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Cutolo EA, Campitiello R, Di Dato V, Orefice I, Angstenberger M, Cutolo M. Marine Phytoplankton Bioactive Lipids and Their Perspectives in Clinical Inflammation. Mar Drugs 2025; 23:86. [PMID: 39997210 PMCID: PMC11857744 DOI: 10.3390/md23020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2025] [Revised: 02/12/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Marine phytoplankton is an emerging source of immunomodulatory bioactive lipids (BLs). Under physiological growth conditions and upon stress challenges, several eukaryotic microalgal species accumulate lipid metabolites that resemble the precursors of animal mediators of inflammation: eicosanoids and prostaglandins. Therefore, marine phytoplankton could serve as a biotechnological platform to produce functional BLs with therapeutic applications in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases and other clinical conditions. However, to be commercially competitive, the lipidic precursor yields should be enhanced. Beside tailoring the cultivation of native producers, genetic engineering is a feasible strategy to accrue the production of lipid metabolites and to introduce heterologous biosynthetic pathways in microalgal hosts. Here, we present the state-of-the-art clinical research on immunomodulatory lipids from eukaryotic marine phytoplankton and discuss synthetic biology approaches to boost their light-driven biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Andrea Cutolo
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Rosanna Campitiello
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy; (R.C.); (M.C.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Dato
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.D.)
| | - Ida Orefice
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.D.)
| | - Max Angstenberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Maurizio Cutolo
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy; (R.C.); (M.C.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
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2
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Okada K, Morimoto Y, Shiraishi Y, Tamura T, Mayama S, Kadono T, Adachi M, Ifuku K, Nemoto M. Nuclear Transformation of the Marine Pennate Diatom Nitzschia sp. Strain NIES-4635 by Multi-Pulse Electroporation. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 25:1208-1219. [PMID: 38071657 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-023-10273-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Nitzschia is one of the largest genera of diatoms found in a range of aquatic environments, from freshwater to seawater. This genus contains evolutionarily and ecologically unique species, such as those that have lost photosynthetic capacity or those that live symbiotically in dinoflagellates. Several Nitzschia species have been used as indicators of water pollution. Recently, Nitzschia species have attracted considerable attention in the field of biotechnology. In this study, a transformation method for the marine pennate diatom Nitzschia sp. strain NIES-4635, isolated from the coastal Seto Inland Sea, was established. Plasmids containing the promoter/terminator of the fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c binding protein gene (fcp, or Lhcf) derived from Nitzschia palea were constructed and introduced into cells by multi-pulse electroporation, resulting in 500 μg/mL nourseothricin-resistant transformants with transformation frequencies of up to 365 colonies per 108 cells. In addition, when transformation was performed using a new plasmid containing a promoter derived from a diatom-infecting virus upstream of the green fluorescent protein gene (gfp), 44% of the nourseothricin-resistant clones exhibited GFP fluorescence. The integration of the genes introduced into the genomes of the transformants was confirmed by Southern blotting. The Nitzschia transformation method established in this study will enable the transformation this species, thus allowing the functional analysis of genes from the genus Nitzschia, which are important species for environmental and biotechnological development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koki Okada
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yu Morimoto
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Yukine Shiraishi
- Graduate School of Environmental and Life Science, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Takashi Tamura
- Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan
| | - Shigeki Mayama
- The Advanced Support Center for Science Teachers, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, 184-8511, Japan
- Tokyo Diatomology Lab, 2-3-2 Nukuikitamachi, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-0015, Japan
| | - Takashi Kadono
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Otsu-200, Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan
| | - Masao Adachi
- Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Otsu-200, Monobe, Nankoku, Kochi, 783-8502, Japan
| | - Kentaro Ifuku
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Kitashirakawa-oiwake, Sakyo, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Michiko Nemoto
- Faculty of Environmental, Life, Natural Science and Technology, Okayama University, Okayama, 700-8530, Japan.
