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Khetkorn W, Raksajit W, Maneeruttanarungroj C, Lindblad P. Photobiohydrogen Production and Strategies for H 2 Yield Improvements in Cyanobacteria. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 183:253-279. [PMID: 37009974 DOI: 10.1007/10_2023_216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogen gas (H2) is one of the potential future sustainable and clean energy carriers that may substitute the use of fossil resources including fuels since it has a high energy content (heating value of 141.65 MJ/kg) when compared to traditional hydrocarbon fuels [1]. Water is a primary product of combustion being a most significant advantage of H2 being environmentally friendly with the capacity to reduce global greenhouse gas emissions. H2 is used in various applications. It generates electricity in fuel cells, including applications in transportation, and can be applied as fuel in rocket engines [2]. Moreover, H2 is an important gas and raw material in many industrial applications. However, the high cost of the H2 production processes requiring the use of other energy sources is a significant disadvantage. At present, H2 can be prepared in many conventional ways, such as steam reforming, electrolysis, and biohydrogen production processes. Steam reforming uses high-temperature steam to produce hydrogen gas from fossil resources including natural gas. Electrolysis is an electrolytic process to decompose water molecules into O2 and H2. However, both these two methods are energy-intensive and producing hydrogen from natural gas, which is mostly methane (CH4) and in steam reforming generates CO2 and pollutants as by-products. On the other hand, biological hydrogen production is more environmentally sustainable and less energy intensive than thermochemical and electrochemical processes [3], but most concepts are not yet developed to production scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanthanee Khetkorn
- Division of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology, Thanyaburi, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Wuttinun Raksajit
- Faculty of Veterinary Technology, Program of Animal Health Technology, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Cherdsak Maneeruttanarungroj
- Department of Biology, School of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioenergy Research Unit, School of Science, King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Peter Lindblad
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Santana‐Sánchez A, Nikkanen L, Werner E, Tóth G, Ermakova M, Kosourov S, Walter J, He M, Aro E, Allahverdiyeva Y. Flv3A facilitates O 2 photoreduction and affects H 2 photoproduction independently of Flv1A in diazotrophic Anabaena filaments. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:126-139. [PMID: 36128660 PMCID: PMC10092803 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
The model heterocyst-forming filamentous cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 (Anabaena) is a typical example of a multicellular organism capable of simultaneously performing oxygenic photosynthesis in vegetative cells and O2 -sensitive N2 -fixation inside heterocysts. The flavodiiron proteins have been shown to participate in photoprotection of photosynthesis by driving excess electrons to O2 (a Mehler-like reaction). Here, we performed a phenotypic and biophysical characterization of Anabaena mutants impaired in vegetative-specific Flv1A and Flv3A in order to address their physiological relevance in the bioenergetic processes occurring in diazotrophic Anabaena under variable CO2 conditions. We demonstrate that both Flv1A and Flv3A are required for proper induction of the Mehler-like reaction upon a sudden increase in light intensity, which is likely important for the activation of carbon-concentrating mechanisms and CO2 fixation. Under ambient CO2 diazotrophic conditions, Flv3A is responsible for moderate O2 photoreduction, independently of Flv1A, but only in the presence of Flv2 and Flv4. Strikingly, the lack of Flv3A resulted in strong downregulation of the heterocyst-specific uptake hydrogenase, which led to enhanced H2 photoproduction under both oxic and micro-oxic conditions. These results reveal a novel regulatory network between the Mehler-like reaction and the diazotrophic metabolism, which is of great interest for future biotechnological applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Santana‐Sánchez
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Lauri Nikkanen
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Elisa Werner
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Gábor Tóth
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Maria Ermakova
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Sergey Kosourov
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Julia Walter
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Meilin He
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Eva‐Mari Aro
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
| | - Yagut Allahverdiyeva
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Life TechnologiesUniversity of TurkuTurkuFI‐20014Finland
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Velmurugan R, Incharoensakdi A. Metabolic transformation of cyanobacteria for biofuel production. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134342. [PMID: 35307390 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
World-wide, an emerging demand is moving towards the biofuels to replace the fossil fuels. In alternative biofuel production strategies, cyanobacteria have unique characteristic of accumulating glycogen, lipid, and fuel molecules through natural mechanisms. Moreover, the cyanobacteria can be easily engineered to synthesis a plenty of fuel molecules from CO2. To obtain the fuel molecule from cyanobacteria, various techniques were invented in which the metabolic engineering is found to be a prerequisite to develop an economically feasible process. The expression of indigenous or heterologous pathways plays an important role in developing successful production process. In addition, the engineering of photosynthetic apparatus, destruction of competitive pathways and improvement of tolerance were also proven to improve the product specific synthesis. Although various metabolic engineering approaches have been developed, there are certain obstacles when it comes to implementation for the production. In this review, the important biosynthetic pathways for biofuels, alteration of other genes to improve the actual pathway and possibilities of developing cyanobacterial fuel production have been elaborated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajendran Velmurugan
- Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand
| | - Aran Incharoensakdi
- Cyanobacterial Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand; Academy of Science, Royal Society of Thailand, Bangkok, 10300, Thailand.
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Kourpa K, Manarolaki E, Lyratzakis A, Strataki V, Rupprecht F, Langer JD, Tsiotis G. Proteome Analysis of Enriched Heterocysts from Two Hydrogenase Mutants fromAnabaenasp. PCC 7120. Proteomics 2019; 19:e1800332. [DOI: 10.1002/pmic.201800332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Kourpa
- Division of BiochemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Crete P.O. Box 2208, GR‐71003 Voutes Greece
| | - Eftychia Manarolaki
- Division of BiochemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Crete P.O. Box 2208, GR‐71003 Voutes Greece
| | - Alexandros Lyratzakis
- Division of BiochemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Crete P.O. Box 2208, GR‐71003 Voutes Greece
| | - Vasso Strataki
- Division of BiochemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Crete P.O. Box 2208, GR‐71003 Voutes Greece
| | - Fiona Rupprecht
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Max‐von‐Laue‐Straße 4 D‐60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Julian D. Langer
- Max Planck Institute for Brain Research Max‐von‐Laue‐Straße 4 D‐60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Biophysics Max‐von‐Laue‐Straße 3 D‐60438 Frankfurt am Main Germany
| | - Georgios Tsiotis
- Division of BiochemistryDepartment of ChemistryUniversity of Crete P.O. Box 2208, GR‐71003 Voutes Greece
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Pernil R, Schleiff E. Metalloproteins in the Biology of Heterocysts. Life (Basel) 2019; 9:E32. [PMID: 30987221 PMCID: PMC6616624 DOI: 10.3390/life9020032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photoautotrophic microorganisms present in almost all ecologically niches on Earth. They exist as single-cell or filamentous forms and the latter often contain specialized cells for N₂ fixation known as heterocysts. Heterocysts arise from photosynthetic active vegetative cells by multiple morphological and physiological rearrangements including the absence of O₂ evolution and CO₂ fixation. The key function of this cell type is carried out by the metalloprotein complex known as nitrogenase. Additionally, many other important processes in heterocysts also depend on metalloproteins. This leads to a high metal demand exceeding the one of other bacteria in content and concentration during heterocyst development and in mature heterocysts. This review provides an overview on the current knowledge of the transition metals and metalloproteins required by heterocysts in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. It discusses the molecular, physiological, and physicochemical properties of metalloproteins involved in N₂ fixation, H₂ metabolism, electron transport chains, oxidative stress management, storage, energy metabolism, and metabolic networks in the diazotrophic filament. This provides a detailed and comprehensive picture on the heterocyst demands for Fe, Cu, Mo, Ni, Mn, V, and Zn as cofactors for metalloproteins and highlights the importance of such metalloproteins for the biology of cyanobacterial heterocysts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Pernil
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straβe 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Enrico Schleiff
- Institute for Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straβe 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
- Buchmann Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Goethe University Frankfurt, Max-von-Laue-Straβe 15, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Rewiring of Cyanobacterial Metabolism for Hydrogen Production: Synthetic Biology Approaches and Challenges. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2018; 1080:171-213. [PMID: 30091096 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-0854-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/06/2022]
Abstract
With the demand for renewable energy growing, hydrogen (H2) is becoming an attractive energy carrier. Developing H2 production technologies with near-net zero carbon emissions is a major challenge for the "H2 economy." Certain cyanobacteria inherently possess enzymes, nitrogenases, and bidirectional hydrogenases that are capable of H2 evolution using sunlight, making them ideal cell factories for photocatalytic conversion of water to H2. With the advances in synthetic biology, cyanobacteria are currently being developed as a "plug and play" chassis to produce H2. This chapter describes the metabolic pathways involved and the theoretical limits to cyanobacterial H2 production and summarizes the metabolic engineering technologies pursued.
