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Nguyen ND, Pulsford SB, Förster B, Rottet S, Rourke L, Long BM, Price GD. A carboxysome-based CO 2 concentrating mechanism for C 3 crop chloroplasts: advances and the road ahead. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 118:940-952. [PMID: 38321620 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16667] [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: 11/23/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
The introduction of the carboxysome-based CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) into crop plants has been modelled to significantly increase crop yields. This projection serves as motivation for pursuing this strategy to contribute to global food security. The successful implementation of this engineering challenge is reliant upon the transfer of a microcompartment that encapsulates cyanobacterial Rubisco, known as the carboxysome, alongside active bicarbonate transporters. To date, significant progress has been achieved with respect to understanding various aspects of the cyanobacterial CCM, and more recently, different components of the carboxysome have been successfully introduced into plant chloroplasts. In this Perspective piece, we summarise recent findings and offer new research avenues that will accelerate research in this field to ultimately and successfully introduce the carboxysome into crop plants for increased crop yields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nghiem D Nguyen
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Sacha B Pulsford
- Research School of Chemistry, Australian National University, 137 Sullivan's Ck Rd, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Britta Förster
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Sarah Rottet
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Loraine Rourke
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - Benedict M Long
- Discipline of Biological Sciences, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, The University of Newcastle, University Drive, Callaghan, New South Wales, 2308, Australia
| | - G Dean Price
- Plant Science Division, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, 134 Linnaeus Way, Acton, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
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2
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Kim RG, Huang W, Findinier J, Bunbury F, Redekop P, Shrestha R, Grismer TS, Vilarrasa-Blasi J, Jinkerson RE, Fakhimi N, Fauser F, Jonikas MC, Onishi M, Xu SL, Grossman AR. Chloroplast Methyltransferase Homolog RMT2 is Involved in Photosystem I Biogenesis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.21.572672. [PMID: 38187728 PMCID: PMC10769443 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.572672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Oxygen (O2), a dominant element in the atmosphere and essential for most life on Earth, is produced by the photosynthetic oxidation of water. However, metabolic activity can cause accumulation of reactive O2 species (ROS) and severe cell damage. To identify and characterize mechanisms enabling cells to cope with ROS, we performed a high-throughput O2 sensitivity screen on a genome-wide insertional mutant library of the unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This screen led to identification of a gene encoding a protein designated Rubisco methyltransferase 2 (RMT2). Although homologous to methyltransferases, RMT2 has not been experimentally demonstrated to have methyltransferase activity. Furthermore, the rmt2 mutant was not compromised for Rubisco (first enzyme of Calvin-Benson Cycle) levels but did exhibit a marked decrease in accumulation/activity of photosystem I (PSI), which causes light sensitivity, with much less of an impact on other photosynthetic complexes. This mutant also shows increased accumulation of Ycf3 and Ycf4, proteins critical for PSI assembly. Rescue of the mutant phenotype with a wild-type (WT) copy of RMT2 fused to the mNeonGreen fluorophore indicates that the protein localizes to the chloroplast and appears to be enriched in/around the pyrenoid, an intrachloroplast compartment present in many algae that is packed with Rubisco and potentially hypoxic. These results indicate that RMT2 serves an important role in PSI biogenesis which, although still speculative, may be enriched around or within the pyrenoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rick G. Kim
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Weichao Huang
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Justin Findinier
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Freddy Bunbury
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Petra Redekop
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ruben Shrestha
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - TaraBryn S Grismer
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | | | - Robert E. Jinkerson
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Neda Fakhimi
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Friedrich Fauser
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Martin C. Jonikas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Masayuki Onishi
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Shou-Ling Xu
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Arthur R. Grossman
- Department of Biosphere Science and Engineering, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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Atkinson N, Stringer R, Mitchell SR, Seung D, McCormick AJ. SAGA1 and SAGA2 promote starch formation around proto-pyrenoids in Arabidopsis chloroplasts. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2311013121. [PMID: 38241434 PMCID: PMC10823261 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2311013121] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024] Open
Abstract
The pyrenoid is a chloroplastic microcompartment in which most algae and some terrestrial plants condense the primary carboxylase, Rubisco (ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase) as part of a CO2-concentrating mechanism that improves the efficiency of CO2 capture. Engineering a pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism (pCCM) into C3 crop plants is a promising strategy to enhance yield capacities and resilience to the changing climate. Many pyrenoids are characterized by a sheath of starch plates that is proposed to act as a barrier to limit CO2 diffusion. Recently, we have reconstituted a phase-separated "proto-pyrenoid" Rubisco matrix in the model C3 plant Arabidopsis thaliana using proteins from the alga with the most well-studied pyrenoid, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii [N. Atkinson, Y. Mao, K. X. Chan, A. J. McCormick, Nat. Commun. 11, 6303 (2020)]. Here, we describe the impact of introducing the Chlamydomonas proteins StArch Granules Abnormal 1 (SAGA1) and SAGA2, which are associated with the regulation of pyrenoid starch biogenesis and morphology. We show that SAGA1 localizes to the proto-pyrenoid in engineered Arabidopsis plants, which results in the formation of atypical spherical starch granules enclosed within the proto-pyrenoid condensate and adjacent plate-like granules that partially cover the condensate, but without modifying the total amount of chloroplastic starch accrued. Additional expression of SAGA2 further increases the proportion of starch synthesized as adjacent plate-like granules that fully encircle the proto-pyrenoid. Our findings pave the way to assembling a diffusion barrier as part of a functional pCCM in vascular plants, while also advancing our understanding of the roles of SAGA1 and SAGA2 in starch sheath formation and broadening the avenues for engineering starch morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Atkinson
