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Sharon I, Hilvert D, Schmeing TM. Cyanophycin and its biosynthesis: not hot but very cool. Nat Prod Rep 2023; 40:1479-1497. [PMID: 37231979 DOI: 10.1039/d2np00092j] [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] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 1878 to early 2023Cyanophycin is a biopolymer consisting of a poly-aspartate backbone with arginines linked to each Asp sidechain through isopeptide bonds. Cyanophycin is made by cyanophycin synthetase 1 or 2 through ATP-dependent polymerization of Asp and Arg, or β-Asp-Arg, respectively. It is degraded into dipeptides by exo-cyanophycinases, and these dipeptides are hydrolyzed into free amino acids by general or dedicated isodipeptidase enzymes. When synthesized, chains of cyanophycin coalesce into large, inert, membrane-less granules. Although discovered in cyanobacteria, cyanophycin is made by species throughout the bacterial kingdom, and cyanophycin metabolism provides advantages for toxic bloom forming algae and some human pathogens. Some bacteria have developed dedicated schemes for cyanophycin accumulation and use, which include fine temporal and spatial regulation. Cyanophycin has also been heterologously produced in a variety of host organisms to a remarkable level, over 50% of the host's dry mass, and has potential for a variety of green industrial applications. In this review, we summarize the progression of cyanophycin research, with an emphasis on recent structural studies of enzymes in the cyanophycin biosynthetic pathway. These include several unexpected revelations that show cyanophycin synthetase to be a very cool, multi-functional macromolecular machine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Itai Sharon
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3G 0B1.
| | - Donald Hilvert
- Laboratory of Organic Chemistry, ETH Zürich, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - T Martin Schmeing
- Department of Biochemistry and Centre de Recherche en Biologie Structurale, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada, H3G 0B1.
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Sukkasam N, Leksingto J, Incharoensakdi A, Monshupanee T. Chemical Triggering Cyanobacterial Glycogen Accumulation: Methyl Viologen Treatment Increases Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Glycogen Storage by Enhancing Levels of Gene Transcript and Substrates in Glycogen Synthesis. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2023; 63:2027-2041. [PMID: 36197756 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcac136] [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: 07/12/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Two-stage cultivation is effective for glycogen production by cyanobacteria. Cells were first grown under adequate nitrate supply (BG11) to increase biomass and subsequently transferred to nitrogen deprivation (-N) to stimulate glycogen accumulation. However, the two-stage method is time-consuming and requires extensive energy. Thus, one-stage cultivation that enables both cell growth and glycogen accumulation is advantageous. Such one-stage method could be achieved using a chemical triggering glycogen storage. However, there is a limited study on such chemicals. Here, nine compounds previously reported to affect cyanobacterial cellular functions were examined in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. 2-Phenylethanol, phenoxyethanol, 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea and methyl viologen can stimulate glycogen accumulation. The oxidative stress agent, methyl viologen significantly increased glycogen levels up to 57% and 69% [w/w dry weight (DW)] under BG11 and -N cultivation, respectively. One-stage cultivation where methyl viologen was directly added to the pre-grown culture enhanced glycogen storage to 53% (w/w DW), compared to the 10% (w/w DW) glycogen level of the control cells without methyl viologen. Methyl viologen treatment reduced the contents of total proteins (including phycobiliproteins) but caused increased transcript levels of glycogen synthetic genes and elevated levels of metabolite substrates for glycogen synthesis. Metabolomic results suggested that upon methyl viologen treatment, proteins degraded to amino acids, some of which could be used as a carbon source for glycogen synthesis. Results of oxygen evolution and metabolomic analysis suggested that photosynthesis and carbon fixation were not completely inhibited upon methyl viologen treatment, and these two processes may partially generate upstream metabolites required for glycogen synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannaphat Sukkasam
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Jidapa Leksingto
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Aran Incharoensakdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Academy of Science, Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok 10300, Thailand
| | - Tanakarn Monshupanee
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Program in Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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Leung PM, Bay SK, Meier DV, Chiri E, Cowan DA, Gillor O, Woebken D, Greening C. Energetic Basis of Microbial Growth and Persistence in Desert Ecosystems. mSystems 2020; 5:e00495-19. [PMID: 32291352 PMCID: PMC7159902 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00495-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial life is surprisingly abundant and diverse in global desert ecosystems. In these environments, microorganisms endure a multitude of physicochemical stresses, including low water potential, carbon and nitrogen starvation, and extreme temperatures. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of the energetic mechanisms and trophic dynamics that underpin microbial function in desert ecosystems. Accumulating evidence suggests that dormancy is a common strategy that facilitates microbial survival in response to water and carbon limitation. Whereas photoautotrophs are restricted to specific niches in extreme deserts, metabolically versatile heterotrophs persist even in the hyper-arid topsoils of the Atacama Desert and Antarctica. At least three distinct strategies appear to allow such microorganisms to conserve energy in these oligotrophic environments: degradation of organic energy reserves, rhodopsin- and bacteriochlorophyll-dependent light harvesting, and oxidation of the atmospheric trace gases hydrogen and carbon monoxide. In turn, these principles are relevant for understanding the composition, functionality, and resilience of desert ecosystems, as well as predicting responses to the growing problem of desertification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pok Man Leung