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Kucho KI, Tamari D, Matsuyama S, Nabekura T, Tisa LS. Nitrogen Fixation Mutants of the Actinobacterium Frankia Casuarinae CcI3. Microbes Environ 2017; 32:344-351. [PMID: 29151446 PMCID: PMC5745019 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me17099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frankia is a representative genus of nitrogen-fixing (N2-fixing) actinobacteria; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying various phenomena such as the differentiation of a N2 fixation-specific structure (vesicle) and the regulation of N2 fixation (nif) genes, have yet to be elucidated in detail. In the present study, we screened hyphal fragments of Frankia casuarinae that were mutagenized by 1-methyl-3-nitro-1-nitrosoguanidine or gamma rays, and isolated 49 candidate N2 fixation mutants. Twelve of these mutants were selected for further study, and their abilities to grow in NH3-deficient (N-) liquid media and their rates of acetylene reduction activities were evaluated. Eleven mutant strains were confirmed to lack the ability to fix N2. Five mutant strains formed significantly reduced numbers of vesicles, while some failed to form large mature vesicles. These vesicle mutants also exhibited an aberrant hyphal morphology, suggesting a relationship between vesicle differentiation and hyphal branching. Ten mutants showed significant reductions in the expression of nifE, nifH, and nifV genes under N- conditions. The genome sequencing of eight mutants identified 20 to 400 mutations. Although mutant strains N3H4 and N6F4 shared a large number of mutations (108), most were unique to each strain. Mutant strain N7C9 had 3 mutations in the nifD and nifH genes that may result in the inability to fix N2. The other mutant strains did not have any mutations in any known N2 fixation-related genes, indicating that they are novel N2 fixation mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken-ichi Kucho
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University1–21–35 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890–0065Japan
| | - Daiki Tamari
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University1–21–35 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890–0065Japan
| | - Shintaro Matsuyama
- Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Kagoshima University1–21–35 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890–0065Japan
| | - Takeshi Nabekura
- Faculty of Science, Kagoshima University1–21–35 Korimoto, Kagoshima 890–0065Japan
| | - Louis S. Tisa
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire289 Rudman Hall, 46 College Road, Durham, NH 03824–2617USA
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Spatial separation of photosynthesis and ethanol production by cell type-specific metabolic engineering of filamentous cyanobacteria. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 102:1523-1531. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-017-8620-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 10/24/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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Khetkorn W, Rastogi RP, Incharoensakdi A, Lindblad P, Madamwar D, Pandey A, Larroche C. Microalgal hydrogen production - A review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2017; 243:1194-1206. [PMID: 28774676 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.07.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 07/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/17/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Bio-hydrogen from microalgae including cyanobacteria has attracted commercial awareness due to its potential as an alternative, reliable and renewable energy source. Photosynthetic hydrogen production from microalgae can be interesting and promising options for clean energy. Advances in hydrogen-fuel-cell technology may attest an eco-friendly way of biofuel production, since, the use of H2 to generate electricity releases only water as a by-product. Progress in genetic/metabolic engineering may significantly enhance the photobiological hydrogen production from microalgae. Manipulation of competing metabolic pathways by modulating the certain key enzymes such as hydrogenase and nitrogenase may enhance the evolution of H2 from photoautotrophic cells. Moreover, biological H2 production at low operating costs is requisite for economic viability. Several photobioreactors have been developed for large-scale biomass and hydrogen production. This review highlights the recent technological progress, enzymes involved and genetic as well as metabolic engineering approaches towards sustainable hydrogen production from microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanthanee Khetkorn
- Division of Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, Rajamangala University of Technology Thanyaburi, Thanyaburi, Pathumthani 12110, Thailand
| | - Rajesh P Rastogi
- Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Indira Paryavaran Bhawan, Jor Bagh Road, New Delhi 110 003, India.
| | - Aran Incharoensakdi
- Laboratory of Cyanobacterial Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Phayathai Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Peter Lindblad
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-75120 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Datta Madamwar
- Department of Biosciences, UGC-Centre of Advanced Study, Sardar Patel University, Vadtal Road, Satellite Campus, Bakrol, Anand, Gujarat 388 315, India
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Center of Innovative and Applied Bioprocessing, C-127 2nd Floor Phase 8 Industrial Area, SAS Nagar, Mohali 160 071, Punjab, India
| | - Christian Larroche
- Labex IMobS3 and Institut Pascal, 4 Avenue Blaise Pascal, TSA 60026/CS 60026, 63178 Aubière Cedex, France
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Masukawa H, Sakurai H, Hausinger RP, Inoue K. Increased heterocyst frequency by patN disruption in Anabaena leads to enhanced photobiological hydrogen production at high light intensity and high cell density. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2017; 101:2177-2188. [PMID: 28064366 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-016-8078-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Revised: 11/26/2016] [Accepted: 12/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The effects of increasing the heterocyst-to-vegetative cell ratio on the nitrogenase-based photobiological hydrogen production by the filamentous heterocyst-forming cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 were studied. Using the uptake hydrogenase-disrupted mutant (ΔHup) as the parent, a deletion-insertion mutant (PN1) was created in patN, known to be involved in heterocyst pattern formation and leading to multiple singular heterocysts (MSH) in Nostoc punctiforme strain ATCC 29133. The PN1 strain showed heterocyst differentiation but failed to grow in medium free of combined-nitrogen; however, a spontaneous mutant (PN22) was obtained on prolonged incubation of PN1 liquid cultures and was able to grow robustly on N2. The disruption of patN was confirmed in both PN1 and PN22 by PCR and whole genome resequencing. Under combined-nitrogen limitation, the percentage of heterocysts to total cells in the PN22 filaments was 13-15 and 16-18% under air and 1% CO2-enriched air, respectively, in contrast to the parent ΔHup which formed 6.5-11 and 9.7-13% heterocysts in these conditions. The PN22 strain exhibited a MSH phenotype, normal diazotrophic growth, and higher H2 productivity at high cell concentrations, and was less susceptible to photoinhibition by strong light than the parent ΔHup strain, resulting in greater light energy utilization efficiency in H2 production on a per unit area basis under high light conditions. The increase in MSH frequency shown here appears to be a viable strategy for enhancing H2 productivity by outdoor cultures of cyanobacteria in high-light environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Masukawa
- The OCU Advanced Research Institute for Natural Science and Technology (OCARINA), Osaka City University, 3-3-138 Sugimoto, Sumiyoshi-ku, Osaka, 558-8585, Japan.
