvouli E, Serif M, Winge P, Finazzi G, Bones AM. Functional studies of CpSRP54 in diatoms show that the mechanism of thylakoid protein insertion differs from that in plants and green algae. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2021; 106:113-132. [PMID: 33372269 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.15149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The chloroplast signal recognition particle 54 kDa (CpSRP54) protein is a member of the CpSRP pathway known to target proteins to thylakoid membranes in plants and green algae. Loss of CpSRP54 in the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum lowers the accumulation of a selection of chloroplast-encoded subunits of photosynthetic complexes, indicating a role in the co-translational part of the CpSRP pathway. In contrast to plants and green algae, absence of CpSRP54 does not have a negative effect on the content of light-harvesting antenna complex proteins and pigments in P. tricornutum, indicating that the diatom CpSRP54 protein has not evolved to function in the post-translational part of the CpSRP pathway. Cpsrp54 KO mutants display altered photophysiological responses, with a stronger induction of photoprotective mechanisms and lower growth rates compared to wild type when exposed to increased light intensities. Nonetheless, their phenotype is relatively mild, thanks to the activation of mechanisms alleviating the loss of CpSRP54, involving upregulation of chaperones. We conclude that plants, green algae, and diatoms have evolved differences in the pathways for co-translational and post-translational insertion of proteins into the thylakoid membranes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Nymark
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Marthe Caroline Grønbech Hafskjold
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Charlotte Volpe
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Davi de Miranda Fonseca
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
- Proteomics and Modomics Experimental Core Facility (PROMEC), NTNU and Central Administration, St Olavs Hospital, The University Hospital in Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Animesh Sharma
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NTNU, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
- Proteomics and Modomics Experimental Core Facility (PROMEC), NTNU and Central Administration, St Olavs Hospital, The University Hospital in Trondheim, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Eirini Tsirvouli
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Manuel Serif
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Per Winge
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
| | - Giovanni Finazzi
- Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA), Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, UMR 5168, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Interdisciplinary Research Institute of Grenoble (IRIG), CEA-Grenoble, Grenoble, 38000, France
| | - Atle Magnar Bones
- Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, N-7491, Norway
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12
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Lu Y, Gan Q, Iwai M, Alboresi A, Burlacot A, Dautermann O, Takahashi H, Crisanto T, Peltier G, Morosinotto T, Melis A, Niyogi KK. Role of an ancient light-harvesting protein of PSI in light absorption and photoprotection. Nat Commun 2021; 12:679. [PMID: 33514722 PMCID: PMC7846763 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-20967-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Diverse algae of the red lineage possess chlorophyll a-binding proteins termed LHCR, comprising the PSI light-harvesting system, which represent an ancient antenna form that evolved in red algae and was acquired through secondary endosymbiosis. However, the function and regulation of LHCR complexes remain obscure. Here we describe isolation of a Nannochloropsis oceanica LHCR mutant, named hlr1, which exhibits a greater tolerance to high-light (HL) stress compared to the wild type. We show that increased tolerance to HL of the mutant can be attributed to alterations in PSI, making it less prone to ROS production, thereby limiting oxidative damage and favoring growth in HL. HLR1 deficiency attenuates PSI light-harvesting capacity and growth of the mutant under light-limiting conditions. We conclude that HLR1, a member of a conserved and broadly distributed clade of LHCR proteins, plays a pivotal role in a dynamic balancing act between photoprotection and efficient light harvesting for photosynthesis. LHCR proteins are ancient chlorophyll a-binding antennas that evolved in diverse algae of the red lineage. Here Lu et al. characterize a red lineage LHCR mutant and show reduced oxidative damage in high light but attenuated growth under low light, thus demonstrating how LHCR proteins impact the balance between photoprotection and light harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandu Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China. .,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
| | - Qinhua Gan
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea, College of Oceanology, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, China
| | - Masakazu Iwai
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | | | - Adrien Burlacot
- CEA, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies Aix-Marseille, UMR 7265, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, CEA Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lezDurance, France
| | - Oliver Dautermann
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hiroko Takahashi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Graduate school of Science and Engineering, Saitama University, Saitama, Japan
| | - Thien Crisanto
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Gilles Peltier
- CEA, CNRS, Aix-Marseille Université, Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies Aix-Marseille, UMR 7265, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, CEA Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lezDurance, France
| | | | - Anastasios Melis
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Krishna K Niyogi
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. .,Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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13