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sean K Bay
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dimitri V Meier
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Eleonora Chiri
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Don A Cowan
- Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genomics, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Osnat Gillor
- Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Sde Boker, Israel
| | - Dagmar Woebken
- Division of Microbial Ecology, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Chris Greening
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Microbiology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
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Simple, fast and accurate method for the determination of glycogen in the model unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. J Microbiol Methods 2019; 164:105686. [PMID: 31400361 DOI: 10.1016/j.mimet.2019.105686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Glycogen is a highly soluble branched polymer composed of glucose monomers linked by glycosidic bonds that represents, together with starch, one of the main energy storage compounds in living organisms. While starch is present in plant cells, glycogen is present in bacteria, protozoa, fungi and animal cells. Due to its essential function, it has been the subject of intense research for almost two centuries. Different procedures for the isolation and quantification of glycogen, according to the origin of the sample and/or the purpose of the study, have been reported in the literature. The objective of this study is to optimize the methodology for the determination of glycogen in cyanobacteria, as the interest in cyanobacterial glycogen has increased in recent years due to the biotechnological application of these microorganisms. In the present work, the methodology reported for the quantification of glycogen in cyanobacteria has been reviewed and an extensive empirical analysis has been performed showing how this methodology can be optimized significantly to reduce time and improve reliability and reproducibility. Based on these results, a simple and fast protocol for quantification of glycogen in the model unicellular cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is presented, which could also be successfully adapted to other cyanobacteria.
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Microbial production of cyanophycin: From enzymes to biopolymers. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107400. [PMID: 31095967 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Cyanophycin is an attractive biopolymer with chemical and material properties that are suitable for industrial applications in the fields of food, medicine, cosmetics, nutrition, and agriculture. For efficient production of cyanophycin, considerable efforts have been exerted to characterize cyanophycin synthetases (CphAs) and optimize fermentations and downstream processes. In this paper, we review the characteristics of diverse CphAs from cyanobacteria and non-cyanobacteria. Furthermore, strategies for cyanophycin production in microbial strains, including Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Ralstonia eutropha, Rhizopus oryzae, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, heterologously expressing different cphA genes are reviewed. Additionally, chemical and material properties of cyanophycin and its derivatives produced through biological or chemical modifications are reviewed in the context of their industrial applications. Finally, future perspectives on microbial production of cyanophycin are provided to improve its cost-effectiveness.
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Optimal cultivation towards enhanced biomass and floridean starch production by Porphyridium marinum. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 129:152-161. [PMID: 30711564 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.01.207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2018] [Revised: 12/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Optimal conditions for maximal biomass and starch production by the marine red microalgae Porphyridium marinum were investigated. Box-Behnken Design was used to model the effect of light intensity, NaNO3 concentration and salinity on the growth of microalgae but also on their starch and protein contents. These three factors increased biomass production by 13.6% in optimized conditions. A maximum starch production (140.21 μg·mL-1), 30.6% higher than that of the control, was attained at a light intensity of 100 μmol photons·m-2·s-1, a NaNO3 concentration of 1 g·L-1 and a NaCl concentration of 20 g·L-1. FT-IR spectroscopy was used to estimate the biochemical composition (carbohydrate accumulation) of P. marinum and revealed significant changes (P < 0.05) depending on culture conditions. FT-IR analysis highlighted also that the culture conditions leading to highest starch production by P. marinum corresponded to lowest sulfated polysaccharide and protein contents.