| | - Hidehiro Sakurai
- Research Institute for Photobiological Hydrogen Production, Kanagawa University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1293, Japan
| | - Robert P Hausinger
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Kazuhito Inoue
- Research Institute for Photobiological Hydrogen Production, Kanagawa University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1293, Japan.,Department of Biological Sciences, Kanagawa University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, 259-1293, Japan
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Herrero A, Stavans J, Flores E. The multicellular nature of filamentous heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2016; 40:831-854. [DOI: 10.1093/femsre/fuw029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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Johnson TJ, Gibbons JL, Gu L, Zhou R, Gibbons WR. Molecular genetic improvements of cyanobacteria to enhance the industrial potential of the microbe: A review. Biotechnol Prog 2016; 32:1357-1371. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tylor J. Johnson
- Dept. of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookings SD57007
- Dept. of MicrobiologyThe University of TennesseeKnoxville TN37996
| | - Jaimie L. Gibbons
- Dept. of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookings SD57007
| | - Liping Gu
- Dept. of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookings SD57007
| | - Ruanbao Zhou
- Dept. of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookings SD57007
| | - William R. Gibbons
- Dept. of Biology and MicrobiologySouth Dakota State UniversityBrookings SD57007
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Oxidation of Molecular Hydrogen by a Chemolithoautotrophic Beggiatoa Strain. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:2527-36. [PMID: 26896131 PMCID: PMC4959497 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03818-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED A chemolithoautotrophic strain of the family Beggiatoaceae, Beggiatoa sp. strain 35Flor, was found to oxidize molecular hydrogen when grown in a medium with diffusional gradients of oxygen, sulfide, and hydrogen. Microsensor profiles and rate measurements suggested that the strain oxidized hydrogen aerobically when oxygen was available, while hydrogen consumption under anoxic conditions was presumably driven by sulfur respiration.Beggiatoa sp. 35Flor reached significantly higher biomass in hydrogen-supplemented oxygen-sulfide gradient media, but hydrogen did not support growth of the strain in the absence of reduced sulfur compounds. Nevertheless, hydrogen oxidation can provide Beggiatoa sp. 35Flor with energy for maintenance and assimilatory purposes and may support the disposal of internally stored sulfur to prevent physical damage resulting from excessive sulfur accumulation. Our knowledge about the exposure of natural populations of Beggiatoa ceae to hydrogen is very limited, but significant amounts of hydrogen could be provided by nitrogen fixation, fermentation, and geochemical processes in several of their typical habitats such as photosynthetic microbial mats and submarine sites of hydrothermal fluid flow. IMPORTANCE Reduced sulfur compounds are certainly the main electron donors for chemolithoautotrophic Beggiatoa ceae, but the traditional focus on this topic has left other possible inorganic electron donors largely unexplored. In this paper, we provide evidence that hydrogen oxidation has the potential to strengthen the ecophysiological plasticity of Beggiatoa ceaein several ways. Moreover, we show that hydrogen oxidation by members of this family can significantly influence biogeochemical gradients and therefore should be considered in environmental studies.
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Investigation of the links between heterocyst and biohydrogen production by diazotrophic cyanobacterium A. variabilis ATCC 29413. Arch Microbiol 2015; 198:101-13. [PMID: 26521065 DOI: 10.1007/s00203-015-1164-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 09/27/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This work investigates the effect of heterocyst toward biohydrogen production by A. variabilis. The heterocyst frequency was artificially promoted by adding an amino acid analog, in this case DL-7-azatryptophan into the growth medium. The frequency of heterocyst differentiation was found to be proportional to the concentration of azatryptophan (0-25 µM) in the medium. Conversely, the growth and nitrogenase activity were gradually suppressed. In addition, there was also a distinct shortening of the cells filaments and detachment of heterocyst from the vegetative cells. Analysis on the hydrogen production performance revealed that both the frequency and distribution of heterocyst in the filaments affected the rate of hydrogen production. The highest hydrogen production rate and yield (41 µmol H2 mg chl a(-1) h(-1) and 97 mL H2 mg chl a(-1), respectively) were achieved by cells previously grown in 15 µM of azatryptophan with 14.5 % of heterocyst frequency. The existence of more isolated heterocyst has been shown to cause a relative loss in nitrogenase activity thus lowering the hydrogen production rate.
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How close we are to achieving commercially viable large-scale photobiological hydrogen production by cyanobacteria: a review of the biological aspects. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:997-1018. [PMID: 25793279 PMCID: PMC4390889 DOI: 10.3390/life5010997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Photobiological production of H2 by cyanobacteria is considered to be an ideal source of renewable energy because the inputs, water and sunlight, are abundant. The products of photobiological systems are H2 and O2; the H2 can be used as the energy source of fuel cells, etc., which generate electricity at high efficiencies and minimal pollution, as the waste product is H2O. Overall, production of commercially viable algal fuels in any form, including biomass and biodiesel, is challenging, and the very few systems that are operational have yet to be evaluated. In this paper we will: briefly review some of the necessary conditions for economical production, summarize the reports of photobiological H2 production by cyanobacteria, present our schemes for future production, and discuss the necessity for further progress in the research needed to achieve commercially viable large-scale H2 production.
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Hu G, Ji S, Yu Y, Wang S, Zhou G, Li F. Organisms for biofuel production: natural bioresources and methodologies for improving their biosynthetic potentials. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 147:185-224. [PMID: 24085385 DOI: 10.1007/10_2013_245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
In order to relieve the pressure of energy supply and environment contamination that humans are facing, there are now intensive worldwide efforts to explore natural bioresources for production of energy storage compounds, such as lipids, alcohols, hydrocarbons, and polysaccharides. Around the world, many plants have been evaluated and developed as feedstock for bioenergy production, among which several crops have successfully achieved industrialization. Microalgae are another group of photosynthetic autotroph of interest due to their superior growth rates, relatively high photosynthetic conversion efficiencies, and vast metabolic capabilities. Heterotrophic microorganisms, such as yeast and bacteria, can utilize carbohydrates from lignocellulosic biomass directly or after pretreatment and enzymatic hydrolysis to produce liquid biofuels such as ethanol and butanol. Although finding a suitable organism for biofuel production is not easy, many naturally occurring organisms with good traits have recently been obtained. This review mainly focuses on the new organism resources discovered in the last 5 years for production of transport fuels (biodiesel, gasoline, jet fuel, and alkanes) and hydrogen, and available methods to improve natural organisms as platforms for the production of biofuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangrong Hu
- Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Energy Genetics, Key Laboratory of Biofuels, Qingdao Institute of Bioenergy and Bioprocess Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266101, China
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Huertas MJ, López-Maury L, Giner-Lamia J, Sánchez-Riego AM, Florencio FJ. Metals in cyanobacteria: analysis of the copper, nickel, cobalt and arsenic homeostasis mechanisms. Life (Basel) 2014; 4:865-86. [PMID: 25501581 PMCID: PMC4284471 DOI: 10.3390/life4040865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2014] [Revised: 11/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Traces of metal are required for fundamental biochemical processes, such as photosynthesis and respiration. Cyanobacteria metal homeostasis acquires an important role because the photosynthetic machinery imposes a high demand for metals, making them a limiting factor for cyanobacteria, especially in the open oceans. On the other hand, in the last two centuries, the metal concentrations in marine environments and lake sediments have increased as a result of several industrial activities. In all cases, cells have to tightly regulate uptake to maintain their intracellular concentrations below toxic levels. Mechanisms to obtain metal under limiting conditions and to protect cells from an excess of metals are present in cyanobacteria. Understanding metal homeostasis in cyanobacteria and the proteins involved will help to evaluate the use of these microorganisms in metal bioremediation. Furthermore, it will also help to understand how metal availability impacts primary production in the oceans. In this review, we will focus on copper, nickel, cobalt and arsenic (a toxic metalloid) metabolism, which has been mainly analyzed in model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Huertas
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Luis López-Maury
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Joaquín Giner-Lamia
- Systems Biology and Bioinformatics Laboratory, IBB-CBME, University of Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal.
| | - Ana María Sánchez-Riego
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
| | - Francisco Javier Florencio
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis, Universidad de Sevilla-CSIC, Américo Vespucio 49, E-41092 Sevilla, Spain.