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH9 3BF, United Kingdom
- Centre of Engineering Biology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH9 3BF, United Kingdom
| | - Rhea Stringer
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NorwichNR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen R. Mitchell
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH9 3BF, United Kingdom
| | - David Seung
- Department of Biochemistry and Metabolism, John Innes Centre, Norwich Research Park, NorwichNR4 7UH, United Kingdom
| | - Alistair J. McCormick
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH9 3BF, United Kingdom
- Centre of Engineering Biology, University of Edinburgh, EdinburghEH9 3BF, United Kingdom
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4
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He S, Crans VL, Jonikas MC. The pyrenoid: the eukaryotic CO2-concentrating organelle. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3236-3259. [PMID: 37279536 PMCID: PMC10473226 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The pyrenoid is a phase-separated organelle that enhances photosynthetic carbon assimilation in most eukaryotic algae and the land plant hornwort lineage. Pyrenoids mediate approximately one-third of global CO2 fixation, and engineering a pyrenoid into C3 crops is predicted to boost CO2 uptake and increase yields. Pyrenoids enhance the activity of the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco by supplying it with concentrated CO2. All pyrenoids have a dense matrix of Rubisco associated with photosynthetic thylakoid membranes that are thought to supply concentrated CO2. Many pyrenoids are also surrounded by polysaccharide structures that may slow CO2 leakage. Phylogenetic analysis and pyrenoid morphological diversity support a convergent evolutionary origin for pyrenoids. Most of the molecular understanding of pyrenoids comes from the model green alga Chlamydomonas (Chlamydomonas reinhardtii). The Chlamydomonas pyrenoid exhibits multiple liquid-like behaviors, including internal mixing, division by fission, and dissolution and condensation in response to environmental cues and during the cell cycle. Pyrenoid assembly and function are induced by CO2 availability and light, and although transcriptional regulators have been identified, posttranslational regulation remains to be characterized. Here, we summarize the current knowledge of pyrenoid function, structure, components, and dynamic regulation in Chlamydomonas and extrapolate to pyrenoids in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan He
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Victoria L Crans
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
| | - Martin C Jonikas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08540, USA
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5
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Lau CS, Dowle A, Thomas GH, Girr P, Mackinder LCM. A phase-separated CO2-fixing pyrenoid proteome determined by TurboID in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3260-3279. [PMID: 37195994 PMCID: PMC10473203 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Phase separation underpins many biologically important cellular events such as RNA metabolism, signaling, and CO2 fixation. However, determining the composition of a phase-separated organelle is often challenging due to its sensitivity to environmental conditions, which limits the application of traditional proteomic techniques like organellar purification or affinity purification mass spectrometry to understand their composition. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Rubisco is condensed into a crucial phase-separated organelle called the pyrenoid that improves photosynthetic performance by supplying Rubisco with elevated concentrations of CO2. Here, we developed a TurboID-based proximity labeling technique in which proximal proteins in Chlamydomonas chloroplasts are labeled by biotin radicals generated from the TurboID-tagged protein. By fusing 2 core pyrenoid components with the TurboID tag, we generated a high-confidence pyrenoid proxiome that contains most known pyrenoid proteins, in addition to new pyrenoid candidates. Fluorescence protein tagging of 7 previously uncharacterized TurboID-identified proteins showed that 6 localized to a range of subpyrenoid regions. The resulting proxiome also suggests new secondary functions for the pyrenoid in RNA-associated processes and redox-sensitive iron-sulfur cluster metabolism. This developed pipeline can be used to investigate a broad range of biological processes in Chlamydomonas, especially at a temporally resolved suborganellar resolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Sing Lau
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Adam Dowle
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Gavin H Thomas
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Philipp Girr
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Luke C M Mackinder
- Centre for Novel Agricultural Products, Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
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6
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An Y, Wang D, Du J, Wang X, Xiao J. Pyrenoid: Organelle with efficient CO 2-Concentrating mechanism in algae. JOURNAL OF PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 287:154044. [PMID: 37392525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jplph.2023.154044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/03/2023]
Abstract
The carbon dioxide emitted by human accounts for only a small fraction of global photosynthesis consumption, half of which is due to microalgae. The high efficiency of algae photosynthesis is attributed to the pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM). The formation of pyrenoid which has a variety of Rubisco-binding proteins mainly depends on liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Rubisco, a CO2 fixing enzyme. At present, our understanding of pyrenoid at the molecular level mainly stems from studies of the model algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this article, we summarize the current research on the structure, assembly and application of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii pyrenoids, providing new ideas for improving crop photosynthetic performance and yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaqi An
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Dong Wang
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Jingxia Du
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
| | - Xinwei Wang
- College of Agriculture and Forestry, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China.