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Velmurugan R, Incharoensakdi A. Disruption of Polyhydroxybutyrate Synthesis Redirects Carbon Flow towards Glycogen Synthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Overexpressing glgC/glgA. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2018; 59:2020-2029. [PMID: 29931091 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcy121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The photoautotrophic Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 (hereafter Synechocystis) is known for its α-polyglucan (glycogen) synthesis to serve as a carbon storage compound. In this study, the glgC- and glgA-overexpressing Synechocystis strain with the disruption of polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis (▴GCAX-ΔBK) showed an increased glycogen production. This engineered strain had a high glycogen content of 38.3% (g g-1 dry cell weight) as compared with 27.4% in the phaA knockout strain (ΔBK) and 34.8% in the glgC/glgA-overexpressing strain (▴GCAX) after 20 d growth. Under nitrogen-deprived growth conditions for 3 d, the ▴GCAX-ΔBK strain showed a further increase in glycogen content from 27.0% to 36.0%. Furthermore, the engineered strains grown under ionic, osmotic or oxidative stress conditions had an increase of glycogen accumulation, whereas no increase was observed in the wild type. The maximum glycogen content was 54.0% in the ▴GCAX-ΔBK strain treated with 3 mM H2O2. The overall results indicated that in the absence of PHB synthesis, Synechocystis cells redirected the carbon flow towards the synthesis of glycogen as an alternative physiological responsive compound especially under stress conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendran Velmurugan
- Department of Biochemistry, Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aran Incharoensakdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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8
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Frommeyer M, Wiefel L, Steinbüchel A. Features of the biotechnologically relevant polyamide family "cyanophycins" and their biosynthesis in prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2015; 36:153-64. [PMID: 25268179 DOI: 10.3109/07388551.2014.946467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Cyanophycin, inclusions in cyanobacteria discovered by the Italian scientist Borzi in 1887, were characterized as a polyamide consisting of aspartic acid and arginine. Its synthesis in cyanobacteria was analyzed regarding growth conditions, responsible gene product, requirements, polymer structure and properties. Heterologous expression of diverse cyanophycin synthetases (CphA) in Escherichia coli enabled further enzyme characterization. Cyanophycin is a polyamide with variable composition and physiochemical properties dependent on host and cultivation conditions in contrast to the extracellular polyamides poly-γ-glutamic acid and poly-ε-l-lysine. Furthermore, recombinant prokaryotes and transgenic eukaryotes, including plants expressing different cphA genes, were characterized as suitable for production of insoluble cyanophycin regarding higher yields and modified composition for other requirements and applications. In addition, cyanophycin was characterized as a source for the synthesis of polyaspartic acid or N-containing bulk chemicals and dipeptides upon chemical treatment or degradation by cyanophycinases, respectively. Moreover, water-soluble cyanophycin derivatives with altered amino acid composition were isolated from transgenic plants, yeasts and recombinant bacteria. Thereby, the range of dipeptides could be extended by biological processes and by chemical modification, thus increasing the range of applications for cyanophycin and its dipeptides, including agriculture, food supplementations, medical and cosmetic purposes, synthesis of the polyacrylate substitute poly(aspartic acid) and other applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Frommeyer
- a Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität , Münster , Germany and
| | - Lars Wiefel
- a Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität , Münster , Germany and
| | - Alexander Steinbüchel
- a Institut für Molekulare Mikrobiologie und Biotechnologie, Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität , Münster , Germany and.,b Environmental Science Department, King Abdulaziz University , Jeddah , Saudi Arabia
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9