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18
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Weber J, Krujatz F, Hilpmann G, Grützner S, Herrmann J, Thierfelder S, Bienert G, Illing R, Helbig K, Hurtado A, Cuniberti G, Mertig M, Lange R, Günther E, Opitz J, Lippmann W, Bley T, Haufe N. Biotechnological hydrogen production by photosynthesis. Eng Life Sci 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/elsc.201400056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jost Weber
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Felix Krujatz
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Gerd Hilpmann
- Chair of Chemical Engineering and Process Plants; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Sara Grützner
- Institute of Power Engineering; Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Jana Herrmann
- Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Simone Thierfelder
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Georg Bienert
- Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Rico Illing
- Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Karsten Helbig
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Antonio Hurtado
- Institute of Power Engineering; Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Gianaurelio Cuniberti
- Chair of Materials Science and Nanotechnology; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
- Institute for Material Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
- Center for Advancing Electronics; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Michael Mertig
- Institute of Physical Chemistry; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
- Kurt Schwabe Institute; Meinsberg Germany
| | - Rüdiger Lange
- Chair of Chemical Engineering and Process Plants; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Edeltraud Günther
- Chair of Environmental Management and Accounting; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Jörg Opitz
- Institute for Material Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems; Material Diagnostics, IKTS-MD Dresden; Dresden Germany
- Electronics Packaging Lab; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Wolfgang Lippmann
- Institute of Power Engineering; Chair of Hydrogen and Nuclear Energy, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Thomas Bley
- Institute of Food Technology and Bioprocess Engineering; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
| | - Nora Haufe
- Institute for Material Science and Max Bergmann Center of Biomaterials; Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden Germany
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19
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Hydrogen photoproduction by immobilized n2-fixing cyanobacteria: understanding the role of the uptake hydrogenase in the long-term process. Appl Environ Microbiol 2014; 80:5807-17. [PMID: 25015894 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01776-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
We have investigated two approaches to enhance and extend H2 photoproduction yields in heterocystous, N2-fixing cyanobacteria entrapped in thin alginate films. In the first approach, periodic CO2 supplementation was provided to alginate-entrapped, N-deprived cells. N deprivation led to the inhibition of photosynthetic activity in vegetative cells and the attenuation of H2 production over time. Our results demonstrated that alginate-entrapped ΔhupL cells were considerably more sensitive to high light intensity, N deficiency, and imbalances in C/N ratios than wild-type cells. In the second approach, Anabaena strain PCC 7120, its ΔhupL mutant, and Calothrix strain 336/3 films were supplemented with N2 by periodic treatments of air, or air plus CO2. These treatments restored the photosynthetic activity of the cells and led to a high level of H2 production in Calothrix 336/3 and ΔhupL cells (except for the treatment air plus CO2) but not in the Anabaena PCC 7120 strain (for which H2 yields did not change after air treatments). The highest H2 yield was obtained by the air treatment of ΔhupL cells. Notably, the supplementation of CO2 under an air atmosphere led to prominent symptoms of N deficiency in the ΔhupL strain but not in the wild-type strain. We propose that uptake hydrogenase activity in heterocystous cyanobacteria not only supports nitrogenase activity by removing excess O2 from heterocysts but also indirectly protects the photosynthetic apparatus of vegetative cells from photoinhibition, especially under stressful conditions that cause an imbalance in the C/N ratio in cells.
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20
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Berney M, Greening C, Hards K, Collins D, Cook GM. Three different [NiFe] hydrogenases confer metabolic flexibility in the obligate aerobe Mycobacterium smegmatis. Environ Microbiol 2014; 16:318-30. [PMID: 24536093 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.12320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Mycobacterium smegmatis is an obligate aerobe that harbours three predicted [NiFe] hydrogenases, Hyd1 (MSMEG_2262–2263), Hyd2 (MSMEG_2720-2719) and Hyd3 (MSMEG_3931-3928). We show here that these three enzymes differ in their phylogeny, regulation and catalytic activity. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Hyd1 groups with hydrogenases that oxidize H2 produced by metabolic processes, and Hyd2 is homologous to a novel group of putative high-affinity hydrogenases. Hyd1 and Hyd2 respond to carbon and oxygen limitation, and, in the case of Hyd1, hydrogen supplementation. Hydrogen consumption measurements confirmed that both enzymes can oxidize hydrogen. In contrast, the phylogenetic analysis and activity measurements of Hyd3 are consistent with the enzyme evolving hydrogen. Hyd3 is controlled by DosR, a regulator that responds to hypoxic conditions. The strict dependence of hydrogen oxidation of Hyd1 and Hyd2 on oxygen suggests that the enzymes are oxygen tolerant and linked to the respiratory chain. This unique combination of hydrogenases allows M. smegmatis to oxidize hydrogen at high (Hyd1) and potentially tropospheric (Hyd2) concentrations, as well as recycle reduced equivalents by evolving hydrogen (Hyd3). The distribution of these hydrogenases throughout numerous soil and marine species of actinomycetes suggests that oxic hydrogen metabolism provides metabolic flexibility in environments with changing nutrient fluxes.
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21
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Greening C, Cook GM. Integration of hydrogenase expression and hydrogen sensing in bacterial cell physiology. Curr Opin Microbiol 2014; 18:30-8. [PMID: 24607643 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2014.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hydrogenases are ubiquitous in ecosystems and widespread in microorganisms. In bacteria, hydrogen metabolism is a facultative trait that is tightly regulated in response to both external factors (e.g. gas concentrations) and internal factors (e.g. redox state). Here we consider how environmental and pathogenic bacteria regulate [NiFe]-hydrogenases to adapt to chemical changes and meet physiological needs. We introduce this concept by exploring how Ralstonia eutropha switches between heterotrophic and lithotrophic growth modes by sensing hydrogen and electron availability. The regulation and integration of hydrogen metabolism in the virulence of Salmonella enterica and Helicobacter pylori, persistence of mycobacteria and streptomycetes, and differentiation of filamentous cyanobacteria are subsequently discussed. We also consider how these findings are extendable to other systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Greening
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
| | - Gregory M Cook
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand.
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22
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Photobiological hydrogen production: Bioenergetics and challenges for its practical application. JOURNAL OF PHOTOCHEMISTRY AND PHOTOBIOLOGY C-PHOTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jphotochemrev.2013.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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23
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Jugder BE, Welch J, Aguey-Zinsou KF, Marquis CP. Fundamentals and electrochemical applications of [Ni–Fe]-uptake hydrogenases. RSC Adv 2013. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra22668a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
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24
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Khetkorn W, Lindblad P, Incharoensakdi A. Inactivation of uptake hydrogenase leads to enhanced and sustained hydrogen production with high nitrogenase activity under high light exposure in the cyanobacterium Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012. J Biol Eng 2012; 6:19. [PMID: 23046490 PMCID: PMC3551714 DOI: 10.1186/1754-1611-6-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2012] [Accepted: 10/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED BACKGROUND Biohydrogen from cyanobacteria has attracted public interest due to its potential as a renewable energy carrier produced from solar energy and water. Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012, a novel strain isolated from rice paddy field in Thailand, has been identified as a promising cyanobacterial strain for use as a high-yield hydrogen producer attributed to the activities of two enzymes, nitrogenase and bidirectional hydrogenase. One main obstacle for high hydrogen production by A. siamensis is a light-driven hydrogen consumption catalyzed by the uptake hydrogenase. To overcome this and in order to enhance the potential for nitrogenase based hydrogen production, we engineered a hydrogen uptake deficient strain by interrupting hupS encoding the small subunit of the uptake hydrogenase. RESULTS An engineered strain lacking a functional uptake hydrogenase (∆hupS) produced about 4-folds more hydrogen than the wild type strain. Moreover, the ∆hupS strain showed long term, sustained hydrogen production under light exposure with 2-3 folds higher nitrogenase activity compared to the wild type. In addition, HupS inactivation had no major effects on cell growth and heterocyst differentiation. Gene expression analysis using RT-PCR indicates that electrons and ATP molecules required for hydrogen production in the ∆hupS strain may be obtained from the electron transport chain associated with the photosynthetic oxidation of water in the vegetative cells. The ∆hupS strain was found to compete well with the wild type up to 50 h in a mixed culture, thereafter the wild type started to grow on the relative expense of the ∆hupS strain. CONCLUSIONS Inactivation of hupS is an effective strategy for improving biohydrogen production, in rates and specifically in total yield, in nitrogen-fixing cultures of the cyanobacterium Anabaena siamensis TISTR 8012.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanthanee Khetkorn
- Laboratory of Cyanobacterial Biotechnology, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand.