| | - Jianwei Xiao
- College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; National Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China; Key Laboratory of Genetics and Breeding in Forest Trees and Ornamental Plants, Ministry of Education, College of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing, 100083, China.
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7
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Shimamura D, Yamano T, Niikawa Y, Hu D, Fukuzawa H. A pyrenoid-localized protein SAGA1 is necessary for Ca 2+-binding protein CAS-dependent expression of nuclear genes encoding inorganic carbon transporters in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2023; 156:181-192. [PMID: 36656499 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-022-00996-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae induce a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) to maintain photosynthetic affinity for dissolved inorganic carbon (Ci) under CO2-limiting conditions. In the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the pyrenoid-localized Ca2+-binding protein CAS is required to express genes encoding the Ci-transporters, high-light activated 3 (HLA3), and low-CO2-inducible protein A (LCIA). To identify new factors related to the regulation or components of the CCM, we isolated CO2-requiring mutants KO-60 and KO-62. These mutants had insertions of a hygromycin-resistant cartridge in the StArch Granules Abnormal 1 (SAGA1) gene, which is necessary to maintain the number of pyrenoids and the structure of pyrenoid tubules in the chloroplast. In both KO-60 and the previously identified saga1 mutant, expression levels of 532 genes were significantly reduced. Among them, 10 CAS-dependent genes, including HLA3 and LCIA, were not expressed in the saga1 mutants. While CAS was expressed normally at the protein levels, the localization of CAS was dispersed through the chloroplast rather than in the pyrenoid, even under CO2-limiting conditions. These results suggest that SAGA1 is necessary not only for maintenance of the pyrenoid structure but also for regulation of the nuclear genes encoding Ci-transporters through CAS-dependent retrograde signaling under CO2-limiting stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Shimamura
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Takashi Yamano
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
| | - Yuki Niikawa
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Donghui Hu
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hideya Fukuzawa
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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8
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Kasili RW, Rai AK, Moroney JV. LCIB functions as a carbonic anhydrase: evidence from yeast and Arabidopsis carbonic anhydrase knockout mutants. PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESEARCH 2023; 156:193-204. [PMID: 36856938 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-023-01005-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii evolved a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM) because of the limited CO2 in its natural environment. One critical component of the C. reinhardtii CCM is the limiting CO2 inducible B (LCIB) protein. LCIB is required for acclimation to air levels of CO2. C. reinhardtii cells with a mutated LCIB protein have an 'air-dier' phenotype when grown in low CO2 conditions, meaning they die in air levels of CO2 but can grow in high and very low CO2 conditions. The LCIB protein functions together with its close homolog in C. reinhardtii, limiting CO2 inducible C protein (LCIC), in a hexameric LCIB-LCIC complex. LCIB has been proposed to act as a vectoral carbonic anhydrase (CA) that helps to recapture CO2 that would otherwise leak out of the chloroplast. Although both LCIB and LCIC are structurally similar to βCAs, their CA activity has not been demonstrated to date. We provide evidence that LCIB is an active CA using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae CA knockout mutant (∆NCE103) and an Arabidopsis thaliana βCA5 knockout mutant (βca5). We show that different truncated versions of the LCIB protein complement ∆NCE103, while the full length LCIB protein complements βca5 plants, so that both the yeast and plant mutants can grow in low CO2 conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remmy W Kasili
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - Ashwani K Rai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA
| | - James V Moroney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, 70803, USA.