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Deschoenmaeker F, Facchini R, Leroy B, Badri H, Zhang CC, Wattiez R. Proteomic and cellular views of Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005 adaptation to nitrogen depletion. MICROBIOLOGY-SGM 2014; 160:1224-1236. [PMID: 24648480 DOI: 10.1099/mic.0.074641-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes that play a crucial role in the Earth's nitrogen and carbon cycles. Nitrogen availability is one of the most important factors in cyanobacterial growth. Interestingly, filamentous non-diazotrophic cyanobacteria, such as Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005, have developed survival strategies that enable them to adapt to nitrogen deprivation. Metabolic studies recently demonstrated a substantial synthesis and accumulation of glycogen derived from amino acids during nitrogen starvation. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism of this adaptation is poorly understood. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first proteomic and cellular analysis of Arthrospira sp. PCC 8005 under nitrogen depletion. Label-free differential proteomic analysis indicated the global carbon and nitrogen reprogramming of the cells during nitrogen depletion as characterized by an upregulation of glycogen synthesis and the use of endogenous nitrogen sources. The degradation of proteins and cyanophycin provided endogenous nitrogen when exogenous nitrogen was limited. Moreover, formamides, cyanates and urea were also potential endogenous nitrogen sources. The transporters of some amino acids and alternative nitrogen sources such as ammonium permease 1 were induced under nitrogen depletion. Intriguingly, although Arthrospira is a non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium, we observed the upregulation of HetR and HglK proteins, which are involved in heterocyst differentiation. Moreover, after a long period without nitrate, only a few highly fluorescent cells in each trichome were observed, and they might be involved in the long-term survival mechanism of this non-diazotrophic cyanobacterium under nitrogen deprivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Deschoenmaeker
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Raphaël Facchini
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Baptiste Leroy
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - Hanène Badri
- Expert Group for Molecular and Cellular Biology MCB, Belgian Nuclear Research Center SCK.CEN, B-2400 Mol, Belgium.,Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
| | - C-C Zhang
- Laboratoire de Chimie Bactérienne, CNRS-UMR 7283, Aix-Marseille Université, 31 Chemin Joseph Aiguier, 13402 Marseille Cedex 20, France
| | - Ruddy Wattiez
- Department of Proteomics and Microbiology, Research Institute for Biosciences, University of Mons, Place du Parc 20, B-7000 Mons, Belgium
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Hasunuma T, Kikuyama F, Matsuda M, Aikawa S, Izumi Y, Kondo A. Dynamic metabolic profiling of cyanobacterial glycogen biosynthesis under conditions of nitrate depletion. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2013; 64:2943-54. [PMID: 23658429 PMCID: PMC3697948 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/ert134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria represent a globally important biomass because they are responsible for a substantial proportion of primary production in the hydrosphere. Arthrospira platensis is a fast-growing halophilic cyanobacterium capable of accumulating glycogen and has the potential to serve as a feedstock in the fermentative production of third-generation biofuels. Accordingly, enhancing cyanobacterial glycogen production is a promising biofuel production strategy. However, the regulatory mechanism of glycogen metabolism in cyanobacteria is poorly understood. The aim of the present study was to determine the metabolic flux of glycogen biosynthesis using a dynamic metabolomic approach. Time-course profiling of widely targeted cyanobacterial metabolic intermediates demonstrated a global metabolic reprogramming that involves transient increases in the levels of some amino acids during the glycogen production phase induced by nitrate depletion. Also, in vivo labelling with NaH(13)CO3 enabled direct measurement of metabolic intermediate turnover in A. platensis, revealing that under conditions of nitrate depletion glycogen is biosynthesized with carbon derived from amino acids released from proteins via gluconeogenesis. This dynamic metabolic profiling approach provided conclusive evidence of temporal alterations in the metabolic profile in cyanobacterial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohisa Hasunuma
- Organization of Advanced Science and Technology, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada, Kobe, 657-8501, Japan.
