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Kugler A, Stensjö K. Optimal energy and redox metabolism in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2023; 9:47. [PMID: 37739963 PMCID: PMC10516873 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-023-00307-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding energy and redox homeostasis and carbon partitioning is crucial for systems metabolic engineering of cell factories. Carbon metabolism alone cannot achieve maximal accumulation of metabolites in production hosts, since an efficient production of target molecules requires energy and redox balance, in addition to carbon flow. The interplay between cofactor regeneration and heterologous production in photosynthetic microorganisms is not fully explored. To investigate the optimality of energy and redox metabolism, while overproducing alkenes-isobutene, isoprene, ethylene and 1-undecene, in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, we applied stoichiometric metabolic modelling. Our network-wide analysis indicates that the rate of NAD(P)H regeneration, rather than of ATP, controls ATP/NADPH ratio, and thereby bioproduction. The simulation also implies that energy and redox balance is interconnected with carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Furthermore, we show that an auxiliary pathway, composed of serine, one-carbon and glycine metabolism, supports cellular redox homeostasis and ATP cycling. The study revealed non-intuitive metabolic pathways required to enhance alkene production, which are mainly driven by a few key reactions carrying a high flux. We envision that the presented comparative in-silico metabolic analysis will guide the rational design of Synechocystis as a photobiological production platform of target chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Kugler
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751 20, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Karin Stensjö
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry-Ångström Laboratory, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-751 20, Uppsala, Sweden.
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2
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Germann AT, Nakielski A, Dietsch M, Petzel T, Moser D, Triesch S, Westhoff P, Axmann IM. A systematic overexpression approach reveals native targets to increase squalene production in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1024981. [PMID: 37324717 PMCID: PMC10266222 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1024981] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are a promising platform for the production of the triterpene squalene (C30), a precursor for all plant and animal sterols, and a highly attractive intermediate towards triterpenoids, a large group of secondary plant metabolites. Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 natively produces squalene from CO2 through the MEP pathway. Based on the predictions of a constraint-based metabolic model, we took a systematic overexpression approach to quantify native Synechocystis gene's impact on squalene production in a squalene-hopene cyclase gene knock-out strain (Δshc). Our in silico analysis revealed an increased flux through the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle in the Δshc mutant compared to the wildtype, including the pentose phosphate pathway, as well as lower glycolysis, while the tricarboxylic acid cycle predicted to be downregulated. Further, all enzymes of the MEP pathway and terpenoid synthesis, as well as enzymes from the central carbon metabolism, Gap2, Tpi and PyrK, were predicted to positively contribute to squalene production upon their overexpression. Each identified target gene was integrated into the genome of Synechocystis Δshc under the control of the rhamnose-inducible promoter Prha. Squalene production was increased in an inducer concentration dependent manner through the overexpression of most predicted genes, which are genes of the MEP pathway, ispH, ispE, and idi, leading to the greatest improvements. Moreover, we were able to overexpress the native squalene synthase gene (sqs) in Synechocystis Δshc, which reached the highest production titer of 13.72 mg l-1 reported for squalene in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 so far, thereby providing a promising and sustainable platform for triterpene production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna T. Germann
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Nakielski
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Maximilian Dietsch
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tim Petzel
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Daniel Moser
- Institute for Plant Sciences and Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Sebastian Triesch
- Institute of Plant Biochemistry, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Science (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Westhoff
- Plant Metabolism and Metabolomics Laboratory, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ilka M. Axmann
- Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
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Rodrigues JS, Kovács L, Lukeš M, Höper R, Steuer R, Červený J, Lindberg P, Zavřel T. Characterizing isoprene production in cyanobacteria - Insights into the effects of light, temperature, and isoprene on Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 380:129068. [PMID: 37084984 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Engineering cyanobacteria for the production of isoprene and other terpenoids has gained increasing attention in the field of biotechnology. Several studies have addressed optimization of isoprene synthesis in cyanobacteria via enzyme and pathway engineering. However, only little attention has been paid to the optimization of cultivation conditions. In this study, an isoprene-producing strain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and two control strains were grown under a variety of cultivation conditions. Isoprene production, as quantified by modified membrane inlet mass spectrometer (MIMS) and interpreted using Flux Balance Analysis (FBA), increased under violet light and at elevated temperature. Increase of thermotolerance in the isoprene producer was attributed to the physical presence of isoprene, similar to plants. The results demonstrate a beneficial effect of isoprene on cell survival at higher temperatures. This increased thermotolerance opens new possibilities for sustainable bio-production of isoprene and other products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - László Kovács
- Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Martin Lukeš
- Institute of Microbiology, The Czech Academy of Sciences, Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Rune Höper
- Institute for Biology, Theoretical Biology (ITB), Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Steuer
- Institute for Biology, Theoretical Biology (ITB), Humboldt-University of Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Červený
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Pia Lindberg
- Department of Chemistry - Ångström, Uppsala University, Sweden
| | - Tomáš Zavřel
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Brno, Czech Republic.