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Kim J, Chang KS, Lee S, Jin E. Establishment of a Genome Editing Tool Using CRISPR-Cas9 in Chlorella vulgaris UTEX395. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:E480. [PMID: 33418923 PMCID: PMC7825080 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22020480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, Chlorella vulgaris is the most used species of microalgae in the food and feed additive industries, and also considered as a feasible cell factory for bioproducts. However, the lack of an efficient genetic engineering tool makes it difficult to improve the physiological characteristics of this species. Therefore, the development of new strategic approaches such as genome editing is trying to overcome this hurdle in many research groups. In this study, the possibility of editing the genome of C. vulgaris UTEX395 using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated protein 9 (Cas9) has been proven to target nitrate reductase (NR) and adenine phosphoribosyltransferase (APT). Genome-edited mutants, nr and apt, were generated by a DNA-mediated and/or ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 system, and isolated based on the negative selection against potassium chlorate or 2-fluoroadenine in place of antibiotics. The null mutation of edited genes was demonstrated by the expression level of the correspondent proteins or the mutation of transcripts, and through growth analysis under specific nutrient conditions. In conclusion, this study offers relevant empirical evidence of the possibility of genome editing in C. vulgaris UTEX395 by CRISPR-Cas9 and the practical methods. Additionally, among the generated mutants, nr can provide an easier screening strategy during DNA transformation than the use of antibiotics owing to their auxotrophic characteristics. These results will be a cornerstone for further advancement of the genetics of C. vulgaris.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - EonSeon Jin
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Sciences, Hanyang University, Seoul 04763, Korea; (J.K.); (K.S.C.); (S.L.)
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14
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Zhang MP, Wang M, Wang C. Nuclear transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: A review. Biochimie 2020; 181:1-11. [PMID: 33227342 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2020.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/17/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model organism with three sequenced genomes capable of genetic transformation. C. reinhardtii has the advantages of being low cost, non-toxic, and having a post-translational modification system that ensures the recombinant proteins have the same activity as natural proteins, thus making it a great platform for application in molecular biology and other fields. In this review, we summarize the existing methods for nuclear transformation of C. reinhardtii, genes for selection, examples of foreign protein expression, and factors affecting transformation efficiency, to provide insights into effective strategies for the nuclear transformation of C. reinhardtii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Ping Zhang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China
| | - Mou Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China
| | - Chuan Wang
- College of Biotechnology, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, 643000, Sichuan province, China.
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15
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Xu X, Ouyang M, Lu D, Zheng C, Zhang L. Protein Sorting within Chloroplasts. Trends Cell Biol 2020; 31:9-16. [PMID: 33121860 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Chloroplasts have multiple suborganellar membranes. Correct and efficient translocation of chloroplast proteins from their site of synthesis into or across membranes to their functional compartments are fundamental processes. In recent years, several new components and regulatory mechanisms involved in chloroplast protein import and sorting have been explored. Moreover, the formation of liquid-liquid phase transition (LLPT) has been recently reported as a novel mechanism for regulating chloroplast protein sorting. Here, we overview the recent advances of both nuclear- and chloroplast-encoded protein trafficking to their final destination within chloroplasts, and discuss the novel components and regulatory mechanisms of intrachloroplast sorting. Furthermore, we propose that LLPT may be a universal and conserved mechanism for driving organelle protein trafficking and organelle biogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiumei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Min Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocatalysis and Enzyme Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Hubei University, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Dandan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Canhui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China
| | - Lixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Adaptation and Improvement, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Jinming Avenue, Kaifeng 475004, China.
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16
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Achievements and challenges of genetic engineering of the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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17
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Autophagy-Related 2 Regulates Chlorophyll Degradation under Abiotic Stress Conditions in Arabidopsis. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21124515. [PMID: 32630439 PMCID: PMC7350272 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 06/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroplasts are extraordinary organelles for photosynthesis and nutrient storage in plants. During leaf senescence or under stress conditions, damaged chloroplasts are degraded and provide nutrients for developing organs. Autophagy is a high-throughput degradation pathway for intracellular material turnover in eukaryotes. Along with chloroplast degradation, chlorophyll, an important component of the photosynthetic machine, is also degraded. However, the chlorophyll degradation pathways under high light intensity and high temperature stress are not well known. Here, we identified and characterized a novel Arabidopsis mutant, sl2 (seedling lethal 2), showing defective chloroplast development and accelerated chlorophyll degradation. Map-based cloning combined with high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that a 118.6 kb deletion region was associated with the phenotype of the mutant. Complementary experiments confirmed that the loss of function of ATG2 was responsible for accelerating chlorophyll degradation in sl2 mutants. Furthermore, we analyzed chlorophyll degradation under abiotic stress conditions and found that both chloroplast vesiculation and autophagy take part in chlorophyll degradation under high light intensity and high temperature stress. These results enhanced our understanding of chlorophyll degradation under high light intensity and high temperature stress.