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9
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Kupriyanova EV, Pronina NA, Los DA. Adapting from Low to High: An Update to CO 2-Concentrating Mechanisms of Cyanobacteria and Microalgae. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:1569. [PMID: 37050194 PMCID: PMC10096703 DOI: 10.3390/plants12071569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The intracellular accumulation of inorganic carbon (Ci) by microalgae and cyanobacteria under ambient atmospheric CO2 levels was first documented in the 80s of the 20th Century. Hence, a third variety of the CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM), acting in aquatic photoautotrophs with the C3 photosynthetic pathway, was revealed in addition to the then-known schemes of CCM, functioning in CAM and C4 higher plants. Despite the low affinity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) of microalgae and cyanobacteria for the CO2 substrate and low CO2/O2 specificity, CCM allows them to perform efficient CO2 fixation in the reductive pentose phosphate (RPP) cycle. CCM is based on the coordinated operation of strategically located carbonic anhydrases and CO2/HCO3- uptake systems. This cooperation enables the intracellular accumulation of HCO3-, which is then employed to generate a high concentration of CO2 molecules in the vicinity of Rubisco's active centers compensating up for the shortcomings of enzyme features. CCM functions as an add-on to the RPP cycle while also acting as an important regulatory link in the interaction of dark and light reactions of photosynthesis. This review summarizes recent advances in the study of CCM molecular and cellular organization in microalgae and cyanobacteria, as well as the fundamental principles of its functioning and regulation.
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10
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Jin K, Chen G, Yang Y, Zhang Z, Lu T. Strategies for manipulating Rubisco and creating photorespiratory bypass to boost C 3 photosynthesis: Prospects on modern crop improvement. PLANT, CELL & ENVIRONMENT 2023; 46:363-378. [PMID: 36444099 DOI: 10.1111/pce.14500] [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: 09/15/2022] [Revised: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthesis is a process that uses solar energy to fix CO2 in the air and converts it into sugar, and ultimately powers almost all life activities on the earth. C3 photosynthesis is the most common form of photosynthesis in crops. Current efforts of increasing crop yields in response to growing global food requirement are mostly focused on improving C3 photosynthesis. In this review, we summarized the strategies of C3 photosynthesis improvement in terms of Rubisco properties and photorespiratory limitation. Potential engineered targets include Rubisco subunits and their catalytic sites, Rubisco assembly chaperones, and Rubisco activase. In addition, we reviewed multiple photorespiratory bypasses built by strategies of synthetic biology to reduce the release of CO2 and ammonia and minimize energy consumption by photorespiration. The potential strategies are suggested to enhance C3 photosynthesis and boost crop production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaining Jin
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
- Department of Plant Sciences, Centre for Crop Systems Analysis, Wageningen University & Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Guoxin Chen
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Yirong Yang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Zhiguo Zhang
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Tiegang Lu
- Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, P. R. China
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11
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Adler L, Díaz-Ramos A, Mao Y, Pukacz KR, Fei C, McCormick AJ. New horizons for building pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanisms in plants to improve yields. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 190:1609-1627. [PMID: 35961043 PMCID: PMC9614477 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiac373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Many photosynthetic species have evolved CO2-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) to improve the efficiency of CO2 assimilation by Rubisco and reduce the negative impacts of photorespiration. However, the majority of plants (i.e. C3 plants) lack an active CCM. Thus, engineering a functional heterologous CCM into important C3 crops, such as rice (Oryza sativa) and wheat (Triticum aestivum), has become a key strategic ambition to enhance yield potential. Here, we review recent advances in our understanding of the pyrenoid-based CCM in the model green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and engineering progress in C3 plants. We also discuss recent modeling work that has provided insights into the potential advantages of Rubisco condensation within the pyrenoid and the energetic costs of the Chlamydomonas CCM, which, together, will help to better guide future engineering approaches. Key findings include the potential benefits of Rubisco condensation for carboxylation efficiency and the need for a diffusional barrier around the pyrenoid matrix. We discuss a minimal set of components for the CCM to function and that active bicarbonate import into the chloroplast stroma may not be necessary for a functional pyrenoid-based CCM in planta. Thus, the roadmap for building a pyrenoid-based CCM into plant chloroplasts to enhance the efficiency of photosynthesis now appears clearer with new challenges and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuwei Mao
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Krzysztof Robin Pukacz
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Chenyi Fei
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, USA
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12
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Bachy C, Wittmers F, Muschiol J, Hamilton M, Henrissat B, Worden AZ. The Land-Sea Connection: Insights Into the Plant Lineage from a Green Algal Perspective. ANNUAL REVIEW OF PLANT BIOLOGY 2022; 73:585-616. [PMID: 35259927 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-arplant-071921-100530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The colonization of land by plants generated opportunities for the rise of new heterotrophic life forms, including humankind. A unique event underpinned this massive change to earth ecosystems-the advent of eukaryotic green algae. Today, an abundant marine green algal group, the prasinophytes, alongside prasinodermophytes and nonmarine chlorophyte algae, is facilitating insights into plant developments. Genome-level data allow identification of conserved proteins and protein families with extensive modifications, losses, or gains and expansion patterns that connect to niche specialization and diversification. Here, we contextualize attributes according to Viridiplantae evolutionary relationships, starting with orthologous protein families, and then focusing on key elements with marked differentiation, resulting in patchy distributions across green algae and plants. We place attention on peptidoglycan biosynthesis, important for plastid division and walls; phytochrome photosensors that are master regulators in plants; and carbohydrate-active enzymes, essential to all manner of carbohydratebiotransformations. Together with advances in algal model systems, these areas are ripe for discovering molecular roles and innovations within and across plant and algal lineages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Bachy