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4
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Sen P. Flux balance analysis of metabolic networks for efficient engineering of microbial cell factories. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2022:1-34. [PMID: 36476223 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2022.2152631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Metabolic engineering principles have long been applied to explore the metabolic networks of complex microbial cell factories under a variety of environmental constraints for effective deployment of the microorganisms in the optimal production of biochemicals like biofuels, polymers, amino acids, recombinant proteins. One of the methodologies used for analyzing microbial metabolic networks is the Flux Balance Analysis (FBA), which employs applications of optimization techniques for forecasting biomass growth and metabolic flux distribution of industrially important products under specified environmental conditions. The in silico flux simulations are instrumental for designing the production-specific microbial cell factories. However, FBA has some inherent limitations. The present review emphasizes how the incorporation of additional kinetic, thermodynamic, expression and regulatory constraints and integration of omics data into the classical FBA platform improve the prediction accuracy of FBA. A programmed comparison of the simulated data with the experimental observations is presented for supporting the claim. The review further accounts for the successful implementation of classical FBA in biotechnological applications and identifies areas in which classical FBA fails to make correct predictions. The analysis of the predictive capabilities of the different FBA strategies presented here is expected to help researchers in finding new avenues in engineering highly efficient microbial metabolic pathways and identify the key metabolic bottlenecks during the process. Based on the appropriate metabolic network design, fermentation engineers will be able to effectively design the bioreactors and optimize large-scale biochemical production through suitable pathway modifications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pramita Sen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Heritage Institute of Technology Kolkata, Kolkata, India
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Evidence for Electron Transfer from the Bidirectional Hydrogenase to the Photosynthetic Complex I (NDH-1) in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10081617. [PMID: 36014035 PMCID: PMC9414918 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyanobacterial bidirectional [NiFe]-hydrogenase is a pentameric enzyme. Apart from the small and large hydrogenase subunits (HoxYH) it contains a diaphorase module (HoxEFU) that interacts with NAD(P)+ and ferredoxin. HoxEFU shows strong similarity to the outermost subunits (NuoEFG) of canonical respiratory complexes I. Photosynthetic complex I (NDH-1) lacks these three subunits. This led to the idea that HoxEFU might interact with NDH-1 instead. HoxEFUYH utilizes excited electrons from PSI for photohydrogen production and it catalyzes the reverse reaction and feeds electrons into the photosynthetic electron transport. We analyzed hydrogenase activity, photohydrogen evolution and hydrogen uptake, the respiration and photosynthetic electron transport of ΔhoxEFUYH, and a knock-out strain with dysfunctional NDH-1 (ΔndhD1/ΔndhD2) of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Photohydrogen production was prolonged in ΔndhD1/ΔndhD2 due to diminished hydrogen uptake. Electrons from hydrogen oxidation must follow a different route into the photosynthetic electron transport in this mutant compared to wild type cells. Furthermore, respiration was reduced in ΔhoxEFUYH and the ΔndhD1/ΔndhD2 localization of the hydrogenase to the membrane was impaired. These data indicate that electron transfer from the hydrogenase to the NDH-1 complex is either direct, by the binding of the hydrogenase to the complex, or indirect, via an additional mediator.
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Heterologous Lactate Synthesis in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 Causes a Growth Condition-Dependent Carbon Sink Effect. Appl Environ Microbiol 2022; 88:e0006322. [PMID: 35369703 PMCID: PMC9040622 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00063-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are considered promising hosts for product synthesis directly from CO2 via photosynthetic carbon assimilation. The introduction of heterologous carbon sinks in terms of product synthesis has been reported to induce the so-called “carbon sink effect,” described as the release of unused photosynthetic capacity by the introduction of additional carbon. This effect is thought to arise from a limitation of carbon metabolism that represents a bottleneck in carbon and electron flow, thus enforcing a downregulation of photosynthetic efficiency. It is not known so far how the cellular source/sink balance under different growth conditions influences the extent of the carbon sink effect and in turn product formation from CO2, constituting a heterologous carbon sink. We compared the Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803 wild type (WT) with an engineered lactate-producing strain (SAA023) in defined metabolic states. Unexpectedly, high-light conditions combined with carbon limitation enabled additional carbon assimilation for lactate production without affecting biomass formation. Thus, a strong carbon sink effect only was observed under carbon and thus sink limitation, but not under high-sink conditions. We show that the carbon sink effect was accompanied by an increased rate of alternative electron flow (AEF). Thus, AEF plays a crucial role in the equilibration of source/sink imbalances, presumably via ATP/NADPH balancing. This study emphasizes that the evaluation of the biotechnological potential of cyanobacteria profits from cultivation approaches enabling the establishment of defined metabolic states and respective quantitative analytics. Factors stimulating photosynthesis and carbon fixation are discussed. IMPORTANCE Previous studies reported various and differing effects of the heterologous production of carbon-based molecules on photosynthetic and growth efficiency of cyanobacteria. The typically applied cultivation in batch mode, with continuously changing growth conditions, however, precludes a clear differentiation between the impact of cultivation conditions on cell physiology and effects related to the specific nature of the product and its synthesis pathway. In this study, we employed a continuous cultivation system to maintain defined source/sink conditions and thus metabolic states. This allowed a systematic and quantitative analysis of the effect of NADPH-consuming lactate production on photosynthetic and growth efficiency. This approach enables a realistic evaluation of the biotechnological potential of engineered cyanobacterial strains. For example, the quantum requirement for carbon production was found to constitute an excellent indicator of the source/sink balance and thus a key parameter for photobioprocess optimization. Such knowledge is fundamental for rational and efficient strain and process development.