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18
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Picariello T, Hou Y, Kubo T, McNeill NA, Yanagisawa HA, Oda T, Witman GB. TIM, a targeted insertional mutagenesis method utilizing CRISPR/Cas9 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232594. [PMID: 32401787 PMCID: PMC7219734 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Generation and subsequent analysis of mutants is critical to understanding the functions of genes and proteins. Here we describe TIM, an efficient, cost-effective, CRISPR-based targeted insertional mutagenesis method for the model organism Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. TIM utilizes delivery into the cell of a Cas9-guide RNA (gRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) together with exogenous double-stranded (donor) DNA. The donor DNA contains gene-specific homology arms and an integral antibiotic-resistance gene that inserts at the double-stranded break generated by Cas9. After optimizing multiple parameters of this method, we were able to generate mutants for six out of six different genes in two different cell-walled strains with mutation efficiencies ranging from 40% to 95%. Furthermore, these high efficiencies allowed simultaneous targeting of two separate genes in a single experiment. TIM is flexible with regard to many parameters and can be carried out using either electroporation or the glass-bead method for delivery of the RNP and donor DNA. TIM achieves a far higher mutation rate than any previously reported for CRISPR-based methods in C. reinhardtii and promises to be effective for many, if not all, non-essential nuclear genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Picariello
- Division of Cell Biology and Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Yuqing Hou
- Division of Cell Biology and Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Tomohiro Kubo
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Nathan A. McNeill
- Division of Cell Biology and Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | | | - Toshiyuki Oda
- Department of Anatomy and Structural Biology, Interdisciplinary Graduate School, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - George B. Witman
- Division of Cell Biology and Imaging, Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States of America
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19
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The BF4 and p71 antenna mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOENERGETICS 2020; 1861:148085. [PMID: 31672413 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.148085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 08/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Two pale green mutants of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, which have been used over the years in many photosynthesis studies, the BF4 and p71 mutants, were characterized and their mutated gene identified in the nuclear genome. The BF4 mutant is defective in the insertase Alb3.1 whereas p71 is defective in cpSRP43. The two mutants showed strikingly similar deficiencies in most of the peripheral antenna proteins associated with either photosystem I or photosystem 2. As a result the two photosystems have a reduced antenna size with photosystem 2 being the most affected. Still up to 20% of the antenna proteins remain in these strains, with the heterodimer Lhca5/Lhca6 showing a lower sensitivity to these mutations. We discuss these phenotypes in light of those of other allelic mutants that have been described in the literature and suggest that eventhough the cpSRP route serves as the main biogenesis pathway for antenna proteins, there should be an escape pathway which remains to be genetically identified.
