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Li CL, Pu JQ, Zhou W, Hu CM, Deng YY, Sun YY, Yang LE. Functional Characterization of the First Bona Fide Phytoene Synthase in Red Algae from Pyropia yezoensis. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:257. [PMID: 38921568 PMCID: PMC11204479 DOI: 10.3390/md22060257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The formation of phytoene by condensing two geranylgeranyl diphosphate molecules catalyzed by phytoene synthase (PSY) is the first committed and rate-limiting step in carotenoid biosynthesis, which has been extensively investigated in bacteria, land plants and microalgae. However, this step in macroalgae remains unknown. In the present study, a gene encoding putative phytoene synthase was cloned from the economic red alga Pyropia yezoensis-a species that has long been used in food and pharmaceuticals. The conservative motifs/domains and the tertiary structure predicted using bioinformatic tools suggested that the cloned PyPSY should encode a phytoene synthase; this was empirically confirmed by pigment complementation in E. coli. This phytoene synthase was encoded by a single copy gene, whose expression was presumably regulated by many factors. The phylogenetic relationship of PSYs from different organisms suggested that red algae are probably the progeny of primary endosymbiosis and plastid donors of secondary endosymbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Ling Li
- School of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Jia-Qiu Pu
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Chuan-Ming Hu
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Yin-Yin Deng
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
| | - Ying-Ying Sun
- School of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
| | - Li-En Yang
- School of Marine Science and Fisheries, Jiangsu Ocean University, Lianyungang 222005, China
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute, Nantong 226007, China
- College of Marine Sciences, Shanghai Ocean University, Shanghai 201306, China
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Liang H, Chen H, Liu X, Wang Z, Li P, Lu S. Heterologous Production in the Synechocystis Chassis Suggests the Biosynthetic Pathway of Astaxanthin in Cyanobacteria. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:1826. [PMID: 37891905 PMCID: PMC10604110 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12101826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Astaxanthin is a carotenoid species with the highest antioxidant capability. Its natural resource is very rare. The biosynthesis of astaxanthin from β-carotene includes a hydroxylation step and a ketolation step, for which the corresponding enzymes have been characterized in a few species. However, the sequence of these two reactions is unclear, and may vary with different organisms. In this study, we aimed to elucidate this sequence in Synechocystis, which is an ideal cyanobacterial synthetic biology chassis. We first silenced the endogenous carotene oxygenase gene SyneCrtO to avoid its possible interference in the carotenoid metabolic network. We then introduced the β-carotene ketolase gene from Haematococcus pluvialis (HpBKT) and the CrtZ-type carotene β-hydroxylase gene from Pantoea agglomerans (PaCrtZ) to this δCrtO strain. Our pigment analysis demonstrated that both the endogenous CrtR-type carotene hydroxylase SyneCrtR and HpBKT have the preference to use β-carotene as their substrate for hydroxylation and ketolation reactions to produce zeaxanthin and canthaxanthin, respectively. However, the endogenous SyneCrtR is not able to further catalyze the 3,3'-hydroxylation of canthaxanthin to generate astaxanthin. From our results, a higher accumulation of canthaxanthin and a much lower level of astaxanthin, as confirmed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis, were detected in our transgenic BKT+/CrtZ+/δCrtO cells. Therefore, we proposed that the bottleneck for the heterologous production of astaxanthin in Synechocystis might exist at the hydroxylation step, which requires a comprehensive screening or genetic engineering for the corresponding carotene hydroxylase to enable the industrial production of astaxanthin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanyu Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Hongjuan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xinya Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Zihan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Pengfu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
- Shenzhen Research Institute of Nanjing University, Shenzhen 518000, China
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Fang H, Liu J, Ma R, Zou Y, Ho SH, Chen J, Xie Y. Functional Characterization of Lycopene β- and ε-Cyclases from a Lutein-Enriched Green Microalga Chlorella sorokiniana FZU60. Mar Drugs 2023; 21:418. [PMID: 37504949 PMCID: PMC10381880 DOI: 10.3390/md21070418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lutein is a high-value carotenoid with many human health benefits. Lycopene β- and ε-cyclases (LCYB and LCYE, respectively) catalyze the cyclization of lycopene into distinct downstream branches, one of which is the lutein biosynthesis pathway, via α-carotene. Hence, LCYB and LCYE are key enzymes in lutein biosynthesis. In this study, the coding genes of two lycopene cyclases (CsLCYB and CsLCYE) of a lutein-enriched marine green microalga, Chlorella sorokiniana FZU60, were isolated and identified. A sequence analysis and computational modeling of CsLCYB and CsLCYE were performed using bioinformatics to identify the key structural domains. Further, a phylogenetic analysis revealed that CsLCYB and CsLCYE were homogeneous to the proteins of other green microalgae. Subcellular localization tests in Nicotiana benthamiana showed that CsLCYB and CsLCYE localized in chloroplasts. A pigment complementation assay in Escherichia coli revealed that CsLCYB could efficiently β-cyclize both ends of lycopene to produce β-carotene. On the other hand, CsLCYE possessed a strong ε-monocyclase activity for the production of δ-carotene and a weak ε-bicyclic activity for the production of ε-carotene. In addition, CsLCYE was able to catalyze lycopene into β-monocyclic γ-carotene and ultimately produced α-carotene with a β-ring and an ε-ring via γ-carotene or δ-carotene. Moreover, the co-expression of CsLCYB and CsLCYE in E. coli revealed that α-carotene was a major product, which might lead to the production of a high level of lutein in C. sorokiniana FZU60. The findings provide a theoretical foundation for performing metabolic engineering to improve lutein biosynthesis and accumulation in C. sorokiniana FZU60.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Fang
- Marine Biological Manufacturing Center of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-Value and High-Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High-Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Junjie Liu