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Abstract
Genetic engineering of cyanobacteria is currently limited to genomic integration via homologous recombination and RSF1010-based conjugative vector systems. Here, we introduce a rationally designed conjugative vector with two BioBrick-based cloning sites which enables facilitated and modular cloning. This streamlined vector is suitable for a variety of synthetic biology applications, such as expression of multiple enzymes from metabolic pathways for the production of biofuels or secondary metabolites, or screening of modular parts such as promoters, further facilitating applications to improve crop plants using synthetic biology. Finally, we present a general approach to cloning of constructs, as well as detailed protocols for conjugation and culturing of strains carrying said constructs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Behle
- Department of Biology, Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ilka M Axmann
- Department of Biology, Institute for Synthetic Microbiology, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Madsen MA, Hamilton G, Herzyk P, Amtmann A. Environmental Regulation of PndbA600, an Auto-Inducible Promoter for Two-Stage Industrial Biotechnology in Cyanobacteria. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2021; 8:619055. [PMID: 33542914 PMCID: PMC7853294 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.619055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic prokaryotes being developed as sustainable platforms that use renewable resources (light, water, and air) for diverse applications in energy, food, environment, and medicine. Despite the attractive promise that cyanobacteria offer to industrial biotechnology, slow growth rates pose a major challenge in processes which typically require large amounts of biomass and are often toxic to the cells. Two-stage cultivation strategies are an attractive solution to prevent any undesired growth inhibition by de-coupling biomass accumulation (stage I) and the industrial process (stage II). In cyanobacteria, two-stage strategies involve costly transfer methods between stages I and II, and little work has been focussed on using the distinct growth and stationary phases of batch cultures to autoregulate stage transition. In the present study, we identified and characterised a growth phase-specific promoter, which can serve as an auto-inducible switch to regulate two-stage bioprocesses in cyanobacteria. First, growth phase-specific genes were identified from a new RNAseq dataset comparing two growth phases and six nutrient conditions in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, including two new transcriptomes for low Mg and low K. A type II NADH dehydrogenase (ndbA) showed robust induction when the cultures transitioned from exponential to stationary phase growth. Behaviour of a 600-bp promoter sequence (PndbA600) was then characterised in detail following the expression of PndbA600:GFP in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. Culture density and growth media analyses showed that PndbA600 activation was not dependent on increases in culture density per se but on N availability and on another activating factor present in the spent media of stationary phase cultures (Factor X). PndbA600 deactivation was dependent on the changes in culture density and in either N availability or Factor X. Electron transport inhibition studies revealed a photosynthesis-specific enhancement of active PndbA600 levels. Our findings are summarised in a model describing the environmental regulation of PndbA600, which can now inform the rational design of two-stage industrial processes in cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Madsen
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Hamilton
- Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Pawel Herzyk
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.,Glasgow Polyomics, Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Amtmann
- College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, Institute of Molecular, Cell and Systems Biology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom
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9
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Assessment of Protein Content and Phosphorylation Level in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 under Various Growth Conditions Using Quantitative Phosphoproteomic Analysis. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25163582. [PMID: 32781706 PMCID: PMC7466104 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25163582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The photosynthetic apparatus and metabolic enzymes of cyanobacteria are subject to various controls, such as transcriptional regulation and post-translational modifications, to ensure that the entire cellular system functions optimally. In particular, phosphorylation plays key roles in many cellular controls such as enzyme activity, signal transduction, and photosynthetic apparatus restructuring. Therefore, elucidating the governing functions of phosphorylation is crucial to understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying metabolism and photosynthesis. In this study, we determined protein content and phosphorylation levels to reveal the regulation of intracellular metabolism and photosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803; for this, we obtained quantitative data of proteins and their phosphorylated forms involved in photosynthesis and metabolism under various growth conditions (photoautotrophic, mixotrophic, heterotrophic, dark, and nitrogen-deprived conditions) using targeted proteomic and phosphoproteomic analyses with nano-liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. The results indicated that in addition to the regulation of protein expression, the regulation of phosphorylation levels of cyanobacterial photosynthetic apparatus and metabolic enzymes was pivotal for adapting to changing environmental conditions. Furthermore, reduced protein levels of CpcC and altered phosphorylation levels of CpcB, ApcA, OCP, and PsbV contributed to the cellular response of the photosynthesis apparatus to nitrogen deficiency.
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Photosynthetic Co-Production of Succinate and Ethylene in A Fast-Growing Cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 11801. Metabolites 2020; 10:metabo10060250. [PMID: 32560048 PMCID: PMC7345232 DOI: 10.3390/metabo10060250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are emerging as hosts for photoautotrophic production of chemicals. Recent studies have attempted to stretch the limits of photosynthetic production, typically focusing on one product at a time, possibly to minimise the additional burden of product separation. Here, we explore the simultaneous production of two products that can be easily separated: ethylene, a gaseous product, and succinate, an organic acid that accumulates in the culture medium. This was achieved by expressing a single copy of the ethylene forming enzyme (efe) under the control of PcpcB, the inducer-free super-strong promoter of phycocyanin β subunit. We chose the recently reported, fast-growing and robust cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 11801, as the host strain. A stable recombinant strain was constructed using CRISPR-Cpf1 in a first report of markerless genome editing of this cyanobacterium. Under photoautotrophic conditions, the recombinant strain shows specific productivities of 338.26 and 1044.18 μmole/g dry cell weight/h for ethylene and succinate, respectively. These results compare favourably with the reported productivities for individual products in cyanobacteria that are highly engineered. Metabolome profiling and 13C labelling studies indicate carbon flux redistribution and suggest avenues for further improvement. Our results show that S. elongatus PCC 11801 is a promising candidate for metabolic engineering.