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20
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Kim J, Lee S, Baek K, Jin E. Site-Specific Gene Knock-Out and On-Site Heterologous Gene Overexpression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii via a CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Knock-in Method. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:306. [PMID: 32265959 PMCID: PMC7099044 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is being transformed from a model organism to an industrial organism for the production of pigments, fatty acids, and pharmaceuticals. Genetic modification has been used to increase the economic value of C. reinhardtii. However, low gene-editing efficiency and position-effects hinder the genetic improvement of this microorganism. Recently, site-specific double-stranded DNA cleavage using CRISPR-Cas9 system has been applied to regulate a metabolic pathway in C. reinhardtii. In this study, we proved that site-specific gene expression can be induced by CRISPR-Cas9-mediated double-strand cleavage and non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) mechanism. The CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knock-in method was adopted to improve gene-editing efficiency and express the reporter gene on the intended site. Knock-in was performed using a combination of ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex and DNA fragment (antibiotics resistance gene). Gene-editing efficiency was improved via optimization of a component of RNP complex. We found that when the gene CrFTSY was targeted, the efficiency of obtaining the desired mutant by the knock-in method combined with antibiotic resistance was nearly 37%; 2.5 times higher than the previous reports. Additionally, insertion of a long DNA fragment (3.2 and 6.4 kb) and site-specific gene expression were analyzed. We demonstrated the knock-out phenotype of CrFTSY and on-site inserted gene expression of luciferase and mVenus at the same time. This result showed that CRISPR-Cas9-mediated knock-in can be used to express the gene of interest avoiding position-effects in C. reinhardtii. This report could provide a new perspective to the use of gene-editing. Furthermore, the technical improvements in genetic modification may accelerate the commercialization of C. reinhardtii.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - EonSeon Jin
- Department of Life Science, Research Institute for Natural Science, Hanyang University, Seoul, South Korea
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21
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Development of a Chlorella vulgaris mutant by chemical mutagenesis as a producer for natural violaxanthin. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
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22
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Vecchi V, Barera S, Bassi R, Dall’Osto L. Potential and Challenges of Improving Photosynthesis in Algae. PLANTS 2020; 9:plants9010067. [PMID: 31947868 PMCID: PMC7020468 DOI: 10.3390/plants9010067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Sunlight energy largely exceeds the energy required by anthropic activities, and therefore its exploitation represents a major target in the field of renewable energies. The interest in the mass cultivation of green microalgae has grown in the last decades, as algal biomass could be employed to cover a significant portion of global energy demand. Advantages of microalgal vs. plant biomass production include higher light-use efficiency, efficient carbon capture and the valorization of marginal lands and wastewaters. Realization of this potential requires a decrease of the current production costs, which can be obtained by increasing the productivity of the most common industrial strains, by the identification of factors limiting biomass yield, and by removing bottlenecks, namely through domestication strategies aimed to fill the gap between the theoretical and real productivity of algal cultures. In particular, the light-to-biomass conversion efficiency represents one of the major constraints for achieving a significant improvement of algal cell lines. This review outlines the molecular events of photosynthesis, which regulate the conversion of light into biomass, and discusses how these can be targeted to enhance productivity through mutagenesis, strain selection or genetic engineering. This review highlights the most recent results in the manipulation of the fundamental mechanisms of algal photosynthesis, which revealed that a significant yield enhancement is feasible. Moreover, metabolic engineering of microalgae, focused upon the development of renewable fuel biorefineries, has also drawn attention and resulted in efforts for enhancing productivity of oil or isoprenoids.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Luca Dall’Osto
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-045-8027806; Fax: +39-045-8027929
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23
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Kong F, Yamaoka Y, Ohama T, Lee Y, Li-Beisson Y. Molecular Genetic Tools and Emerging Synthetic Biology Strategies to Increase Cellular Oil Content in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2019; 60:1184-1196. [PMID: 30715500 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcz022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae constitute a highly diverse group of eukaryotic and photosynthetic microorganisms that have developed extremely efficient systems for harvesting and transforming solar energy into energy-rich molecules such as lipids. Although microalgae are considered to be one of the most promising platforms for the sustainable production of liquid oil, the oil content of these organisms is naturally low, and algal oil production is currently not economically viable. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlamydomonas) is an established algal model due to its fast growth, high transformation efficiency, and well-understood physiology and to the availability of detailed genome information and versatile molecular tools for this organism. In this review, we summarize recent advances in the development of genetic manipulation tools for Chlamydomonas, from gene delivery methods to state-of-the-art genome-editing technologies and fluorescent dye-based high-throughput mutant screening approaches. Furthermore, we discuss practical strategies and toolkits that enhance transgene expression, such as choice of expression vector and background strain. We then provide examples of how advanced genetic tools have been used to increase oil content in Chlamydomonas. Collectively, the current literature indicates that microalgal oil content can be increased by overexpressing key enzymes that catalyze lipid biosynthesis, blocking lipid degradation, silencing metabolic pathways that compete with lipid biosynthesis and modulating redox state. The tools and knowledge generated through metabolic engineering studies should pave the way for developing a synthetic biological approach to enhance lipid productivity in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fantao Kong