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Fabian Wittmers
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Jan Muschiol
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Maria Hamilton
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Bernard Henrissat
- Architecture et Fonction des Macromolécules Biologiques, CNRS UMR 7257, Aix-Marseille Université (AMU), Marseille, France
- Department of Biological Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- DTU Bioengineering, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Alexandra Z Worden
- Ocean EcoSystems Biology Unit, GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel, Kiel, Germany
- Marine Biological Laboratories, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology, Plön, Germany
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13
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Systematic characterization of gene function in the photosynthetic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Nat Genet 2022; 54:705-714. [PMID: 35513725 PMCID: PMC9110296 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01052-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Most genes in photosynthetic organisms remain functionally uncharacterized. Here, using a barcoded mutant library of the model eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we determined the phenotypes of more than 58,000 mutants under more than 121 different environmental growth conditions and chemical treatments. A total of 59% of genes are represented by at least one mutant that showed a phenotype, providing clues to the functions of thousands of genes. Mutant phenotypic profiles place uncharacterized genes into functional pathways such as DNA repair, photosynthesis, the CO2-concentrating mechanism and ciliogenesis. We illustrate the value of this resource by validating phenotypes and gene functions, including three new components of an actin cytoskeleton defense pathway. The data also inform phenotype discovery in land plants; mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana genes exhibit phenotypes similar to those we observed in their Chlamydomonas homologs. We anticipate that this resource will guide the functional characterization of genes across the tree of life. Systematic phenotyping of 58,101 mutants of the model eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under 121 environmental and chemical stress conditions provides a large resource for characterizing gene function.
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14
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Fei C, Wilson AT, Mangan NM, Wingreen NS, Jonikas MC. Modelling the pyrenoid-based CO 2-concentrating mechanism provides insights into its operating principles and a roadmap for its engineering into crops. NATURE PLANTS 2022; 8:583-595. [PMID: 35596080 PMCID: PMC9122830 DOI: 10.1038/s41477-022-01153-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Many eukaryotic photosynthetic organisms enhance their carbon uptake by supplying concentrated CO2 to the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco in an organelle called the pyrenoid. Ongoing efforts seek to engineer this pyrenoid-based CO2-concentrating mechanism (PCCM) into crops to increase yields. Here we develop a computational model for a PCCM on the basis of the postulated mechanism in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Our model recapitulates all Chlamydomonas PCCM-deficient mutant phenotypes and yields general biophysical principles underlying the PCCM. We show that an effective and energetically efficient PCCM requires a physical barrier to reduce pyrenoid CO2 leakage, as well as proper enzyme localization to reduce futile cycling between CO2 and HCO3-. Importantly, our model demonstrates the feasibility of a purely passive CO2 uptake strategy at air-level CO2, while active HCO3- uptake proves advantageous at lower CO2 levels. We propose a four-step engineering path to increase the rate of CO2 fixation in the plant chloroplast up to threefold at a theoretical cost of only 1.3 ATP per CO2 fixed, thereby offering a framework to guide the engineering of a PCCM into land plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyi Fei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Alexandra T Wilson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Niall M Mangan
- Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Ned S Wingreen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Martin C Jonikas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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15
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Yamano T, Toyokawa C, Shimamura D, Matsuoka T, Fukuzawa H. CO2-dependent migration and relocation of LCIB, a pyrenoid-peripheral protein in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 188:1081-1094. [PMID: 34791500 PMCID: PMC8825250 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiab528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Most microalgae overcome the difficulty of acquiring inorganic carbon (Ci) in aquatic environments by inducing a CO2-concentrating mechanism (CCM). In the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, two distinct photosynthetic acclimation states have been described under CO2-limiting conditions (low-CO2 [LC] and very low-CO2 [VLC]). LC-inducible protein B (LCIB), structurally characterized as carbonic anhydrase, localizes in the chloroplast stroma under CO2-supplied and LC conditions. In VLC conditions, it migrates to aggregate around the pyrenoid, where the CO2-fixing enzyme ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase is enriched. Although the physiological importance of LCIB localization changes in the chloroplast has been shown, factors necessary for the localization changes remain uncertain. Here, we examined the effect of pH, light availability, photosynthetic electron flow, and protein synthesis on the localization changes, along with measuring Ci concentrations. LCIB dispersed or localized in the basal region of the chloroplast stroma at 8.3-15 µM CO2, whereas LCIB migrated toward the pyrenoid at 6.5 µM CO2. Furthermore, LCIB relocated toward the pyrenoid at 2.6-3.4 µM CO2, even in cells in the dark or treated with 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and cycloheximide in light. In contrast, in the mutant lacking CCM1, a master regulator of CCM, LCIB remained dispersed even at 4.3 µM CO2. Meanwhile, a simultaneous expression of LCIC, an interacting protein of LCIB, induced the localization of several speckled structures at the pyrenoid periphery. These results suggest that the localization changes of LCIB require LCIC and are controlled by CO2 concentration with ∼7 µM as the boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Yamano