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Reaction kinetics: scientific passion or applicative tool? RENDICONTI LINCEI. SCIENZE FISICHE E NATURALI 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s12210-020-00884-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Russo DA, Zedler JAZ, Jensen PE. A force awakens: exploiting solar energy beyond photosynthesis. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2019; 70:1703-1710. [PMID: 30773590 PMCID: PMC6436153 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/erz054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, efforts to exploit sunlight, a free and abundant energy source, have sped up dramatically. Oxygenic photosynthetic organisms, such as higher plants, algae, and cyanobacteria, can convert solar energy into chemical energy very efficiently using water as an electron donor. By providing organic building blocks for life in this way, photosynthesis is undoubtedly one of the most important processes on Earth. The aim of light-driven catalysis is to harness solar energy, in the form of reducing power, to drive enzymatic reactions requiring electrons for their catalytic cycle. Light-driven enzymes have been shown to have a large number of biotechnological applications, ranging from the production of high-value secondary metabolites to the development of green chemistry processes. Here, we highlight recent key developments in the field of light-driven catalysis using biological components. We will also discuss strategies to design and optimize light-driven systems in order to develop the next generation of sustainable solutions in biotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Russo
- Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Julie A Z Zedler
- Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Poul Erik Jensen
- Copenhagen Plant Science Centre, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
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Abstract
Life has adapted to Earth's day-night cycle with the evolution of endogenous biological clocks. Whereas these circadian rhythms typically involve extensive transcription-translation feedback in higher organisms, cyanobacteria have a circadian clock, which functions primarily as a protein-based post-translational oscillator. Known as the Kai system, it consists of three proteins KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC. In this chapter, we provide a detailed structural overview of the Kai components and how they interact to produce circadian rhythms of global gene expression in cyanobacterial cells. We discuss how the circadian oscillation is coupled to gene expression, intertwined with transcription-translation feedback mechanisms, and entrained by input from the environment. We discuss the use of mathematical models and summarize insights into the cyanobacterial circadian clock from theoretical studies. The molecular details of the Kai system are well documented for the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus, but many less understood varieties of the Kai system exist across the highly diverse phylum of Cyanobacteria. Several species contain multiple kai-gene copies, while others like marine Prochlorococcus strains have a reduced kaiBC-only system, lacking kaiA. We highlight recent findings on the genomic distribution of kai genes in Bacteria and Archaea and finally discuss hypotheses on the evolution of the Kai system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Snijder
- Snijder Bioscience, Zevenwouden 143, 3524CN, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Biomolecular Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics, Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ilka Maria Axmann
- Synthetic Microbiology, Biology Department, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Universitätsstraße 1, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
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Liebal UW, Blank LM, Ebert BE. CO 2 to succinic acid - Estimating the potential of biocatalytic routes. Metab Eng Commun 2018; 7:e00075. [PMID: 30197864 PMCID: PMC6127376 DOI: 10.1016/j.mec.2018.e00075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial carbon dioxide assimilation and conversion to chemical platform molecules has the potential to be developed as economic, sustainable processes. The carbon dioxide assimilation can proceed by a variety of natural pathways and recently even synthetic CO2 fixation routes have been designed. Early assessment of the performance of the different carbon fixation alternatives within biotechnological processes is desirable to evaluate their potential. Here we applied stoichiometric metabolic modeling based on physiological and process data to evaluate different process variants for the conversion of C1 carbon compounds to the industrial relevant platform chemical succinic acid. We computationally analyzed the performance of cyanobacteria, acetogens, methylotrophs, and synthetic CO2 fixation pathways in Saccharomyces cerevisiae in terms of production rates, product yields, and the optimization potential. This analysis provided insight into the economic feasibility and allowed to estimate the future industrial applicability by estimating overall production costs. With reported, or estimated data of engineered or wild type strains, none of the simulated microbial succinate production processes showed a performance allowing competitive production. The main limiting factors were identified as gas and photon transfer and metabolic activities whereas metabolic network structure was not restricting. In simulations with optimized parameters most process alternatives reached economically interesting values, hence, represent promising alternatives to sugar-based fermentations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars M. Blank
- Institute of Applied Microbiology-iAMB, Aachen Biology and Biotechnology-ABBt, RWTH Aachen University, Worringer Weg 1, D-52074 Aachen, Germany
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Sun T, Li S, Song X, Diao J, Chen L, Zhang W. Toolboxes for cyanobacteria: Recent advances and future direction. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36:1293-1307. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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16
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Du W, Jongbloets JA, van Boxtel C, Pineda Hernández H, Lips D, Oliver BG, Hellingwerf KJ, Branco dos Santos F. Alignment of microbial fitness with engineered product formation: obligatory coupling between acetate production and photoautotrophic growth. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2018; 11:38. [PMID: 29456625 PMCID: PMC5809919 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-018-1037-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial bioengineering has the potential to become a key contributor to the future development of human society by providing sustainable, novel, and cost-effective production pipelines. However, the sustained productivity of genetically engineered strains is often a challenge, as spontaneous non-producing mutants tend to grow faster and take over the population. Novel strategies to prevent this issue of strain instability are urgently needed. RESULTS In this study, we propose a novel strategy applicable to all microbial production systems for which a genome-scale metabolic model is available that aligns the production of native metabolites to the formation of biomass. Based on well-established constraint-based analysis techniques such as OptKnock and FVA, we developed an in silico pipeline-FRUITS-that specifically 'Finds Reactions Usable in Tapping Side-products'. It analyses a metabolic network to identify compounds produced in anabolism that are suitable to be coupled to growth by deletion of their re-utilization pathway(s), and computes their respective biomass and product formation rates. When applied to Synechocystis sp. PCC6803, a model cyanobacterium explored for sustainable bioproduction, a total of nine target metabolites were identified. We tested our approach for one of these compounds, acetate, which is used in a wide range of industrial applications. The model-guided engineered strain shows an obligatory coupling between acetate production and photoautotrophic growth as predicted. Furthermore, the stability of acetate productivity in this strain was confirmed by performing prolonged turbidostat cultivations. CONCLUSIONS This work demonstrates a novel approach to stabilize the production of target compounds in cyanobacteria that culminated in the first report of a photoautotrophic growth-coupled cell factory. The method developed is generic and can easily be extended to any other modeled microbial production system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Du