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25
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Kothari A, Potrafka R, Garcia-Pichel F. Diversity in hydrogen evolution from bidirectional hydrogenases in cyanobacteria from terrestrial, freshwater and marine intertidal environments. J Biotechnol 2012; 162:105-14. [PMID: 22771887 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Revised: 03/20/2012] [Accepted: 04/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
We characterized a set of 36 strains of cyanobacteria isolated from terrestrial, freshwater and marine intertidal settings to probe their potential to produce hydrogen from excess reductant, in the hope of finding novel strains with improved traits for biohydrogen production. The set was diverse with respect to origin, morphology, taxonomy and phylogeny. We found that about one half of the strains could produce hydrogen from hydrogenases in standard assays, a trait that corresponded invariably with the presence of homologues of the gene hoxH, coding for subunit H in the bidirectional Ni-Fe hydrogenase. Strains from freshwater and intertidal settings had a high incidence of hydrogen producing, hoxH containing strains, but all terrestrial isolates were negative for both. While specific rates of hydrogen production varied among strains, some novel strains displayed rates several fold higher than those previously reported. We detected two different patterns in hydrogen production. Pattern 1, corresponding to that previously known in Synechocystis PCC 6803, encompassed strains whose hydrogenase system produced hydrogen only temporarily to revert to hydrogen consumption within a short time and after reaching moderate hydrogen concentrations. Cyanobacteria displaying pattern 2, in the genera Lyngbya and Microcoleus, tended to have higher rates, did not reverse the direction of the reaction and reached much higher concentrations of hydrogen at steady state, making them of interest as potential platforms for biohydrogen production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ankita Kothari
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287-4501, USA
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26
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Bioengineering of carbon fixation, biofuels, and biochemicals in cyanobacteria and plants. J Biotechnol 2012; 162:134-47. [PMID: 22677697 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2012.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 05/15/2012] [Accepted: 05/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Development of sustainable energy is a pivotal step towards solutions for today's global challenges, including mitigating the progression of climate change and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Biofuels derived from agricultural crops have already been commercialized. However the impacts on environmental sustainability and food supply have raised ethical questions about the current practices. Cyanobacteria have attracted interest as an alternative means for sustainable energy productions. Being aquatic photoautotrophs they can be cultivated in non-arable lands and do not compete for land for food production. Their rich genetic resources offer means to engineer metabolic pathways for synthesis of valuable bio-based products. Currently the major obstacle in industrial-scale exploitation of cyanobacteria as the economically sustainable production hosts is low yields. Much effort has been made to improve the carbon fixation and manipulating the carbon allocation in cyanobacteria and their evolutionary photosynthetic relatives, algae and plants. This review aims at providing an overview of the recent progress in the bioengineering of carbon fixation and allocation in cyanobacteria; wherever relevant, the progress made in plants and algae is also discussed as an inspiration for future application in cyanobacteria.
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27
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Masukawa H, Kitashima M, Inoue K, Sakurai H, Hausinger RP. Genetic engineering of cyanobacteria to enhance biohydrogen production from sunlight and water. AMBIO 2012; 41 Suppl 2:169-73. [PMID: 22434447 PMCID: PMC3357757 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-012-0275-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate global warming caused by burning fossil fuels, a renewable energy source available in large quantity is urgently required. We are proposing large-scale photobiological H(2) production by mariculture-raised cyanobacteria where the microbes capture part of the huge amount of solar energy received on earth's surface and use water as the source of electrons to reduce protons. The H(2) production system is based on photosynthetic and nitrogenase activities of cyanobacteria, using uptake hydrogenase mutants that can accumulate H(2) for extended periods even in the presence of evolved O(2). This review summarizes our efforts to improve the rate of photobiological H(2) production through genetic engineering. The challenges yet to be overcome to further increase the conversion efficiency of solar energy to H(2) also are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Masukawa
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama, Japan.
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28
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HupW protease specifically required for processing of the catalytic subunit of the uptake hydrogenase in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 78:273-6. [PMID: 22020512 DOI: 10.1128/aem.05957-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The maturation process of [NiFe] hydrogenases includes a proteolytic cleavage of the large subunit. We constructed a mutant of Nostoc strain PCC 7120 in which hupW, encoding a putative hydrogenase-specific protease, is inactivated. Our results indicate that the protein product of hupW selectively cleaves the uptake hydrogenase in this cyanobacterium.
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29
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Kim DH, Kim MS. Hydrogenases for biological hydrogen production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2011; 102:8423-8431. [PMID: 21435869 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.02.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2010] [Revised: 02/25/2011] [Accepted: 02/26/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Biological H2 production offers distinctive advantages for environmental protection over existing physico-chemical methods. This study focuses specifically on hydrogenases, a class of enzymes that serves to effectively catalyze H2 formation from protons or oxidation to protons. It reviews the classification schemes (i.e., [NiFe]-, [FeFe]-, and [Fe]-hydrogenases) and properties of these enzymes, which are essential to understand the mechanisms for H2 production, the control of cell metabolism, and subsequent increases in H2 production. There are five kinds of biological hydrogen production methods, categorized based upon the light energy requirement, and feedstock sources. The genetic engineering work on hydrogenase to enhance H2 production is reviewed here. Further discussions in this study include nitrogenase, an enzyme that normally catalyzes the reduction of N2 to ammonia but is also able to produce H2 under photo-heterotrophic conditions, as well as other applicable fields of hydrogenase other than H2 production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong-Hoon Kim
- Wastes Energy Research Center, Korea Institute of Energy Research, 102 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-343, Republic of Korea
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30
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Srirangan K, Pyne ME, Perry Chou C. Biochemical and genetic engineering strategies to enhance hydrogen production in photosynthetic algae and cyanobacteria. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2011; 102:8589-8604. [PMID: 21514821 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.03.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2011] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 03/25/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
As an energy carrier, hydrogen gas is a promising substitute to carbonaceous fuels owing to its superb conversion efficiency, non-polluting nature, and high energy content. At present, hydrogen is predominately synthesized via chemical reformation of fossil fuels. While various biological methods have been extensively explored, none of them is justified as economically feasible. A sustainable platform for biological production of hydrogen will certainly impact the biofuel market. Among a selection of biological systems, algae and cyanobacteria have garnered major interests as potential cell factories for hydrogen production. In conjunction with photosynthesis, these organisms utilize inexpensive inorganic substrates and solar energy for simultaneous biosynthesis and hydrogen evolution. However, the hydrogen yield associated with these organisms remains far too low to compete with the existing chemical systems. This article reviews recent advances of biochemical, bioprocess, and genetic engineering strategies in circumventing technological limitations to hopefully improve the applicative potential of these photosynthetic hydrogen production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kajan Srirangan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
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31
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Bandyopadhyay A, Stöckel J, Min H, Sherman LA, Pakrasi HB. High rates of photobiological H2 production by a cyanobacterium under aerobic conditions. Nat Commun 2011; 1:139. [PMID: 21266989 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2010] [Accepted: 11/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Among the emerging renewable and green energy sources, biohydrogen stands out as an appealing choice. Hydrogen can be produced by certain groups of microorganisms that possess functional nitrogenase and/or bidirectional hydrogenases. In particular, the potential of photobiological hydrogen production by oxygenic photosynthetic microbes has attracted significant interest. However, nitrogenase and hydrogenase are generally oxygen sensitive, and require protective mechanisms to function in an aerobic extracellular environment. Here, we describe Cyanothece sp. ATCC 51142, a unicellular, diazotrophic cyanobacterium with the capacity to generate high levels of hydrogen under aerobic conditions. Wild-type Cyanothece 51142 can produce hydrogen at rates as high as 465 μmol per mg of chlorophyll per hour in the presence of glycerol. Hydrogen production in this strain is mediated by an efficient nitrogenase system, which can be manipulated to convert solar energy into hydrogen at rates that are several fold higher, compared with any previously described wild-type hydrogen-producing photosynthetic microbe.