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3
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Garza EA, Bielinski VA, Espinoza JL, Orlandi K, Alfaro JR, Bolt TM, Beeri K, Weyman PD, Dupont CL. Validating a Promoter Library for Application in Plasmid-Based Diatom Genetic Engineering. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:3215-3228. [PMID: 37857380 PMCID: PMC10661051 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00163] [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: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
While diatoms are promising synthetic biology platforms, there currently exists a limited number of validated genetic regulatory parts available for genetic engineering. The standard method for diatom transformation, nonspecific introduction of DNA into chromosomes via biolistic particle bombardment, is low throughput and suffers from clonal variability and epigenetic effects. Recent developments in diatom engineering have demonstrated that autonomously replicating episomal plasmids serve as stable expression platforms for diverse gene expression technologies. These plasmids are delivered via bacterial conjugation and, when combined with modular DNA assembly technologies, provide a flexibility and speed not possible with biolistic-mediated strain generation. In order to expand the current toolbox for plasmid-based engineering in the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, a conjugation-based forward genetics screen for promoter discovery was developed, and application to a diatom genomic DNA library defined 252 P. tricornutum promoter elements. From this library, 40 promoter/terminator pairs were delivered via conjugation on episomal plasmids, characterized in vivo, and ranked across 4 orders of magnitude difference in reporter gene expression levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin A. Garza
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
| | | | - Josh L. Espinoza
- J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, United States
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4
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Yin W, Hu H. CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing via Homologous Recombination in a Centric Diatom Chaetoceros muelleri. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:1287-1296. [PMID: 37031406 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2023]
Abstract
Chaetoceros, the most abundant genus of marine planktonic diatoms, can be used in mariculture. An effective genetic transformation system with a short transformation period was established in Chaetoceros muelleri by electroporation in our previous study. In this study, a sequence-specific clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 vector applicable for C. muelleri was constructed, and the expressions of sgRNA, resistance gene, and Cas9 gene were driven by the endogenous promoters U6, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, and fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c binding protein, respectively, in the vector. Nitrate reductase (NR) and urease (URE) genes were edited in C. muelleri, and the NR knockout and NR/URE double-knockout lines displayed the strict auxotrophic phenotype. In addition, the DNA double-strand break was repaired by homologous recombination when a donor DNA was introduced. CRISPR/Cas9 technology was successfully applied to C. muelleri with an editing efficiency of up to 86%, providing a molecular tool for the study of basic biology in C. muelleri and its synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiu Yin
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hanhua Hu
- Key Laboratory of Algal Biology, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, China
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5
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Krämer LC, Wasser D, Haitz F, Sabel B, Büchel C. Heterologous expression of HUP1 glucose transporter enables low-light mediated growth on glucose in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. ALGAL RES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2022.102719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
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Kselíková V, Singh A, Bialevich V, Čížková M, Bišová K. Improving microalgae for biotechnology - From genetics to synthetic biology - Moving forward but not there yet. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 58:107885. [PMID: 34906670 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Microalgae are a diverse group of photosynthetic organisms that can be exploited for the production of different compounds, ranging from crude biomass and biofuels to high value-added biochemicals and synthetic proteins. Traditionally, algal biotechnology relies on bioprospecting to identify new highly productive strains and more recently, on forward genetics to further enhance productivity. However, it has become clear that further improvements in algal productivity for biotechnology is impossible without combining traditional tools with the arising molecular genetics toolkit. We review recent advantages in developing high throughput screening methods, preparing genome-wide mutant libraries, and establishing genome editing techniques. We discuss how algae can be improved in terms of photosynthetic efficiency, biofuel and high value-added compound production. Finally, we critically evaluate developments over recent years and explore future potential in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronika Kselíková
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic; Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, 37005 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Anjali Singh
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Vitali Bialevich
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Mária Čížková
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic
| | - Kateřina Bišová
- Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Centre Algatech, Laboratory of Cell Cycles of Algae, 379 81 Třeboň, Czech Republic.