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joeri A. Jongbloets
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Coco van Boxtel
- Systems Bioinformatics/Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS)/Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hugo Pineda Hernández
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David Lips
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Brett G. Oliver
- Systems Bioinformatics/Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems (AIMMS)/Netherlands Institute for Systems Biology, VU University Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1085, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Modelling of Biological Process, BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaas J. Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Filipe Branco dos Santos
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Science, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Science Park 904, 1098 XH Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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17
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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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18
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Joshi CJ, Peebles CA, Prasad A. Modeling and analysis of flux distribution and bioproduct formation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using a new genome-scale metabolic reconstruction. ALGAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2017.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
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19
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Hendry JI, Prasannan C, Ma F, Möllers KB, Jaiswal D, Digmurti M, Allen DK, Frigaard NU, Dasgupta S, Wangikar PP. Rerouting of carbon flux in a glycogen mutant of cyanobacteria assessed via isotopically non-stationary 13 C metabolic flux analysis. Biotechnol Bioeng 2017; 114:2298-2308. [PMID: 28600876 DOI: 10.1002/bit.26350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Revised: 06/09/2017] [Accepted: 06/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria, which constitute a quantitatively dominant phylum, have attracted attention in biofuel applications due to favorable physiological characteristics, high photosynthetic efficiency and amenability to genetic manipulations. However, quantitative aspects of cyanobacterial metabolism have received limited attention. In the present study, we have performed isotopically non-stationary 13 C metabolic flux analysis (INST-13 C-MFA) to analyze rerouting of carbon in a glycogen synthase deficient mutant strain (glgA-I glgA-II) of the model cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. During balanced photoautotrophic growth, 10-20% of the fixed carbon is stored in the form of glycogen via a pathway that is conserved across the cyanobacterial phylum. Our results show that deletion of glycogen synthase gene orchestrates cascading effects on carbon distribution in various parts of the metabolic network. Carbon that was originally destined to be incorporated into glycogen gets partially diverted toward alternate storage molecules such as glucosylglycerol and sucrose. The rest is partitioned within the metabolic network, primarily via glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid cycle. A lowered flux toward carbohydrate synthesis and an altered distribution at the glucose-1-phosphate node indicate flexibility in the network. Further, reversibility of glycogen biosynthesis reactions points toward the presence of futile cycles. Similar redistribution of carbon was also predicted by Flux Balance Analysis. The results are significant to metabolic engineering efforts with cyanobacteria where fixed carbon needs to be re-routed to products of interest. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2017;114: 2298-2308. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- John I Hendry
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Charulata Prasannan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.,DBT-Pan IIT Center for Bioenergy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.,Wadhwani Research Center for Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Fangfang Ma
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, US Department of Agriculture, St. Louis, Missouri, 63132
| | - K Benedikt Möllers
- Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Helsingør, 3000, Denmark
| | - Damini Jaiswal
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Madhuri Digmurti
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Doug K Allen
- Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, US Department of Agriculture, St. Louis, Missouri, 63132.,Agricultural Research Service, US Department of Agriculture, St. Louis, Missouri, 63132
| | | | - Santanu Dasgupta
- Reliance Research and Development Centre, Reliance Corporate Park, Reliance Industries Ltd., Thane-Belapur Road, Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai, 400 701, India
| | - Pramod P Wangikar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.,DBT-Pan IIT Center for Bioenergy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India.,Wadhwani Research Center for Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai, 400076, India
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20
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Yenkie KM, Wu W, Maravelias CT. Synthesis and analysis of separation networks for the recovery of intracellular chemicals generated from microbial-based conversions. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:119. [PMID: 28503196 PMCID: PMC5422901 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0804-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioseparations can contribute to more than 70% in the total production cost of a bio-based chemical, and if the desired chemical is localized intracellularly, there can be additional challenges associated with its recovery. Based on the properties of the desired chemical and other components in the stream, there can be multiple feasible options for product recovery. These options are composed of several alternative technologies, performing similar tasks. The suitability of a technology for a particular chemical depends on (1) its performance parameters, such as separation efficiency; (2) cost or amount of added separating agent; (3) properties of the bioreactor effluent (e.g., biomass titer, product content); and (4) final product specifications. Our goal is to first synthesize alternative separation options and then analyze how technology selection affects the overall process economics. To achieve this, we propose an optimization-based framework that helps in identifying the critical technologies and parameters. RESULTS We study the separation networks for two representative classes