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Nagamine S, Oishi R, Ueda M, Sakamoto T, Nakazawa M. Genome editing-based mutagenesis stably modifies composition of wax esters synthesized by Euglena gracilis under anaerobic conditions. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2024; 410:131255. [PMID: 39127356 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2024.131255] [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: 05/27/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/12/2024]
Abstract
Microalgal oil production represents a promising renewable biofuel source. Metabolic engineering can enhance its utility, transforming it into an improved biofuel and expanding its applications as a feedstock for commodity chemicals, thereby increasing their value in biorefineries. This study focused on anaerobic wax ester production by the microalga Euglena gracilis, aiming to develop stable mutant strains with altered wax ester profiles through genome editing. Two enzymes in the fatty acid beta-oxidation pathway involved in wax ester production were targeted-3-ketoacyl-CoA thiolase and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase-using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9. The results revealed one genetic mutation that lengthened and three that shortened the distribution of wax ester compositions compared to the wild-type (WT). The triple-knockout mutant, combining mutations that shorten wax ester chains, produced wax esters with acyl chains two carbons shorter than WT. This study established a methodology to stably modify wax ester composition in E. gracilis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sakura Nagamine
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Rikuto Oishi
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Ueda
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Tatsuji Sakamoto
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan
| | - Masami Nakazawa
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Faculty of Agriculture, Osaka Metropolitan University, Japan.
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Yamashita K, Hanaki R, Mori A, Suzuki K, Tomo T, Tokunaga E. Reddening of the Unicellular Green Alga Euglena gracilis by Dried Bonito Stock and Intense Red Light Irradiation. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 13:510. [PMID: 38498509 PMCID: PMC10892402 DOI: 10.3390/plants13040510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
This study confirms for the first time that the significant red coloration of Euglena gracilis is induced by bonito stock (BS), a traditional Japanese food, and intense red light exposure (605~660 nm, 1000~1300 µmol photons/m2/s). Under the condition, excessive photosynthetic activity destroyed many chloroplasts, while carotenoids were maintained, resulting in the formation of reddened cells. The HPLC analysis revealed that diadinoxanthin was the primary carotenoid present in reddened cells. Additionally, an undefined xanthophyll, not produced under normal culture conditions, was synthesized and suggested to contain a C=O bond. While it has been reported that strong light stress can increase the total carotenoid content of cells, this study did not verify this claim, and it should be investigated further in future research. Under white light irradiation conditions (90 μmol photons/m2/s) in BS medium, no reddening of cells was observed, and good growth was achieved (over four times the cell density in CM medium on the seventh day). This cell suspension is considered to have a high nutritional value because it is composed of functional food, BS and E. gracilis. The fact that this method does not involve genetic modification suggests the possibility of industrial applications, including food use, even in reddened cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyohei Yamashita
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Division I, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan (E.T.)
| | - Ryusei Hanaki
- Graduate School of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Ayaka Mori
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Division I, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan (E.T.)
| | - Kengo Suzuki
- Euglena Co., Ltd., 1-6, Suehiro-cho, Tsurumi-ku, Yokohama 230-0045, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tatsuya Tomo
- Graduate School of Science, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan
| | - Eiji Tokunaga
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science Division I, Tokyo University of Science, 1-3 Kagurazaka, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8601, Japan (E.T.)