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32
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Henson BJ, Hartman L, Watson LE, Barnum SR. Evolution and variation of the nifD and hupL elements in the heterocystous cyanobacteria. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2011; 61:2938-2949. [PMID: 21278412 DOI: 10.1099/ijs.0.028340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
In heterocystous cyanobacteria, heterocyst differentiation is accompanied by developmentally regulated DNA rearrangements that occur within the nifD and hupL genes, referred to as the nifD and hupL elements. These elements are segments of DNA that are embedded within the coding region of each gene and range from 4 to 24 kb in length. The nifD and hupL elements are independently excised from the genome during the later stages of differentiation by the site-specific recombinases, XisA and XisC, respectively, which are encoded within the elements themselves. Here we examine the variation and evolution of the nifD and hupL elements by comparing full-length nifD and hupL element sequences and by phylogenetic analysis of xisA and xisC gene sequences. There is considerable variation in the size and composition of the nifD and hupL elements, however, conserved regions are also present within representatives of each element. The data suggest that the nifD and hupL elements have undergone a complex pattern of insertions, deletions, translocations and sequence divergence over the course of evolution, but that conserved regions remain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Henson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, USA
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33
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Bothe H, Schmitz O, Yates MG, Newton WE. Nitrogen fixation and hydrogen metabolism in cyanobacteria. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2010; 74:529-51. [PMID: 21119016 PMCID: PMC3008169 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00033-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes recent aspects of (di)nitrogen fixation and (di)hydrogen metabolism, with emphasis on cyanobacteria. These organisms possess several types of the enzyme complexes catalyzing N(2) fixation and/or H(2) formation or oxidation, namely, two Mo nitrogenases, a V nitrogenase, and two hydrogenases. The two cyanobacterial Ni hydrogenases are differentiated as either uptake or bidirectional hydrogenases. The different forms of both the nitrogenases and hydrogenases are encoded by different sets of genes, and their organization on the chromosome can vary from one cyanobacterium to another. Factors regulating the expression of these genes are emerging from recent studies. New ideas on the potential physiological and ecological roles of nitrogenases and hydrogenases are presented. There is a renewed interest in exploiting cyanobacteria in solar energy conversion programs to generate H(2) as a source of combustible energy. To enhance the rates of H(2) production, the emphasis perhaps needs not to be on more efficient hydrogenases and nitrogenases or on the transfer of foreign enzymes into cyanobacteria. A likely better strategy is to exploit the use of radiant solar energy by the photosynthetic electron transport system to enhance the rates of H(2) formation and so improve the chances of utilizing cyanobacteria as a source for the generation of clean energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Bothe
- Botanical Institute, The University of Cologne, Zülpicher Str. 47b, D-50923 Cologne, Germany.
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34
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Sakurai H, Masukawa H, Kitashima M, Inoue K. A feasibility study of large-scale photobiological hydrogen production utilizing mariculture-raised cyanobacteria. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2010; 675:291-303. [PMID: 20532748 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1528-3_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
Abstract
In order to decrease CO(2) emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, the development of new renewable energy sources sufficiently large in quantity is essential. To meet this need, we propose large-scale H(2) production on the sea surface utilizing cyanobacteria. Although many of the relevant technologies are in the early stage of development, this chapter briefly examines the feasibility of such H(2) production, in order to illustrate that under certain conditions large-scale photobiological H(2) production can be viable. Assuming that solar energy is converted to H(2) at 1.2% efficiency, the future cost of H(2) can be estimated to be about 11 (pipelines) and 26.4 (compression and marine transportation) cents kWh(-1), respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiro Sakurai
- Research Institute for Photobiological Hydrogen Production, Kanagawa University, 2946 Tsuchiya, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa 259-1293, Kanagawa, Japan.
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Schwarz C, Poss Z, Hoffmann D, Appel J. Hydrogenases and Hydrogen Metabolism in Photosynthetic Prokaryotes. RECENT ADVANCES IN PHOTOTROPHIC PROKARYOTES 2010; 675:305-48. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-1528-3_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Direct photosynthetic recycling of carbon dioxide to isobutyraldehyde. Nat Biotechnol 2009; 27:1177-80. [DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 663] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Accepted: 10/07/2009] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Ferreira D, Stal LJ, Moradas-Ferreira P, Mendes MV, Tamagnini P. THE RELATION BETWEEN N2 FIXATION AND H2 METABOLISM IN THE MARINE FILAMENTOUS NONHETEROCYSTOUS CYANOBACTERIUM LYNGBYA AESTUARII CCY 9616(1). JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2009; 45:898-905. [PMID: 27034220 DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8817.2009.00714.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The marine filamentous nonheterocystous nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Lyngbya aestuarii (F. K. Mert.) Liebman ex Gomont CCY 9616 was grown under diazotrophic and nondiazotrophic conditions and under an alternating 16:8 light:dark (L:D) regime. Nitrogenase activity appeared just before the onset of the dark period, reaching its maximum 1-2 h in the dark, subsequently decreasing to zero at the beginning of the following light period. Nitrogenase activity was only detected at low levels of O2 (5%) and when the culture was grown in the absence of combined nitrogen. Quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR) analysis of one of the structural genes encoding nitrogenase, nifK, showed that the highest levels of transcription preceded the maximum activity of nitrogenase by 2-4 h. nifK transcription was not completely abolished during the remaining time of the 24 h cycle. Even in the presence of nitrate, when nitrogenase activity was undetectable, nifK was still transcribed. The H2 -uptake activity seemed to follow the nitrogenase, but the transcription of hupL (gene encoding the large subunit of uptake hydrogenase) preceded the nifK transcription. However, H2 -uptake and hupL transcription occurred throughout the 24 h cycle as well as under nondiazotrophic conditions, albeit at much lower levels. The hoxH transcript levels (a structural gene coding for the bidirectional hydrogenase) were similar under diazotrophic or nondiazotrophic conditions but slightly higher during the dark period. All three enzymes investigated are involved in H2 metabolism. It is concluded that the uptake hydrogenase is mainly responsible for H2 uptake. Nevertheless, uptake hydrogenase and nitrogenase do not seem to be coregulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ferreira
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Marine Microbiology, NIOO-KNAW, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, the NetherlandsIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Largo Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Lucas J Stal
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Marine Microbiology, NIOO-KNAW, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, the NetherlandsIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Largo Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Pedro Moradas-Ferreira
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Marine Microbiology, NIOO-KNAW, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, the NetherlandsIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Largo Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Marta V Mendes
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Marine Microbiology, NIOO-KNAW, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, the NetherlandsIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Largo Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Paula Tamagnini
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, PortugalDepartment of Marine Microbiology, NIOO-KNAW, PO Box 140, 4400 AC Yerseke, the NetherlandsIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Largo Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, PortugalIBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Rua do Campo Alegre 823, 4150-180 Porto, Portugal Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, Departamento de Botânica, Edifício FC4, Rua do Campo Alegre, s/nº 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