of chemicals based on their properties. The separation network is divided into three stages: cell and product isolation (stage I), product concentration (II), and product purification and refining (III). Each stage exploits differences in specific product properties for achieving the desired product quality. The cost contribution analysis for the two cases (intracellular insoluble and intracellular soluble) reveals that stage I is the key cost contributor (>70% of the overall cost). Further analysis suggests that changes in input conditions and technology performance parameters lead to new designs primarily in stage I. CONCLUSIONS The proposed framework provides significant insights for technology selection and assists in making informed decisions regarding technologies that should be used in combination for a given set of stream/product properties and final output specifications. Additionally, the parametric sensitivity provides an opportunity to make crucial design and selection decisions in a comprehensive and rational manner. This will prove valuable in the selection of chemicals to be produced using bioconversions (bioproducts) as well as in creating better bioseparation flow sheets for detailed economic assessment and process implementation on the commercial scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti M. Yenkie
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1691 USA
| | - Wenzhao Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1691 USA
| | - Christos T. Maravelias
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1415 Engineering Drive, Madison, WI 53706-1691 USA
- DOE Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1552 University Ave, Madison, WI 53726 USA
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21
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Kopka J, Schmidt S, Dethloff F, Pade N, Berendt S, Schottkowski M, Martin N, Dühring U, Kuchmina E, Enke H, Kramer D, Wilde A, Hagemann M, Friedrich A. Systems analysis of ethanol production in the genetically engineered cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2017; 10:56. [PMID: 28286551 PMCID: PMC5340023 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-017-0741-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Future sustainable energy production can be achieved using mass cultures of photoautotrophic microorganisms, which are engineered to synthesize valuable products directly from CO2 and sunlight. As cyanobacteria can be cultivated in large scale on non-arable land, these phototrophic bacteria have become attractive organisms for production of biofuels. Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, one of the cyanobacterial model organisms, provides many attractive properties for biofuel production such as tolerance of seawater and high light intensities. RESULTS Here, we performed a systems analysis of an engineered ethanol-producing strain of the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002, which was grown in artificial seawater medium over 30 days applying a 12:12 h day-night cycle. Biosynthesis of ethanol resulted in a final accumulation of 0.25% (v/v) ethanol, including ethanol lost due to evaporation. The cultivation experiment revealed three production phases. The highest production rate was observed in the initial phase when cells were actively growing. In phase II growth of the producer strain stopped, but ethanol production rate was still high. Phase III was characterized by a decrease of both ethanol production and optical density of the culture. Metabolomics revealed that the carbon drain due to ethanol diffusion from the cell resulted in the expected reduction of pyruvate-based intermediates. Carbon-saving strategies successfully compensated the decrease of central intermediates of carbon metabolism during the first phase of fermentation. However, during long-term ethanol production the producer strain showed clear indications of intracellular carbon limitation. Despite the decreased levels of glycolytic and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates, soluble sugars and even glycogen accumulated in the producer strain. The changes in carbon assimilation patterns are partly supported by proteome analysis, which detected decreased levels of many enzymes and also revealed the stress phenotype of ethanol-producing cells. Strategies towards improved ethanol production are discussed. CONCLUSIONS Systems analysis of ethanol production in Synechococcus sp. PCC 7002 revealed initial compensation followed by increasing metabolic limitation due to excessive carbon drain from primary metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Kopka
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schmidt
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Frederik Dethloff
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, Am Mühlenberg 1, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
- Max-Planck-Institute of Psychiatry, Kraepelinstraße 2-10, 80804 Munich, Germany
| | - Nadin Pade
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Plant Physiology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
| | - Susanne Berendt
- Algenol Biofuels Germany GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nico Martin
- Algenol Biofuels Germany GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Dühring
- Algenol Biofuels Germany GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ekaterina Kuchmina
- Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heike Enke
- Algenol Biofuels Germany GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Cyano Biotech GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Dan Kramer
- Algenol Biofuels Germany GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
- Cyano Biotech GmbH, Magnusstraße 11, 12489 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annegret Wilde
- Institute of Biology III, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestr. 1, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Hagemann
- Institute of Biological Sciences, Plant Physiology, University of Rostock, Albert-Einstein-Str. 3, 18059 Rostock, Germany
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22
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Shabestary K, Hudson EP. Computational metabolic engineering strategies for growth-coupled biofuel production by Synechocystis. Metab Eng Commun 2016; 3:216-226. [PMID: 29468126 PMCID: PMC5779732 DOI: 10.1016/j.meteno.2016.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical and fuel production by photosynthetic cyanobacteria is a promising technology but to date has not reached competitive rates and titers. Genome-scale metabolic modeling can reveal limitations in cyanobacteria metabolism and guide genetic engineering strategies to increase chemical production. Here, we used constraint-based modeling and optimization algorithms on a genome-scale model of Synechocystis PCC6803 to find ways to improve productivity of fermentative, fatty-acid, and terpene-derived fuels. OptGene and MOMA were used to find heuristics for knockout strategies that could increase biofuel productivity. OptKnock was used to find a set of knockouts that led to coupling between biofuel and growth. Our results show that high productivity of fermentation or reversed beta-oxidation derived alcohols such as 1-butanol requires elimination of NADH sinks, while terpenes and fatty-acid based fuels require creating imbalances in intracellular ATP and NADPH production and consumption. The FBA-predicted productivities of these fuels are at least 10-fold higher than those reported so far in the literature. We also discuss the physiological and practical feasibility of implementing these knockouts. This work gives insight into how cyanobacteria could be engineered to reach competitive biofuel productivities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Elton P. Hudson
