1
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Castillo M, Guevara G, Baldanta S, Rodríguez PS, Agudo L, Nogales J, Carrasco AD, Arribas-Aguilar F, Pérez-Pérez J, García JL, Galán B, Navarro Llorens JM. Characterization of Limnospira platensis PCC 9108 R-M and CRISPR-Cas systems. Microbiol Res 2024; 279:127572. [PMID: 38101163 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
The filamentous cyanobacterium Limnospira platensis, formerly known as Arthrospira platensis or spirulina, is one of the most commercially important species of microalgae. Due to its high nutritional value, pharmacological and industrial applications it is extensively cultivated on a large commercial scale. Despite its widespread use, its precise manipulation is still under development due to the lack of effective genetic protocols. Genetic transformation of Limnospira has been attempted but the methods reported have not been generally reproducible in other laboratories. Knowledge of the transformation defense mechanisms is essential for understanding its physiology and for broadening their applications. With the aim to understand more about the genetic defenses of L. platensis, in this work we have identified the restriction-modification and CRISPR-Cas systems and we have cloned and characterized thirteen methylases. In parallel, we have also characterized the methylome and orphan methyltransferases using genome-wide analysis of DNA methylation patterns and RNA-seq. The identification and characterization of these enzymes will be a valuable resource to know how this strain avoids being genetically manipulated and for further genomics studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Castillo
- Microbial and Plant Biotechnology Department, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Govinda Guevara
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Sara Baldanta
- Microbial and Plant Biotechnology Department, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Patricia Suárez Rodríguez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Lucía Agudo
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juan Nogales
- Department of Systems Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CNB-CSIC), 28049 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Asunción Díaz Carrasco
- DNA Sequencing facility, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Fernando Arribas-Aguilar
- SECUGEN SL, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Julián Pérez-Pérez
- SECUGEN SL, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - José Luis García
- Microbial and Plant Biotechnology Department, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Beatriz Galán
- Microbial and Plant Biotechnology Department, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas-CSIC, Ramiro de Maeztu 9, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Juana María Navarro Llorens
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Av. Complutense s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Grechishnikova EG, Shemyakina AO, Novikov AD, Lavrov KV, Yanenko AS. Rhodococcus: sequences of genetic parts, analysis of their functionality, and development prospects as a molecular biology platform. Crit Rev Biotechnol 2023; 43:835-850. [PMID: 35786136 DOI: 10.1080/07388551.2022.2091976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Rhodococcus bacteria are a fast-growing platform for biocatalysis, biodegradation, and biosynthesis, but not a platform for molecular biology. That is, Rhodococcus are not convenient for genetic engineering. One major issue for the engineering of Rhodococcus is the absence of a publicly available, curated, and commented collection of sequences of genetic parts that are functional in biotechnologically relevant species of Rhodococcus (R. erythropolis, R. rhodochrous, R. ruber, and R. jostii). Here, we present a collection of genetic parts for Rhodococcus (vector replicons, promoter regions, regulators, markers, and reporters) supported by a thorough analysis of their functionality. We also highlight and discuss the gaps in Rhodococcus-related genetic parts and techniques, which should be filled in order to make these bacteria a full-fledged molecular biology platform independent of Escherichia coli. We conclude that all major types of required genetic parts for Rhodococcus are available now, except multicopy replicons. As for model Rhodococcus strains, there is a particular shortage of strains with high electrocompetence levels and strains designed for solving specific genetic engineering tasks. We suggest that these obstacles are surmountable in the near future due to an intensification of research work in the field of genetic techniques for non-conventional bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena G Grechishnikova
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute" - GOSNIIGENETIKA, Kurchatov Genomic Center, Moscow, Russia
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Anna O Shemyakina
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute" - GOSNIIGENETIKA, Kurchatov Genomic Center, Moscow, Russia
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey D Novikov
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute" - GOSNIIGENETIKA, Kurchatov Genomic Center, Moscow, Russia
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Konstantin V Lavrov
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute" - GOSNIIGENETIKA, Kurchatov Genomic Center, Moscow, Russia
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander S Yanenko
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute" - GOSNIIGENETIKA, Kurchatov Genomic Center, Moscow, Russia
- NRC "Kurchatov Institute", Moscow, Russia
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3
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Barone GD, Cernava T, Ullmann J, Liu J, Lio E, Germann AT, Nakielski A, Russo DA, Chavkin T, Knufmann K, Tripodi F, Coccetti P, Secundo F, Fu P, Pfleger B, Axmann IM, Lindblad P. Recent developments in the production and utilization of photosynthetic microorganisms for food applications. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14708. [PMID: 37151658 PMCID: PMC10161259 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The growing use of photosynthetic microorganisms for food and food-related applications is driving related biotechnology research forward. Increasing consumer acceptance, high sustainability, demand of eco-friendly sources for food, and considerable global economic concern are among the main factors to enhance the focus on the novel foods. In the cases of not toxic strains, photosynthetic microorganisms not only provide a source of sustainable nutrients but are also potentially healthy. Several published studies showed that microalgae are sources of accessible protein and fatty acids. More than 400 manuscripts were published per year in the last 4 years. Furthermore, industrial approaches utilizing these microorganisms are resulting in new jobs and services. This is in line with the global strategy for bioeconomy that aims to support sustainable development of bio-based sectors. Despite the recognized potential of the microalgal biomass value chain, significant knowledge gaps still exist especially regarding their optimized production and utilization. This review highlights the potential of microalgae and cyanobacteria for food and food-related applications as well as their market size. The chosen topics also include advanced production as mixed microbial communities, production of high-value biomolecules, photoproduction of terpenoid flavoring compounds, their utilization for sustainable agriculture, application as source of nutrients in space, and a comparison with heterotrophic microorganisms like yeast to better evaluate their advantages over existing nutrient sources. This comprehensive assessment should stimulate further interest in this highly relevant research topic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni D. Barone
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 14, 8010, Graz, Austria
- Corresponding author.
| | - Tomislav Cernava
- Institute of Environmental Biotechnology, Graz University of Technology, Petersgasse 12/I, 8010, Graz, Austria
| | - Jörg Ullmann
- Roquette Klötze GmbH & Co. KG, Lockstedter Chaussee 1, D-38486, Klötze, Germany
| | - Jing Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea Hainan University, 58 Renmin Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, PR China
| | - Elia Lio
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies (SCITEC) “Giulio Natta” Italian National Research Council (CNR), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna T. Germann
- Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andreas Nakielski
- Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - David A. Russo
- Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Institute for Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Bioorganic Analytics, Lessingstr. 8, D-07743, Jena, Germany
| | - Ted Chavkin
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Farida Tripodi
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Paola Coccetti
- Department of Biotechnology and Biosciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, 20126, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesco Secundo
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Technologies (SCITEC) “Giulio Natta” Italian National Research Council (CNR), via Mario Bianco 9, 20131, Milan, Italy
| | - Pengcheng Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in South China Sea Hainan University, 58 Renmin Avenue, Meilan District, Haikou, Hainan Province, 570228, PR China
| | - Brian Pfleger
- Knufmann GmbH, Bergstraße 23, D-38486, Klötze, Germany
| | - Ilka M. Axmann
- Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences (CEPLAS), Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, D-40001, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Corresponding author. Synthetic Microbiology, Department of Biology, Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Peter Lindblad
- Microbial Chemistry, Department of Chemistry–Ångström, Uppsala University, Box 523, SE-75120, Uppsala, Sweden
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4
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Satta A, Esquirol L, Ebert BE. Current Metabolic Engineering Strategies for Photosynthetic Bioproduction in Cyanobacteria. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11020455. [PMID: 36838420 PMCID: PMC9964548 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11020455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic microorganisms capable of using solar energy to convert CO2 and H2O into O2 and energy-rich organic compounds, thus enabling sustainable production of a wide range of bio-products. More and more strains of cyanobacteria are identified that show great promise as cell platforms for the generation of bioproducts. However, strain development is still required to optimize their biosynthesis and increase titers for industrial applications. This review describes the most well-known, newest and most promising strains available to the community and gives an overview of current cyanobacterial biotechnology and the latest innovative strategies used for engineering cyanobacteria. We summarize advanced synthetic biology tools for modulating gene expression and their use in metabolic pathway engineering to increase the production of value-added compounds, such as terpenoids, fatty acids and sugars, to provide a go-to source for scientists starting research in cyanobacterial metabolic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Satta
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Department of Biology, University of Padua, 35100 Padua, Italy
| | - Lygie Esquirol
- Centre for Cell Factories and Biopolymers, Griffith Institute for Drug Discovery, Griffith University, Natha, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Birgitta E. Ebert
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia
- Correspondence:
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5
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Development of spirulina for the manufacture and oral delivery of protein therapeutics. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:956-964. [PMID: 35314813 PMCID: PMC9200632 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-022-01249-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The use of the edible photosynthetic cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis (spirulina) as a biomanufacturing platform has been limited by a lack of genetic tools. Here we report genetic engineering methods for stable, high-level expression of bioactive proteins in spirulina, including large-scale, indoor cultivation and downstream processing methods. Following targeted integration of exogenous genes into the spirulina chromosome (chr), encoded protein biopharmaceuticals can represent as much as 15% of total biomass, require no purification before oral delivery and are stable without refrigeration and protected during gastric transit when encapsulated within dry spirulina. Oral delivery of a spirulina-expressed antibody targeting campylobacter-a major cause of infant mortality in the developing world-prevents disease in mice, and a phase 1 clinical trial demonstrated safety for human administration. Spirulina provides an advantageous system for the manufacture of orally delivered therapeutic proteins by combining the safety of a food-based production host with the accessible genetic manipulation and high productivity of microbial platforms.