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Rau EM, Ertesvåg H. Method Development Progress in Genetic Engineering of Thraustochytrids. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:515. [PMID: 34564177 PMCID: PMC8467673 DOI: 10.3390/md19090515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Thraustochytrids are unicellular, heterotrophic marine eukaryotes. Some species are known to store surplus carbon as intracellular lipids, and these also contain the long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Most vertebrates are unable to synthesize sufficient amounts of DHA, and this fatty acid is essential for, e.g., marine fish, domesticated animals, and humans. Thraustochytrids may also produce other commercially valuable fatty acids and isoprenoids. Due to the great potential of thraustochytrids as producers of DHA and other lipid-related molecules, a need for more knowledge on this group of organisms is needed. This necessitates the ability to do genetic manipulation of the different strains. Thus far, this has been obtained for a few strains, while it has failed for other strains. Here, we systematically review the genetic transformation methods used for different thraustochytrid strains, with the aim of aiding studies on strains not yet successfully transformed. The designs of transformation cassettes are also described and compared. Moreover, the potential problems when trying to establish transformation protocols in new thraustochytrid species/strains are discussed, along with suggestions utilized in other organisms to overcome similar challenges. The approaches discussed in this review could be a starting point when designing protocols for other non-model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Helga Ertesvåg
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, N7491 Trondheim, Norway;
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Angstenberger M, de Signori F, Vecchi V, Dall’Osto L, Bassi R. Cell Synchronization Enhances Nuclear Transformation and Genome Editing via Cas9 Enabling Homologous Recombination in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. ACS Synth Biol 2020; 9:2840-2850. [PMID: 32916053 PMCID: PMC8011982 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.0c00390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
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In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the model organism
for eukaryotic green algae and plants, the processes of nuclear transformation
and genome editing in particular are still marked by a low level of
efficiency, and so intensive work is required in order to create and
identify mutants for the investigation of basic physiological processes,
as well as the implementation of biotechnological applications. In
this work, we show that cell synchronization during the stages of
the cell cycle, obtained from long-term cultivation under specific
growth conditions, greatly enhances the efficiency of transformation
and allows the identification of DNA repair mechanisms that occur
preferentially at different stages of the cell cycle. We demonstrate
that the transformation of synchronized cells at different times was
differentially associated with nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) and/or
homologous recombination (HR), and makes it possible to knock-in specific
foreign DNA at the genomic nuclear location desired by exploiting
HR. This optimization greatly reduces the overall complexity of the
genome editing procedure and creates new opportunities for altering
genes and their products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Angstenberger
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Cà Vignal 1, Strada le Grazie 15, 31734 Verona, Italy
| | - Francesco de Signori
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Cà Vignal 1, Strada le Grazie 15, 31734 Verona, Italy
| | - Valeria Vecchi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Cà Vignal 1, Strada le Grazie 15, 31734 Verona, Italy
| | - Luca Dall’Osto
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Cà Vignal 1, Strada le Grazie 15, 31734 Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Bassi
- Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Cà Vignal 1, Strada le Grazie 15, 31734 Verona, Italy
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9
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Slattery SS, Wang H, Giguere DJ, Kocsis C, Urquhart BL, Karas BJ, Edgell DR. Plasmid-based complementation of large deletions in Phaeodactylum tricornutum biosynthetic genes generated by Cas9 editing. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13879. [PMID: 32807825 PMCID: PMC7431573 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70769-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum is an attractive candidate for synthetic biology applications. Development of auxotrophic strains of P. tricornutum would provide alternative selective markers to commonly used antibiotic resistance genes. Here, using CRISPR/Cas9, we show successful editing of genes in the uracil, histidine, and tryptophan biosynthetic pathways. Nanopore long-read sequencing indicates that editing events are characterized by the occurrence of large deletions of up to ~ 2.7 kb centered on the editing site. The uracil and histidine-requiring phenotypes can be complemented by plasmid-based copies of the intact genes after curing of the Cas9-editing plasmid. Growth of uracil auxotrophs on media supplemented with 5-fluoroorotic acid and uracil results in loss of the complementing plasmid, providing a facile method for plasmid curing with potential applications in strain engineering and CRISPR editing. Metabolomic characterization of uracil auxotrophs revealed changes in cellular orotate concentrations consistent with partial or complete loss of orotate phosphoribosyltransferase activity. Our results expand the range of P. tricornutum auxotrophic strains and demonstrate that auxotrophic complementation markers provide a viable alternative to traditionally used antibiotic selection markers. Plasmid-based auxotrophic markers should expand the range of genome engineering applications and provide a means for biocontainment of engineered P. tricornutum strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel S Slattery
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Helen Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Daniel J Giguere
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Csanad Kocsis
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Bradley L Urquhart
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Bogumil J Karas
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - David R Edgell
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
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