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Mykytczuk NCS, Foote SJ, Omelon CR, Southam G, Greer CW, Whyte LG. Bacterial growth at -15 °C; molecular insights from the permafrost bacterium Planococcus halocryophilus Or1. THE ISME JOURNAL 2013; 7:1211-26. [PMID: 23389107 PMCID: PMC3660685 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2013.8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 174] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Revised: 12/04/2012] [Accepted: 12/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Planococcus halocryophilus strain Or1, isolated from high Arctic permafrost, grows and divides at -15 °C, the lowest temperature demonstrated to date, and is metabolically active at -25 °C in frozen permafrost microcosms. To understand how P. halocryophilus Or1 remains active under the subzero and osmotically dynamic conditions that characterize its native permafrost habitat, we investigated the genome, cell physiology and transcriptomes of growth at -15 °C and 18% NaCl compared with optimal (25 °C) temperatures. Subzero growth coincides with unusual cell envelope features of encrustations surrounding cells, while the cytoplasmic membrane is significantly remodeled favouring a higher ratio of saturated to branched fatty acids. Analyses of the 3.4 Mbp genome revealed that a suite of cold and osmotic-specific adaptive mechanisms are present as well as an amino acid distribution favouring increased flexibility of proteins. Genomic redundancy within 17% of the genome could enable P. halocryophilus Or1 to exploit isozyme exchange to maintain growth under stress, including multiple copies of osmolyte uptake genes (Opu and Pro genes). Isozyme exchange was observed between the transcriptome data sets, with selective upregulation of multi-copy genes involved in cell division, fatty acid synthesis, solute binding, oxidative stress response and transcriptional regulation. The combination of protein flexibility, resource efficiency, genomic plasticity and synergistic adaptation likely compensate against osmotic and cold stresses. These results suggest that non-spore forming P. halocryophilus Or1 is specifically suited for active growth in its Arctic permafrost habitat (ambient temp. ∼-16 °C), indicating that such cryoenvironments harbor a more active microbial ecosystem than previously thought.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia C S Mykytczuk
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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12
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González-Fernández C, Ballesteros M. Linking microalgae and cyanobacteria culture conditions and key-enzymes for carbohydrate accumulation. Biotechnol Adv 2012; 30:1655-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2012.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2012] [Revised: 07/05/2012] [Accepted: 07/11/2012] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
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13
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Quintana N, Van der Kooy F, Van de Rhee MD, Voshol GP, Verpoorte R. Renewable energy from Cyanobacteria: energy production optimization by metabolic pathway engineering. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2011; 91:471-90. [PMID: 21691792 PMCID: PMC3136707 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-011-3394-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2011] [Revised: 05/13/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The need to develop and improve sustainable energy resources is of eminent importance due to the finite nature of our fossil fuels. This review paper deals with a third generation renewable energy resource which does not compete with our food resources, cyanobacteria. We discuss the current state of the art in developing different types of bioenergy (ethanol, biodiesel, hydrogen, etc.) from cyanobacteria. The major important biochemical pathways in cyanobacteria are highlighted, and the possibility to influence these pathways to improve the production of specific types of energy forms the major part of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naira Quintana
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Section of Metabolomics, Institute of Biology, Leiden University, PO Box 9502, 2300RA Leiden, The Netherlands.
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14
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Page-Sharp M, Behm CA, Smith GD. Involvement of the compatible solutes trehalose and sucrose in the response to salt stress of a cyanobacterial Scytonema species isolated from desert soils. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA 1999; 1472:519-28. [PMID: 10564766 DOI: 10.1016/s0304-4165(99)00155-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The response to moderate salt stress of a Scytonema species isolated from a soil crust in the arid region of central Australia was studied. An increase in intracellular trehalose and sucrose concentrations was detected by NMR and HPLC analysis following salt stress, maximal amounts being produced by exposure to 150 mM NaCl after 48 h. When the organism was subsequently returned to normal growth conditions, the cellular concentrations of these solutes decreased. The biosynthesis of trehalose and sucrose was studied and found, in both cases, to involve both sugar phosphate synthase and phosphatase enzymes. The combined synthase activities and the individual phosphatase activities in cell extracts were increased by salt stress. Trehalose phosphorylase was the only catabolic enzyme detected for trehalose; neither trehalase nor phosphotrehalase activities could be detected. This is the first report of trehalose phosphorylase activity in cyanobacteria. Both trehalose and sucrose phosphorylase activities increased in salt-stressed cells, whereas the activity of invertase did not change.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Page-Sharp
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
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