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6
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Lab-scale photobioreactor systems: principles, applications, and scalability. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 2022; 45:791-813. [PMID: 35303143 PMCID: PMC9033726 DOI: 10.1007/s00449-022-02711-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Phototrophic microorganisms that convert carbon dioxide are being explored for their capacity to solve different environmental issues and produce bioactive compounds for human therapeutics and as food additives. Full-scale phototrophic cultivation of microalgae and cyanobacteria can be done in open ponds or closed photobioreactor systems, which have a broad range of volumes. This review focuses on laboratory-scale photobioreactors and their different designs. Illuminated microtiter plates and microfluidic devices offer an option for automated high-throughput studies with microalgae. Illuminated shake flasks are used for simple uncontrolled batch studies. The application of illuminated bubble column reactors strongly emphasizes homogenous gas distribution, while illuminated flat plate bioreactors offer high and uniform light input. Illuminated stirred-tank bioreactors facilitate the application of very well-defined reaction conditions. Closed tubular photobioreactors as well as open photobioreactors like small-scale raceway ponds and thin-layer cascades are applied as scale-down models of the respective large-scale bioreactors. A few other less common designs such as illuminated plastic bags or aquarium tanks are also used mainly because of their relatively low cost, but up-scaling of these designs is challenging with additional light-driven issues. Finally, this review covers recommendations on the criteria for photobioreactor selection and operation while up-scaling of phototrophic bioprocesses with microalgae or cyanobacteria.
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7
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Maréchal E. Grand Challenges in Microalgae Domestication. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2021; 12:764573. [PMID: 34630500 PMCID: PMC8495258 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2021.764573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
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8
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Hicks M, Tran-Dao TK, Mulroney L, Bernick DL. De-novo Assembly of Limnospira fusiformis Using Ultra-Long Reads. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:657995. [PMID: 33936015 PMCID: PMC8085491 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.657995] [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: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Limnospira genus is a recently established clade that is economically important due to its worldwide use in biotechnology and agriculture. This genus includes organisms that were reclassified from Arthrospira, which are commercially marketed as "Spirulina." Limnospira are photoautotrophic organisms that are widely used for research in nutrition, medicine, bioremediation, and biomanufacturing. Despite its widespread use, there is no closed genome for the Limnospira genus, and no reference genome for the type strain, Limnospira fusiformis. In this work, the L. fusiformis genome was sequenced using Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION and assembled using only ultra-long reads (>35 kb). This assembly was polished with Illumina MiSeq reads sourced from an axenic L. fusiformis culture; axenicity was verified via microscopy and rDNA analysis. Ultra-long read sequencing resulted in a 6.42 Mb closed genome assembled as a single contig with no plasmid. Phylogenetic analysis placed L. fusiformis in the Limnospira clade; some Arthrospira were also placed in this clade, suggesting a misclassification of these strains. This work provides a fully closed and accurate reference genome for the economically important type strain, L. fusiformis. We also present a rapid axenicity method to isolate L. fusiformis. These contributions enable future biotechnological development of L. fusiformis by way of genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- McKenna Hicks
- Department of Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA United States
| | - Thuy-Khanh Tran-Dao
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA United States
| | - Logan Mulroney
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA United States
| | - David L. Bernick
- Department of Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA United States
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9
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Puzorjov A, McCormick AJ. Phycobiliproteins from extreme environments and their potential applications. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY 2020; 71:3827-3842. [PMID: 32188986 DOI: 10.1093/jxb/eraa139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
The light-harvesting phycobilisome complex is an important component of photosynthesis in cyanobacteria and red algae. Phycobilisomes are composed of phycobiliproteins, including the blue phycobiliprotein phycocyanin, that are considered high-value products with applications in several industries. Remarkably, several cyanobacteria and red algal species retain the capacity to harvest light and photosynthesise under highly selective environments such as hot springs, and flourish in extremes of pH and elevated temperatures. These thermophilic organisms produce thermostable phycobiliproteins, which have superior qualities much needed for wider adoption of these natural pigment-proteins in the food, textile, and other industries. Here we review the available literature on the thermostability of phycobilisome components from thermophilic species and discuss how a better appreciation of phycobiliproteins from extreme environments will benefit our fundamental understanding of photosynthetic adaptation and could provide a sustainable resource for several industrial processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anton Puzorjov