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Masukawa H, Zhang X, Yamazaki E, Iwata S, Nakamura K, Mochimaru M, Inoue K, Sakurai H. Survey of the distribution of different types of nitrogenases and hydrogenases in heterocyst-forming cyanobacteria. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2009; 11:397-409. [PMID: 19005727 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-008-9156-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2008] [Accepted: 10/07/2008] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
As a first step toward developing the methodology for screening large numbers of heterocyst-forming freshwater cyanobacteria strains for the presence of various types of nitrogenases and hydrogenases, we surveyed the distribution of these genes and their activities in 14 strains from culture collections. The nitrogenase genes include nif1 encoding a Mo-type nitrogenase expressed in heterocysts, nif2 expressed in vegetative cells and heterocysts under anaerobic conditions, and vnf encoding a V-type nitrogenase expressed in heterocysts. Two methods proved to be valuable in surveying the distribution of nitrogenase types. The first method was Southern blot hybridization of DNA digested with two different endonucleases and hybridized with nifD1, nifD2, and vnfD probes. The second method was ethane formation from acetylene to detect the presence of active V-nitrogenase. We found that all 14 strains have nifD1 genes, and eight strains also have nifD2 genes. Four of the strains have vnfD genes, in addition to nifD2 genes. It is curious that three of these four strains had similar hybridization patterns with all of the nifD1, nifD2, and vnfD probes, suggesting that there could be some bias in strains used in the present study or in strains held in culture collections. This point will need to be assessed in the future. For surveying the distribution of hydrogenases, Southern blot hybridization was an effective method. All strains surveyed had hup genes, with the majority of them also having hox genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajime Masukawa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Kanagawa University, Hiratsuka, Kanagawa, Japan
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Holmqvist M, Stensjö K, Oliveira P, Lindberg P, Lindblad P. Characterization of the hupSL promoter activity in Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133. BMC Microbiol 2009; 9:54. [PMID: 19284581 PMCID: PMC2661322 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-9-54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2008] [Accepted: 03/11/2009] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In cyanobacteria three enzymes are directly involved in the hydrogen metabolism; a nitrogenase that produces molecular hydrogen, H2, as a by-product of nitrogen fixation, an uptake hydrogenase that recaptures H2 and oxidize it, and a bidirectional hydrogenase that can both oxidize and produce H2.Nostoc punctiforme ATCC 29133 is a filamentous dinitrogen fixing cyanobacterium containing a nitrogenase and an uptake hydrogenase but no bidirectional hydrogenase. Generally, little is known about the transcriptional regulation of the cyanobacterial uptake hydrogenases. In this study gel shift assays showed that NtcA has a specific affinity to a region of the hupSL promoter containing a predicted NtcA binding site. The predicted NtcA binding site is centred at 258.5 bp upstream the transcription start point (tsp). To further investigate the hupSL promoter, truncated versions of the hupSL promoter were fused to either gfp or luxAB, encoding the reporter proteins Green Fluorescent Protein and Luciferase, respectively. Results Interestingly, all hupsSL promoter deletion constructs showed heterocyst specific expression. Unexpectedly the shortest promoter fragment, a fragment covering 57 bp upstream and 258 bp downstream the tsp, exhibited the highest promoter activity. Deletion of the NtcA binding site neither affected the expression to any larger extent nor the heterocyst specificity. Conclusion Obtained data suggest that the hupSL promoter in N. punctiforme is not strictly dependent on the upstream NtcA cis element and that the shortest promoter fragment (-57 to tsp) is enough for a high and heterocyst specific expression of hupSL. This is highly interesting because it indicates that the information that determines heterocyst specific gene expression might be confined to this short sequence or in the downstream untranslated leader sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Holmqvist
- Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science, The Angström Laboratories, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden.
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Roeselers G, Huisjes EH, Van Loosdrecht MC, Muyzer G. Diversity and expression of cyanobacterial hupS genes in pure cultures and in a nitrogen-limited phototrophic biofilm. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2008; 63:292-300. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6941.2008.00435.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
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Transcription of hupSL in Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 is regulated by NtcA and not by hydrogen. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:2103-10. [PMID: 18281430 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02855-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria such as Anabaena variabilis ATCC 29413 use an uptake hydrogenase, encoded by hupSL, to recycle hydrogen gas that is produced as an obligate by-product of nitrogen fixation. The regulation of hupSL in A. variabilis is likely to differ from that of the closely related Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 because A. variabilis lacks the excision element-mediated regulation that characterizes hupSL regulation in strain PCC 7120. An analysis of the hupSL transcript in a nitrogenase mutant of A. variabilis that does not produce any detectable hydrogen indicated that neither nitrogen fixation nor hydrogen gas was required for the induction of hupSL. Furthermore, exogenous addition of hydrogen gas did not stimulate hupSL transcription. Transcriptional reporter constructs indicated that the accumulation of hupSL transcript after nitrogen step-down was restricted primarily to the microaerobic heterocysts. Anoxic conditions were not sufficient to induce hupSL transcription. The induction of hupSL after nitrogen step-down was reduced in a mutant in the global nitrogen regulator NtcA, but was not reduced in a mutant unable to form heterocysts. A consensus NtcA-binding site was identified upstream of hupSL, and NtcA was found to bind to this region. Thus, while neither hydrogen gas nor anoxia controlled the expression of hupSL, its expression was controlled by NtcA. Heterocyst differentiation was not required for hupSL induction in response to nitrogen step-down, but heterocyst-localized cues may add an additional level of regulation to hupSL.
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Redwood MD, Mikheenko IP, Sargent F, Macaskie LE. Dissecting the roles ofEscherichia colihydrogenases in biohydrogen production. FEMS Microbiol Lett 2008; 278:48-55. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2007.00966.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Effects of disruption of homocitrate synthase genes on Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 photobiological hydrogen production and nitrogenase. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73:7562-70. [PMID: 17933939 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01160-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the case of nitrogenase-based photobiological hydrogen production systems of cyanobacteria, the inactivation of uptake hydrogenase (Hup) leads to significant increases in hydrogen production activity. However, the high-level-activity stage of the Hup mutants lasts only a few tens of hours under air, a circumstance which seems to be caused by sufficient amounts of combined nitrogen supplied by active nitrogenase. The catalytic FeMo cofactor of nitrogenase binds homocitrate, which is required for efficient nitrogen fixation. It was reported previously that the nitrogenase from the homocitrate synthase gene (nifV) disruption mutant of Klebsiella pneumoniae shows decreased nitrogen fixation activity and increased hydrogen production activity under N2. The cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 has two homocitrate synthase genes, nifV1 and nifV2, and with the delta hupL variant of Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 as the parental strain, we have constructed two single mutants, the delta hupL delta nifV1 strain (with the hupL and nifV1 genes disrupted) and the delta hupL delta nifV2 strain, and a double mutant, the delta hupL delta nifV1 delta nifV2 strain. Diazotrophic growth rates of the two nifV single mutants and the double mutant were decreased moderately and severely, respectively, compared with the rates of the parent delta hupL strain. The hydrogen production activity of the delta hupL delta nifV1 mutant was sustained at higher levels than the activity of the parent delta hupL strain after about 2 days of combined-nitrogen step down, and the activity in the culture of the former became higher than that in the culture of the latter. The presence of N2 gas inhibited hydrogen production in the delta hupL delta nifV1 delta nifV2 mutant less strongly than in the parent delta hupL strain and the delta hupL delta nifV1 and delta hupL delta nifV2 mutants. The alteration of homocitrate synthase activity can be a useful strategy for improving sustained photobiological hydrogen production in cyanobacteria.