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
- Author for communication:
| | - Chihana Toyokawa
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Daisuke Shimamura
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Toshiki Matsuoka
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
| | - Hideya Fukuzawa
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8502, Japan
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16
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Çakirsoy I, Miyamoto T, Ohtake N. Physiology of microalgae and their application to sustainable agriculture: A mini-review. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:1005991. [PMID: 36466259 PMCID: PMC9712798 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.1005991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Concern that depletion of fertilizer feedstocks, which are a finite mineral resource, threatens agricultural sustainability has driven the exploration of sustainable methods of soil fertilization. Given that microalgae, which are unicellular photosynthetic organisms, can take up nutrients efficiently from water systems, their application in a biological wastewater purification system followed by the use of their biomass as a fertilizer alternative has attracted attention. Such applications of microalgae would contribute to the accelerated recycling of nutrients from wastewater to farmland. Many previous reports have provided information on the physiological characteristics of microalgae that support their utility. In this review, we focus on recent achievements of studies on microalgal physiology and relevant applications and outline the prospects for the contribution of microalgae to the establishment of sustainable agricultural practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iffet Çakirsoy
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Takuji Miyamoto
- Sakeology Center, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- *Correspondence: Takuji Miyamoto, ; Norikuni Ohtake,
| | - Norikuni Ohtake
- Graduate School of Science and Technology, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
- *Correspondence: Takuji Miyamoto, ; Norikuni Ohtake,
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17
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Neofotis P, Temple J, Tessmer OL, Bibik J, Norris N, Pollner E, Lucker B, Weraduwage SM, Withrow A, Sears B, Mogos G, Frame M, Hall D, Weissman J, Kramer DM. The induction of pyrenoid synthesis by hyperoxia and its implications for the natural diversity of photosynthetic responses in Chlamydomonas. eLife 2021; 10:67565. [PMID: 34936552 PMCID: PMC8694700 DOI: 10.7554/elife.67565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In algae, it is well established that the pyrenoid, a component of the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM), is essential for efficient photosynthesis at low CO2. However, the signal that triggers the formation of the pyrenoid has remained elusive. Here, we show that, in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the pyrenoid is strongly induced by hyperoxia, even at high CO2 or bicarbonate levels. These results suggest that the pyrenoid can be induced by a common product of photosynthesis specific to low CO2 or hyperoxia. Consistent with this view, the photorespiratory by-product, H2O2, induced the pyrenoid, suggesting that it acts as a signal. Finally, we show evidence for linkages between genetic variations in hyperoxia tolerance, H2O2 signaling, and pyrenoid morphologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Neofotis
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Joshua Temple
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States.,Department of Plant Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Oliver L Tessmer
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Jacob Bibik
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Nicole Norris
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Eric Pollner
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Ben Lucker
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Sarathi M Weraduwage
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States.,Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Alecia Withrow
- Center for Advanced Microscopy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Barbara Sears
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Greg Mogos
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Melinda Frame
- Center for Advanced Microscopy, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - David Hall
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
| | - Joseph Weissman
- Corporate Strategic Research, ExxonMobil, Annandale, United States
| | - David M Kramer
- MSU-DOE Plant Research Laboratory, Michigan State University, East Lansing, United States
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18
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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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19
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Kona R, Mohan SV. Draft genome analysis, poly-phasic study and lipid biosynthesis pathway of Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2021; 341:125809. [PMID: 34479141 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2021.125809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive polyphasic evaluation of a microalgal isolate Scenedesmus sp. SVMIICT1 through morphological, biochemical, photosynthetic characterization, next-generation sequencing and lipid pathway analysis was reported. The strain was cultivated photo-autotrophically, where the maximum photosynthetic yield (FV/FM) of 0.75 was observed on the 4th day with optimal PSII photochemical efficiency. Enhanced electron transport rate (ETR(I)) with inhibitor 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea (DCMU) resulted in cyclic electron flow. A fair share of carbohydrate content (36 µg/mg) was ascribed to the presence of pyrenoid towards higher CO2 sequestration pursuant to carbon concentrating mechanism (CCM). Denovo sequencing of the genome was assembled, annotated for the prediction of gene and protein. KEGG automatic annotation server (KAAS) analysis depicted the presence of genes accompanying the biosynthesis of the glycerophospholipid pathway. Fatty acid profile represented a higher fraction of palmitic acid (C16:0; 41.6%) followed by alpha-linolenic acid (C18:3; 44.5%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajesh Kona
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES) Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - S Venkata Mohan
- Bioengineering and Environmental Sciences (BEES) Lab, Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology (CSIR-IICT), Hyderabad 500007, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
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20