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Nomura T, Kim J, Ishikawa M, Suzuki K, Mochida K. High-efficiency genome editing by Cas12a ribonucleoprotein complex in Euglena gracilis. Microb Biotechnol 2024; 17:e14393. [PMID: 38332568 PMCID: PMC10884871 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.14393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Transgene-free genome editing based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) technology is key to achieving genetic engineering in microalgae for basic research and industrial applications. Euglena gracilis, a unicellular phytoflagellate microalga, is a promising biomaterial for foods, feeds, cosmetics and biofuels. However, methods for the genetic manipulation of E. gracilis are still limited. Here, we developed a high-efficiency, transgene-free genome editing method for E. gracilis using Lachnospiraceae bacterium CRISPR-associated protein 12a (LbCas12a) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex, which complements the previously established Cas9 RNP-based method. Through the direct delivery of LbCas12a-containing RNPs, our method reached mutagenesis rates of approximately 77.2-94.5% at two different E. gracilis target genes, Glucan synthase-like 2 (EgGSL2) and a phytoene synthase gene (EgcrtB). Moreover, in addition to targeted mutagenesis, we demonstrated efficient knock-in and base editing at the target site using LbCas12a-based RNPs with a single-stranded DNA donor template in E. gracilis. This study extends the genetic engineering capabilities of Euglena to accelerate its basic use for research and engineering for bioproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihisa Nomura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
- RIKEN Baton Zone ProgramYokohamaJapan
- Faculty of AgricultureYamagata UniversityTsuruokaJapan
| | - June‐Silk Kim
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Institute of Plant Science and ResourcesOkayama UniversityOkayamaJapan
| | - Marumi Ishikawa
- RIKEN Baton Zone ProgramYokohamaJapan
- Euglena Co., Ltd.TokyoJapan
| | - Kengo Suzuki
- RIKEN Baton Zone ProgramYokohamaJapan
- Euglena Co., Ltd.TokyoJapan
| | - Keiichi Mochida
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
- RIKEN Baton Zone ProgramYokohamaJapan
- Kihara Institute for Biological ResearchYokohama City UniversityYokohamaKanagawaJapan
- Graduate School of NanobioscienceYokohama City UniversityYokohamaKanagawaJapan
- School of Information and Data SciencesNagasaki UniversityNagasakiJapan
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Tamaki S, Shinomura T, Mochida K. Illuminating the diversity of carotenoids in microalgal eyespots and phototaxis. PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR 2023; 18:2257348. [PMID: 37724547 PMCID: PMC10512927 DOI: 10.1080/15592324.2023.2257348] [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: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms biosynthesize various carotenoids, a group of light-absorbing isoprenoid pigments that have key functions in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and phototaxis. Microalgae, in particular, contain diverse carotenoids and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways as a consequence of the various endosymbiotic events in their evolutionary history. Carotenoids such as astaxanthin, diadinoxanthin, and fucoxanthin are unique to algae. In microalgae, carotenoids are concentrated in the eyespot, a pigmented organelle that is important for phototaxis. A wide range of microalgae, including chlorophytes, euglenophytes, ochrophytes, and haptophytes, have an eyespot. In the chlorophyte Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, carotenoid layers in the eyespot reflect light to amplify the photosignal and shield photoreceptors from light, thereby enabling precise phototaxis. Our recent research revealed that, in contrast to the β-carotene-rich eyespot of C. reinhardtii, the euglenophyte Euglena gracilis relies on zeaxanthin for stable eyespot formation and phototaxis. In this review, we highlight recent advancements in the study of eyespot carotenoids and phototaxis in these microalgae, placing special emphasis on the diversity of carotenoid-dependent visual systems among microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun Tamaki
- Bioproductivity Informatics Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shinomura
- Department of Biosciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Teikyo University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Keiichi Mochida
- Bioproductivity Informatics Research Team, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Yokohama, Japan
- Microalgae Resource Upcycling Research Laboratory, RIKEN Baton Zone Program, Yokohama, Japan
- Kihara Institute for Biological Research, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
- School of Information and Data Sciences, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
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Naz T, Ullah S, Nazir Y, Li S, Iqbal B, Liu Q, Mohamed H, Song Y. Industrially Important Fungal Carotenoids: Advancements in Biotechnological Production and Extraction. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9050578. [PMID: 37233289 DOI: 10.3390/jof9050578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Carotenoids are lipid-soluble compounds that are present in nature, including plants and microorganisms such as fungi, certain bacteria, and algae. In fungi, they are widely present in almost all taxonomic classifications. Fungal carotenoids have gained special attention due to their biochemistry and the genetics of their synthetic pathway. The antioxidant potential of carotenoids may help fungi survive longer in their natural environment. Carotenoids may be produced in greater quantities using biotechnological methods than by chemical synthesis or plant extraction. The initial focus of this review is on industrially important carotenoids in the most advanced fungal and yeast strains, with a brief description of their taxonomic classification. Biotechnology has long been regarded as the most suitable alternative way of producing natural pigment from microbes due to their immense capacity to accumulate these pigments. So, this review mainly presents the recent progress in the genetic modification of native and non-native producers to modify the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway for enhanced carotenoid production, as well as factors affecting carotenoid biosynthesis in fungal strains and yeast, and proposes various extraction methods to obtain high yields of carotenoids in an attempt to find suitable greener extraction methods. Finally, a brief description of the challenges regarding the commercialization of these fungal carotenoids and the solution is also given.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tahira Naz
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Samee Ullah
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University Institute of Food Science and Technology, The University of Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Yusuf Nazir
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
- Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
- Innovation Centre for Confectionery Technology (MANIS), Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi 43600, Malaysia
| | - Shaoqi Li
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Bushra Iqbal
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Hassan Mohamed
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Assiut 71524, Egypt
| | - Yuanda Song
- Colin Ratledge Center for Microbial Lipids, College of Agricultural Engineering and Food Science, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo 255000, China
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