- Department of Integrative Bioscience & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
- School of Life Science and Biotechnology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Yasuyo Yamaoka
- Department of Integrative Bioscience & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
| | - Takeshi Ohama
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kochi University of Technology (KUT), Tosayamada, Kochi, Japan
| | - Youngsook Lee
- Department of Integrative Bioscience & Biotechnology, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
- Department of Life Science, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang, Korea
| | - Yonghua Li-Beisson
- Aix-Marseille Univ., CEA, CNRS, BIAM, UMR7265, CEA Cadarache, Saint-Paul-lez Durance F, France
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24
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Perin G, Bellan A, Bernardi A, Bezzo F, Morosinotto T. The potential of quantitative models to improve microalgae photosynthetic efficiency. PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM 2019; 166:380-391. [PMID: 30578540 DOI: 10.1111/ppl.12915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2018] [Revised: 12/14/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The massive increase in carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere driven by human activities is causing huge negative consequences and new sustainable sources of energy, food and materials are highly needed. Algae are unicellular photosynthetic microorganisms that can provide a highly strategic contribution to this challenge as alternative source of biomass to complement crops cultivation. Algae industrial cultures are commonly limited by light availability, and biomass accumulation is strongly dependent on their photon-to-biomass conversion efficiency. Investigation of algae photosynthetic metabolism is thus strategic for the generation of more efficient strains with higher productivity. Algae are cultivated at industrial scale in conditions highly different from the natural niches they adapted to and strains development efforts must fully consider the seminal influence on productivity of regulatory mechanism of photosynthesis as well as of cultivation parameters like cells concentration, light distribution in the culture, mixing, nutrients and carbon dioxide availability. In this review we will focus in particular on how mathematical models can account for the complex influence of all environmental parameters and can be exploited for development of improved algae strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Perin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bellan
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Andrea Bernardi
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9 35131, Padova, Italy
- Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Bezzo
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Padova, Via Marzolo 9 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Tomas Morosinotto
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, Via Ugo Bassi 58/B 35131, Padova, Italy
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25
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Kirst H, Shen Y, Vamvaka E, Betterle N, Xu D, Warek U, Strickland JA, Melis A. Downregulation of the CpSRP43 gene expression confers a truncated light-harvesting antenna (TLA) and enhances biomass and leaf-to-stem ratio in Nicotiana tabacum canopies. PLANTA 2018; 248:139-154. [PMID: 29623472 DOI: 10.1007/s00425-018-2889-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
MAIN CONCLUSION Downregulation in the expression of the signal recognition particle 43 (SRP43) gene in tobacco conferred a truncated photosynthetic light-harvesting antenna (TLA property), and resulted in plants with a greater leaf-to-stem ratio, improved photosynthetic productivity and canopy biomass accumulation under high-density cultivation conditions. Evolution of sizable arrays of light-harvesting antennae in all photosynthetic systems confers a survival advantage for the organism in the wild, where sunlight is often the growth-limiting factor. In crop monocultures, however, this property is strongly counterproductive, when growth takes place under direct and excess sunlight. The large arrays of light-harvesting antennae in crop plants cause the surface of the canopies to over-absorb solar irradiance, far in excess of what is needed to saturate photosynthesis and forcing them to engage in wasteful dissipation of the excess energy. Evidence in this work showed that downregulation by RNA-interference approaches of the Nicotiana tabacum signal recognition particle 43 (SRP43), a nuclear gene encoding a chloroplast-localized component of the photosynthetic light-harvesting assembly pathway, caused a decrease in the light-harvesting antenna size of the photosystems, a corresponding increase in the photosynthetic productivity of chlorophyll in the leaves, and improved tobacco plant canopy biomass accumulation under high-density cultivation conditions. Importantly, the resulting TLA transgenic plants had a substantially greater leaf-to-stem biomass ratio, compared to those of the wild type, grown under identical agronomic conditions. The results are discussed in terms of the potential benefit that could accrue to agriculture upon application of the TLA-technology to crop plants, entailing higher density planting with plants having a greater biomass and leaf-to-stem ratio, translating into greater crop yields per plant with canopies in a novel agronomic configuration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Kirst
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA
| | - Yanxin Shen
- Biotechnology Division, Altria Client Services, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Evangelia Vamvaka
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA
| | - Nico Betterle
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA
| | - Dongmei Xu
- Biotechnology Division, Altria Client Services, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Ujwala Warek
- Biotechnology Division, Altria Client Services, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - James A Strickland
- Biotechnology Division, Altria Client Services, Richmond, VA, 23219, USA
| | - Anastasios Melis
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720-3102, USA.
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