- Marine Biological Manufacturing Center of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-Value and High-Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High-Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Ruijuan Ma
- Marine Biological Manufacturing Center of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-Value and High-Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High-Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Yiping Zou
- College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shih-Hsin Ho
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- Marine Biological Manufacturing Center of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-Value and High-Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High-Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
| | - Youping Xie
- Marine Biological Manufacturing Center of Fuzhou Institute of Oceanography, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Technical Innovation Service Platform for High-Value and High-Quality Utilization of Marine Organism, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fujian Engineering and Technology Research Center for Comprehensive Utilization of Marine Products Waste, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
- Fuzhou Industrial Technology Innovation Center for High-Value Utilization of Marine Products, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou 350108, China
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Liu M, Ding W, Yu L, Shi Y, Liu J. Functional characterization of carotenogenic genes provides implications into carotenoid biosynthesis and engineering in the marine alga Nannochloropsis oceanica. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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5
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Deng YY, Wang Q, Cao TJ, Zheng H, Ge ZH, Yang LE, Lu S. Cloning and functional characterization of the bona fide geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase from the red algal seaweed Bangia fuscopurpurea. ALGAL RES 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2020.101935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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Deng YY, Cheng L, Wang Q, Ge ZH, Zheng H, Cao TJ, Lu QQ, Yang LE, Lu S. Functional Characterization of Lycopene Cyclases Illustrates the Metabolic Pathway toward Lutein in Red Algal Seaweeds. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2020; 68:1354-1363. [PMID: 31933364 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b06918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are essential phytonutrients synthesized by all photosynthetic organisms. Acyclic lycopene is the first branching point for carotenoid biosynthesis. Lycopene β- and ε-cyclases (LCYB and LCYE, respectively) catalyze the cyclization of its open ends and direct the metabolic flux into different downstream branches. Carotenoids of the β,β-branch (e.g., β-carotene) are found in all photosynthetic organisms, but those of the β,ε-branch (e.g., lutein) are generally absent in cyanobacteria, heterokonts, and some red algae. Although both LCYBs and LCYEs have been characterized from land plants, there are only a few reports on LCYs from cyanobacteria and algae. Here, we cloned four LCY genes from Porphyra umbilicalis and Pyropia yezoensis (susabi-nori) of Bangiales, the most primitive red algal order that synthesizes lutein. Our functional characterization in both Escherichia coli and Arabidopsis thaliana demonstrated that each species has a pair of LCYB and LCYE. Similar to LCYs from higher plants, red algal LCYBs cyclize both ends of lycopene, and their LCYEs only cyclize a single end. The characterization of LCYEs from red algae resolved the first bifurcation step toward β-carotene and lutein biosynthesis. Our phylogenetic analysis suggests that LCYEs of the green lineage and the red algae originated separately during evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin-Yin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute , Nantong 226007 , China
| | - Lu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Zi-Han Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Hui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Tian-Jun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Qin-Qin Lu
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute , Nantong 226007 , China
| | - Li-En Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
- Jiangsu Marine Fisheries Research Institute , Nantong 226007 , China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
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7
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Wang Q, Cao TJ, Zheng H, Zhou CF, Wang Z, Wang R, Lu S. Manipulation of Carotenoid Metabolic Flux by Lycopene Cyclization in Ripening Red Pepper ( Capsicum annuum var. conoides) Fruits. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:4300-4310. [PMID: 30908022 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.9b00756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Carotenoids are essential phytonutrients for the human body. Higher plants usually synthesize and accumulate carotenoids in their leaves, flowers, and fruits. Most carotenoids have either two β-rings on both ends or β- and ε-rings separately on two ends of their molecules and are synthesized from the acyclic lycopene as the precursor. Lycopene β- and ε-cyclases (LCYB and LCYE, respectively) catalyze the β- and ε-cyclization of lycopene, respectively, and regulate the metabolic flux from lycopene to its downstream β,β-branches (by LCYB alone) and β,ε-branches (by LCYE and LCYB). In this study, we identified and characterized genes for two LCYBs (CaLCYB1 and CaLCYB2), one LCYE (CaLCYE1), and a capsanthin/capsorubin synthase (CaCCS1) which is also able to β-cyclize lycopene from the red pepper ( Capsicum annuum var. conoides) genome. By quantifying transcript abundances of these genes and contents of different carotenoid components in ripening fruits, we observed a correlation between the induction of both CaLCYBs and the accumulation of carotenoids of the β,β-branch during ripening. Although capsanthin was accumulated in ripened fruits, our quantification demonstrated a strong induction of CaCCS1 at the breaker stage, together with the simultaneous repression of CaLCYE1 and the decrease of lutein content, suggesting the involvement of CaCCS1 in competing against CaLCYE1 for synthesizing carotenoids of the β,β-branch. Our results provide important information for future metabolic engineering studies to manipulate carotenoid biosynthesis and accumulation in fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Tian-Jun Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Hui Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Chang-Fang Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute , Zhengzhou 450001 , China
| | - Ran Wang
- Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute , Zhengzhou 450001 , China
| | - Shan Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences , Nanjing University , Nanjing 210023 , China
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