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Pareek V, Sha Z, He J, Wingreen NS, Benkovic SJ. Metabolic channeling: predictions, deductions, and evidence. Mol Cell 2021; 81:3775-3785. [PMID: 34547238 PMCID: PMC8485759 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2021.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
With the elucidation of myriad anabolic and catabolic enzyme-catalyzed cellular pathways crisscrossing each other, an obvious question arose: how could these networks operate with maximal catalytic efficiency and minimal interference? A logical answer was the postulate of metabolic channeling, which in its simplest embodiment assumes that the product generated by one enzyme passes directly to a second without diffusion into the surrounding medium. This tight coupling of activities might increase a pathway's metabolic flux and/or serve to sequester unstable/toxic/reactive intermediates as well as prevent their access to other networks. Here, we present evidence for this concept, commencing with enzymes that feature a physical molecular tunnel, to multi-enzyme complexes that retain pathway substrates through electrostatics or enclosures, and finally to metabolons that feature collections of enzymes assembled into clusters with variable stoichiometric composition. Lastly, we discuss the advantages of reversibly assembled metabolons in the context of the purinosome, the purine biosynthesis metabolon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidhi Pareek
- Huck Institutes of Life Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Zhou Sha
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Jingxuan He
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Ned S Wingreen
- Department of Molecular Biology and Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Stephen J Benkovic
- Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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21
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Abstract
Wang and Jonikas take a look at an unconventional organelle, the pyrenoid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lianyong Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1014, USA
| | - Martin C Jonikas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1014, USA.
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22
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Santhanagopalan I, Wong R, Mathur T, Griffiths H. Orchestral manoeuvres in the light: crosstalk needed for regulation of the Chlamydomonas carbon concentration mechanism. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2021; 72:4604-4624. [PMID: 33893473 PMCID: PMC8320531 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erab169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The inducible carbon concentration mechanism (CCM) in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has been well defined from a molecular and ultrastructural perspective. Inorganic carbon transport proteins, and strategically located carbonic anhydrases deliver CO2 within the chloroplast pyrenoid matrix where Rubisco is packaged. However, there is little understanding of the fundamental signalling and sensing processes leading to CCM induction. While external CO2 limitation has been believed to be the primary cue, the coupling between energetic supply and inorganic carbon demand through regulatory feedback from light harvesting and photorespiration signals could provide the original CCM trigger. Key questions regarding the integration of these processes are addressed in this review. We consider how the chloroplast functions as a crucible for photosynthesis, importing and integrating nuclear-encoded components from the cytoplasm, and sending retrograde signals to the nucleus to regulate CCM induction. We hypothesize that induction of the CCM is associated with retrograde signals associated with photorespiration and/or light stress. We have also examined the significance of common evolutionary pressures for origins of two co-regulated processes, namely the CCM and photorespiration, in addition to identifying genes of interest involved in transcription, protein folding, and regulatory processes which are needed to fully understand the processes leading to CCM induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indu Santhanagopalan
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rachel Wong
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tanya Mathur
- Department of Plant Sciences, Downing Street, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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23
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Emrich-Mills TZ, Yates G, Barrett J, Girr P, Grouneva I, Lau CS, Walker CE, Kwok TK, Davey JW, Johnson MP, Mackinder LCM. A recombineering pipeline to clone large and complex genes in Chlamydomonas. THE PLANT CELL 2021; 33:1161-1181. [PMID: 33723601 PMCID: PMC8633747 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koab024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The ability to clone genes has greatly advanced cell and molecular biology research, enabling researchers to generate fluorescent protein fusions for localization and confirm genetic causation by mutant complementation. Most gene cloning is polymerase chain reaction (PCR)�or DNA synthesis-dependent, which can become costly and technically challenging as genes increase in size, particularly if they contain complex regions. This has been a long-standing challenge for the Chlamydomonas reinhardtii research community, as this alga has a high percentage of genes containing complex sequence structures. Here we overcame these challenges by developing a recombineering pipeline for the rapid parallel cloning of genes from a Chlamydomonas bacterial artificial chromosome collection. To generate fluorescent protein fusions for localization, we applied the pipeline at both batch and high-throughput scales to 203 genes related to the Chlamydomonas CO2 concentrating mechanism (CCM), with an overall cloning success rate of 77%. Cloning success was independent of gene size and complexity, with cloned genes as large as 23 kb. Localization of a subset of CCM targets confirmed previous mass spectrometry data, identified new pyrenoid components, and enabled complementation of mutants. We provide vectors and detailed protocols to facilitate easy adoption of this technology, which we envision will open up new possibilities in algal and plant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Z Emrich-Mills
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Department Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Gary Yates
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - James Barrett
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Philipp Girr
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Irina Grouneva
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Chun Sing Lau
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - Tsz Kam Kwok
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - John W Davey
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Matthew P Johnson
- Department Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Luke C M Mackinder
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
- Author for correspondence: (L.C.M.M.)