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Vignais PM, Billoud B. Occurrence, Classification, and Biological Function of Hydrogenases: An Overview. Chem Rev 2007; 107:4206-72. [PMID: 17927159 DOI: 10.1021/cr050196r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1039] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Paulette M. Vignais
- CEA Grenoble, Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biophysique des Systèmes Intégrés, UMR CEA/CNRS/UJF 5092, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant (iRTSV), 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9, France, and Atelier de BioInformatique Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), 12 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Bernard Billoud
- CEA Grenoble, Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biophysique des Systèmes Intégrés, UMR CEA/CNRS/UJF 5092, Institut de Recherches en Technologies et Sciences pour le Vivant (iRTSV), 17 rue des Martyrs, 38054 Grenoble cedex 9, France, and Atelier de BioInformatique Université Pierre et Marie Curie (Paris 6), 12 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France
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Tamagnini P, Leitão E, Oliveira P, Ferreira D, Pinto F, Harris DJ, Heidorn T, Lindblad P. Cyanobacterial hydrogenases: diversity, regulation and applications. FEMS Microbiol Rev 2007; 31:692-720. [PMID: 17903205 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2007.00085.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria may possess two distinct nickel-iron (NiFe)-hydrogenases: an uptake enzyme found in N(2)-fixing strains, and a bidirectional one present in both non-N(2)-fixing and N(2)-fixing strains. The uptake hydrogenase (encoded by hupSL) catalyzes the consumption of the H(2) produced during N(2) fixation, while the bidirectional enzyme (hoxEFUYH) probably plays a role in fermentation and/or acts as an electron valve during photosynthesis. hupSL constitute a transcriptional unit, and are essentially transcribed under N(2)-fixing conditions. The bidirectional hydrogenase consists of a hydrogenase and a diaphorase part, and the corresponding five hox genes are not always clustered or cotranscribed. The biosynthesis/maturation of NiFe-hydrogenases is highly complex, requiring several core proteins. In cyanobacteria, the genes that are thought to affect hydrogenases pleiotropically (hyp), as well as the genes presumably encoding the hydrogenase-specific endopeptidases (hupW and hoxW) have been identified and characterized. Furthermore, NtcA and LexA have been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of the uptake and the bidirectional enzyme respectively. Recently, the phylogenetic origin of cyanobacterial and algal hydrogenases was analyzed, and it was proposed that the current distribution in cyanobacteria reflects a differential loss of genes according to their ecological needs or constraints. In addition, the possibilities and challenges of cyanobacterial-based H(2) production are addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Tamagnini
- IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Serebriakova LT, Sheremet'eva ME. Characterization of catalytic properties of hydrogenase isolated from the unicellular cyanobacterium Gloeocapsa alpicola CALU 743. BIOCHEMISTRY (MOSCOW) 2007; 71:1370-6. [PMID: 17223791 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297906120133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The main catalytic properties of the Hox type hydrogenase isolated from the Gloeocapsa alpicola cells have been studied. The enzyme effectively catalyzes reactions of oxidation and evolution of H2 in the presence of methyl viologen (MV) and benzyl viologen (BV). The rates of these reactions in the interaction with the physiological electron donor/acceptor NADH/NAD+ are only 3-8% of the MV(BV)-dependent values. The enzyme interacts with NADP+ and NADPH, but is more specific to NAD+ and NADH. Purification of the hydrogenase was accompanied by destruction of its multimeric structure and the loss of ability to interact with pyridine nucleotides with retained activity of the hydrogenase component (HoxYH). To show the catalytic activity, the enzyme requires reductive activation, which occurs in the presence of H2, and NADH accelerates this process. The final hydrogenase activity depends on the redox potential of the activation medium (E(h)). At pH 7.0, the enzyme activity in the MV-dependent oxidation of H2 increased with a decrease in E(h) from -350 mV and reached the maximum at E(h) of about -390 mV. However, the rate of H2 oxidation in the presence of NAD+ in the E(h) range under study was virtually constant and equal to 7-8% of the maximal rate of H2 oxidation in the presence of MV.
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Affiliation(s)
- L T Serebriakova
- Institute of Basic Biological Problems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Pushchino, Moscow Region, 142292, Russia.
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Sjöholm J, Oliveira P, Lindblad P. Transcription and regulation of the bidirectional hydrogenase in the cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73:5435-46. [PMID: 17630298 PMCID: PMC2042057 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00756-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The filamentous, heterocystous cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 (Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120) possesses an uptake hydrogenase and a bidirectional enzyme, the latter being capable of catalyzing both H2 production and evolution. The completely sequenced genome of Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 reveals that the five structural genes encoding the bidirectional hydrogenase (hoxEFUYH) are separated in two clusters at a distance of approximately 8.8 kb. The transcription of the hox genes was examined under nitrogen-fixing conditions, and the results demonstrate that the cluster containing hoxE and hoxF can be transcribed as one polycistronic unit together with the open reading frame alr0750. The second cluster, containing hoxU, hoxY, and hoxH, is transcribed together with alr0763 and alr0765, located between the hox genes. Moreover, alr0760 and alr0761 form an additional larger operon. Nevertheless, Northern blot hybridizations revealed a rather complex transcription pattern in which the different hox genes are expressed differently. Transcriptional start points (TSPs) were identified 66 and 57 bp upstream from the start codon of alr0750 and hoxU, respectively. The transcriptions of the two clusters containing the hox genes are both induced under anaerobic conditions concomitantly with the induction of a higher level of hydrogenase activity. An additional TSP, within the annotated alr0760, 244 bp downstream from the suggested translation start codon, was identified. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with purified LexA from Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 demonstrated specific interactions between the transcriptional regulator and both hox promoter regions. However, when LexA from Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 was used, the purified protein interacted only with the promoter region of the alr0750-hoxE-hoxF operon. A search of the whole Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120 genome demonstrated the presence of 216 putative LexA binding sites in total, including recA and recF. This indicates that, in addition to the bidirectional hydrogenase gene, a number of other genes, including open reading frames connected to DNA replication, recombination, and repair, may be part of the LexA regulatory network in Nostoc sp. strain PCC 7120.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johannes Sjöholm
- Department of Photochemistry and Molecular Science, The Angström Laboratories, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751 20 Uppsala, Sweden
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Sakurai H, Masukawa H. Promoting R & D in photobiological hydrogen production utilizing mariculture-raised cyanobacteria. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2007; 9:128-45. [PMID: 17340220 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-006-6073-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2006] [Accepted: 08/25/2006] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
This review article explores the potential of using mariculture-raised cyanobacteria as solar energy converters of hydrogen (H(2)). The exploitation of the sea surface for large-scale renewable energy production and the reasons for selecting the economical, nitrogenase-based systems of cyanobacteria for H(2) production, are described in terms of societal benefits. Reports of cyanobacterial photobiological H(2) production are summarized with respect to specific activity, efficiency of solar energy conversion, and maximum H(2) concentration attainable. The need for further improvements in biological parameters such as low-light saturation properties, sustainability of H(2) production, and so forth, and the means to overcome these difficulties through the identification of promising wild-type strains followed by optimization of the selected strains using genetic engineering are also discussed. Finally, a possible mechanism for the development of economical large-scale mariculture operations in conjunction with international cooperation and social acceptance is outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hidehiro Sakurai
- Department of Biology, School of Education, and Major in Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering, Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Nishiwaseda 1, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 169-8050, Japan.
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