- School of Biotechnology, KTH - Royal Institute of Technology, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm, Sweden
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23
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Martinez S, Hausinger RP. Biochemical and Spectroscopic Characterization of the Non-Heme Fe(II)- and 2-Oxoglutarate-Dependent Ethylene-Forming Enzyme from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2. Biochemistry 2016; 55:5989-5999. [PMID: 27749027 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.6b00890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The ethylene-forming enzyme (EFE) from Pseudomonas syringae pv. phaseolicola PK2 is a member of the mononuclear non-heme Fe(II)- and 2-oxoglutarate (2OG)-dependent oxygenase superfamily. This enzyme is reported to simultaneously catalyze the conversion of 2OG into ethylene and three CO2 molecules and the Cδ hydroxylation of l-arginine (l-Arg) while oxidatively decarboxylating 2OG to form succinate and carbon dioxide. A new plasmid construct for expression in recombinant Escherichia coli cells allowed for the purification of large amounts of EFE with activity greater than that previously recorded. A variety of assays were used to quantify and confirm the identity of the proposed products, including the first experimental demonstration of l-Δ1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate and guanidine derived from 5-hydroxyarginine. Selected l-Arg derivatives could induce ethylene formation without undergoing hydroxylation, demonstrating that ethylene production and l-Arg hydroxylation activities are not linked. Similarly, EFE utilizes the alternative α-keto acid 2-oxoadipate as a cosubstrate (forming glutaric acid) during the hydroxylation of l-Arg, with this reaction unlinked from ethylene formation. Kinetic constants were determined for both ethylene formation and l-Arg hydroxylation reactions. Anaerobic UV-visible difference spectra were used to monitor the binding of Fe(II) and substrates to the enzyme. On the basis of our results and what is generally known about EFE and Fe(II)- and 2OG-dependent oxygenases, an updated model for the reaction mechanism is presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salette Martinez
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
| | - Robert P Hausinger
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics and ‡Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Michigan State University , East Lansing, Michigan 48824, United States
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24
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Yenkie KM, Wu W, Clark RL, Pfleger BF, Root TW, Maravelias CT. A roadmap for the synthesis of separation networks for the recovery of bio-based chemicals: Matching biological and process feasibility. Biotechnol Adv 2016; 34:1362-1383. [PMID: 27756578 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 09/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Microbial conversion of renewable feedstocks to high-value chemicals is an attractive alternative to current petrochemical processes because it offers the potential to reduce net CO2 emissions and integrate with bioremediation objectives. Microbes have been genetically engineered to produce a growing number of high-value chemicals in sufficient titer, rate, and yield from renewable feedstocks. However, high-yield bioconversion is only one aspect of an economically viable process. Separation of biologically synthesized chemicals from process streams is a major challenge that can contribute to >70% of the total production costs. Thus, process feasibility is dependent upon the efficient selection of separation technologies. This selection is dependent on upstream processing or biological parameters, such as microbial species, product titer and yield, and localization. Our goal is to present a roadmap for selection of appropriate technologies and generation of separation schemes for efficient recovery of bio-based chemicals by utilizing information from upstream processing, separation science and commercial requirements. To achieve this, we use a separation system comprising of three stages: (I) cell and product isolation, (II) product concentration, and (III) product purification and refinement. In each stage, we review the technology alternatives available for different tasks in terms of separation principles, important operating conditions, performance parameters, advantages and disadvantages. We generate separation schemes based on product localization and its solubility in water, the two most distinguishing properties. Subsequently, we present ideas for simplification of these schemes based on additional properties, such as physical state, density, volatility, and intended use. This simplification selectively narrows down the technology options and can be used for systematic process synthesis and optimal recovery of bio-based chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirti M Yenkie
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - WenZhao Wu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Ryan L Clark
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Brian F Pfleger
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Thatcher W Root
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States
| | - Christos T Maravelias
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States.
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25
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Jablonsky J, Papacek S, Hagemann M. Different strategies of metabolic regulation in cyanobacteria: from transcriptional to biochemical control. Sci Rep 2016; 6:33024. [PMID: 27611502 PMCID: PMC5017163 DOI: 10.1038/srep33024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 show similar changes in the metabolic response to changed CO2 conditions but exhibit significant differences at the transcriptomic level. This study employs a systems biology approach to investigate the difference in metabolic regulation of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942 and Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Presented multi-level kinetic model for Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is a new approach integrating and analysing metabolomic, transcriptomic and fluxomics data obtained under high and ambient CO2 levels. Modelling analysis revealed that higher number of different isozymes in Synechocystis 6803 improves homeostatic stability of several metabolites, especially 3PGA by 275%, against changes in gene expression, compared to Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942. Furthermore, both cyanobacteria have the same amount of phosphoglycerate mutases but Synechocystis 6803 exhibits only ~20% differences in their mRNA levels after shifts from high to ambient CO2 level, in comparison to ~500% differences in the case of Synechococcus sp. PCC 7942. These and other data imply that the biochemical control dominates over transcriptional regulation in Synechocystis 6803 to acclimate central carbon metabolism in the environment of variable inorganic carbon availability without extra cost carried by large changes in the proteome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiri Jablonsky
- Institute of Complex Systems, FFPW, University of South Bohemia, Cenakva, Czech Republic
| | - Stepan Papacek
- Institute of Complex Systems, FFPW, University of South Bohemia, Cenakva, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Hagemann
- Department of Plant Physiology, University of Rostock, Einsteinstr. 3, D-18059 Rostock, Germany
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26