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24
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Barrett J, Girr P, Mackinder LCM. Pyrenoids: CO 2-fixing phase separated liquid organelles. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2021; 1868:118949. [PMID: 33421532 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2021.118949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pyrenoids are non-membrane bound organelles found in chloroplasts of algae and hornwort plants that can be seen by light-microscopy. Pyrenoids are formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Rubisco, the primary CO2 fixing enzyme, with an intrinsically disordered multivalent Rubisco-binding protein. Pyrenoids are the heart of algal and hornwort biophysical CO2 concentrating mechanisms, which accelerate photosynthesis and mediate about 30% of global carbon fixation. Even though LLPS may underlie the apparent convergent evolution of pyrenoids, our current molecular understanding of pyrenoid formation comes from a single example, the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. In this review, we summarise current knowledge about pyrenoid assembly, regulation and structural organization in Chlamydomonas and highlight evidence that LLPS is the general principle underlying pyrenoid formation across algal lineages and hornworts. Detailed understanding of the principles behind pyrenoid assembly, regulation and structural organization within diverse lineages will provide a fundamental understanding of this biogeochemically important organelle and help guide ongoing efforts to engineer pyrenoids into crops to increase photosynthetic performance and yields.2.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Barrett
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Philipp Girr
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
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25
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Atkinson N, Mao Y, Chan KX, McCormick AJ. Condensation of Rubisco into a proto-pyrenoid in higher plant chloroplasts. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6303. [PMID: 33298923 PMCID: PMC7726157 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20132-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Photosynthetic CO2 fixation in plants is limited by the inefficiency of the CO2-assimilating enzyme Rubisco. In most eukaryotic algae, Rubisco aggregates within a microcompartment known as the pyrenoid, in association with a CO2-concentrating mechanism that improves photosynthetic operating efficiency under conditions of low inorganic carbon. Recent work has shown that the pyrenoid matrix is a phase-separated, liquid-like condensate. In the alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, condensation is mediated by two components: Rubisco and the linker protein EPYC1 (Essential Pyrenoid Component 1). Here, we show that expression of mature EPYC1 and a plant-algal hybrid Rubisco leads to spontaneous condensation of Rubisco into a single phase-separated compartment in Arabidopsis chloroplasts, with liquid-like properties similar to a pyrenoid matrix. This work represents a significant initial step towards enhancing photosynthesis in higher plants by introducing an algal CO2-concentrating mechanism, which is predicted to significantly increase the efficiency of photosynthetic CO2 uptake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicky Atkinson
- SynthSys & Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Yuwei Mao
- SynthSys & Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Kher Xing Chan
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1206 Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Alistair J McCormick
- SynthSys & Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, King's Buildings, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK.
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Meyer MT, Itakura AK, Patena W, Wang L, He S, Emrich-Mills T, Lau CS, Yates G, Mackinder LCM, Jonikas MC. Assembly of the algal CO 2-fixing organelle, the pyrenoid, is guided by a Rubisco-binding motif. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eabd2408. [PMID: 33177094 PMCID: PMC7673724 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Approximately one-third of the Earth's photosynthetic CO2 assimilation occurs in a pyrenoid, an organelle containing the CO2-fixing enzyme Rubisco. How constituent proteins are recruited to the pyrenoid and how the organelle's subcompartments-membrane tubules, a surrounding phase-separated Rubisco matrix, and a peripheral starch sheath-are held together is unknown. Using the model alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we found that pyrenoid proteins share a sequence motif. We show that the motif is necessary and sufficient to target proteins to the pyrenoid and that the motif binds to Rubisco, suggesting a mechanism for targeting. The presence of the Rubisco-binding motif on proteins that localize to the tubules and on proteins that localize to the matrix-starch sheath interface suggests that the motif holds the pyrenoid's three subcompartments together. Our findings advance our understanding of pyrenoid biogenesis and illustrate how a single protein motif can underlie the architecture of a complex multilayered phase-separated organelle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz T Meyer
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Alan K Itakura
- Department of Plant Biology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Department of Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Weronika Patena
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Lianyong Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Shan He
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | | | - Chun S Lau
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Gary Yates
- Department of Biology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | | | - Martin C Jonikas
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Elucidation and genetic intervention of CO2 concentration mechanism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for increased plant primary productivity. J Biosci 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12038-020-00080-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Mukherjee A. CO 2 Concentration in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Effect of the Pyrenoid Starch Sheath. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2020; 182:1796-1797. [PMID: 32253326 PMCID: PMC7140950 DOI: 10.1104/pp.20.00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
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