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Zavřel T, Červený J, Knoop H, Steuer R. Optimizing cyanobacterial product synthesis: Meeting the challenges. Bioengineered 2016; 7:490-496. [PMID: 27420605 PMCID: PMC5241762 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2016.1207017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The synthesis of renewable bioproducts using photosynthetic microorganisms holds great promise. Sustainable industrial applications, however, are still scarce and the true limits of phototrophic production remain unknown. One of the limitations of further progress is our insufficient understanding of the quantitative changes in photoautotrophic metabolism that occur during growth in dynamic environments. We argue that a proper evaluation of the intra- and extracellular factors that limit phototrophic production requires the use of highly-controlled cultivation in photobioreactors, coupled to real-time analysis of production parameters and their evaluation by predictive computational models. In this addendum, we discuss the importance and challenges of systems biology approaches for the optimization of renewable biofuels production. As a case study, we present the utilization of a state-of-the-art experimental setup together with a stoichiometric computational model of cyanobacterial metabolism for quantitative evaluation of ethylene production by a recombinant cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Zavřel
- a Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies , Global Change Research Institute, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic , Drásov , Czech Republic
| | - Jan Červený
- a Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies , Global Change Research Institute, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic , Drásov , Czech Republic
| | - Henning Knoop
- b Institut für Theoretische Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Berlin , Germany
| | - Ralf Steuer
- b Institut für Theoretische Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin , Berlin , Germany
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27
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Zavřel T, Knoop H, Steuer R, Jones PR, Červený J, Trtílek M. A quantitative evaluation of ethylene production in the recombinant cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 harboring the ethylene-forming enzyme by membrane inlet mass spectrometry. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 202:142-51. [PMID: 26708481 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/24/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The prediction of the world's future energy consumption and global climate change makes it desirable to identify new technologies to replace or augment fossil fuels by environmentally sustainable alternatives. One appealing sustainable energy concept is harvesting solar energy via photosynthesis coupled to conversion of CO2 into chemical feedstock and fuel. In this work, the production of ethylene, the most widely used petrochemical produced exclusively from fossil fuels, in the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 is studied. A novel instrumentation setup for quantitative monitoring of ethylene production using a combination of flat-panel photobioreactor coupled to a membrane-inlet mass spectrometer is introduced. Carbon partitioning is estimated using a quantitative model of cyanobacterial metabolism. The results show that ethylene is produced under a wide range of light intensities with an optimum at modest irradiances. The results allow production conditions to be optimized in a highly controlled setup.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Zavřel
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, Drásov, Czech Republic.
| | - Henning Knoop
- Institut für Theoretische Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ralf Steuer
- Institut für Theoretische Biologie, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patrik R Jones
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jan Červený
- Department of Adaptive Biotechnologies, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Science of the Czech Republic, Drásov, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Trtílek
- Photon Systems Instruments, spol. s r.o., Drásov, Czech Republic
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Klanchui A, Raethong N, Prommeenate P, Vongsangnak W, Meechai A. Cyanobacterial Biofuels: Strategies and Developments on Network and Modeling. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2016; 160:75-102. [PMID: 27783135 DOI: 10.1007/10_2016_42] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cyanobacteria, the phototrophic microorganisms, have attracted much attention recently as a promising source for environmentally sustainable biofuels production. However, barriers for commercial markets of cyanobacteria-based biofuels concern the economic feasibility. Miscellaneous strategies for improving the production performance of cyanobacteria have thus been developed. Among these, the simple ad hoc strategies resulting in failure to optimize fully cell growth coupled with desired product yield are explored. With the advancement of genomics and systems biology, a new paradigm toward systems metabolic engineering has been recognized. In particular, a genome-scale metabolic network reconstruction and modeling is a crucial systems-based tool for whole-cell-wide investigation and prediction. In this review, the cyanobacterial genome-scale metabolic models, which offer a system-level understanding of cyanobacterial metabolism, are described. The main process of metabolic network reconstruction and modeling of cyanobacteria are summarized. Strategies and developments on genome-scale network and modeling through the systems metabolic engineering approach are advanced and employed for efficient cyanobacterial-based biofuels production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amornpan Klanchui
- Biological Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand
| | - Nachon Raethong
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Bioscience, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Peerada Prommeenate
- Biochemical Engineering and Pilot Plant Research and Development (BEC) Unit, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Science and Technology Development Agency, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10150, Thailand
| | - Wanwipa Vongsangnak
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand.,Computational Biomodelling Laboratory for Agricultural Science and Technology (CBLAST), Faculty of Science, Kasetsart University, Bangkok, 10900, Thailand
| | - Asawin Meechai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, 10140, Thailand.
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Mohammadi R, Fallah-Mehrabadi J, Bidkhori G, Zahiri J, Javad Niroomand M, Masoudi-Nejad A. A systems biology approach to reconcile metabolic network models with application to Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 for biofuel production. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2016; 12:2552-61. [DOI: 10.1039/c6mb00119j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Metabolic network models can be optimized for the production of desired materials like biofuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Mohammadi
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB)
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
- University of Tehran
- Tehran
- Iran
| | | | | | - Javad Zahiri
- Bioinformatics and Computational Omics Lab (BioCOOL)
- Department of Biophysics
- Faculty of Biological Sciences
- Tarbiat Modares University
- Tehran
| | - Mohammad Javad Niroomand
- Learning Intelligent Systems Lab
- School of Electrical and Computer Engineering
- University of Tehran
- Tehran
- Iran
| | - Ali Masoudi-Nejad
- Laboratory of Systems Biology and Bioinformatics (LBB)
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics
- University of Tehran
- Tehran
- Iran
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