- SynthSys and Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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10
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Nies F, Mielke M, Pochert J, Lamparter T. Natural transformation of the filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0234440. [PMID: 32530971 PMCID: PMC7292380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0234440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Research for biotechnological applications of cyanobacteria focuses on synthetic pathways and bioreactor design, while little effort is devoted to introduce new, promising organisms in the field. Applications are most often based on recombinant work, and the establishment of transformation can be a risky, time-consuming procedure. In this work we demonstrate the natural transformation of the filamentous cyanobacterium Phormidium lacuna and insertion of a selection marker into the genome by homologous recombination. This is the first example for natural transformation filamentous non-heterocystous cyanobacterium. We found that Phormidium lacuna is polyploid, each cell has about 20-90 chromosomes. Transformed filaments were resistant against up to 14 mg/ml of kanamycin. Formerly, natural transformation in cyanobacteria has been considered a rare and exclusive feature of a few unicellular species. Our finding suggests that natural competence is more distributed among cyanobacteria than previously thought. This is supported by bioinformatic analyses which show that all protein factors for natural transformation are present in the majority of the analyzed cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Nies
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Marion Mielke
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Janko Pochert
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Tilman Lamparter
- Botanical Institute, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Karlsruhe, Germany
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11
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Laurenceau R, Bliem C, Osburne MS, Becker JW, Biller SJ, Cubillos-Ruiz A, Chisholm SW. Toward a genetic system in the marine cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus. Access Microbiol 2020; 2:acmi000107. [PMID: 33005871 PMCID: PMC7523629 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
As the smallest and most abundant primary producer in the oceans, the cyanobacterium Prochlorococcus is of interest to diverse branches of science. For the past 30 years, research on this minimal phototroph has led to a growing understanding of biological organization across multiple scales, from the genome to the global ocean ecosystem. Progress in understanding drivers of its diversity and ecology, as well as molecular mechanisms underpinning its streamlined simplicity, has been hampered by the inability to manipulate these cells genetically. Multiple attempts have been made to develop an efficient genetic transformation method for Prochlorococcus over the years; all have been unsuccessful to date, despite some success with their close relative, Synechococcus. To avoid the pursuit of unproductive paths, we report here what has not worked in our hands, as well as our progress developing a method to screen the most efficient electroporation parameters for optimal DNA delivery into Prochlorococcus cells. We also report a novel protocol for obtaining axenic colonies and a new method for differentiating live and dead cells. The electroporation method can be used to optimize DNA delivery into any bacterium, making it a useful tool for advancing transformation systems in other genetically recalcitrant microorganisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaël Laurenceau
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Christina Bliem
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marcia S Osburne
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jamie W Becker
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Department of Biology, Haverford College, Haverford, PA, USA
| | - Steven J Biller
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, USA
| | - Andres Cubillos-Ruiz
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Biological Engineering, and Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Present address: Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sallie W Chisholm
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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12
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Suzuki S, Yamaguchi H, Kawachi M. The Draft Genome of a Hydrogen-producing Cyanobacterium, Arthrospira platensis NIES-46. J Genomics 2019; 7:56-59. [PMID: 31588248 PMCID: PMC6775862 DOI: 10.7150/jgen.38149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthrospira is an economically important cyanobacterium that contains many useful products, including proteins, vitamins, lipids, and pigments, and it is distributed in several alkaline soda lakes. Arthrospira platensis NIES-46 produces large amounts of hydrogen. In this study, we sequenced the NIES-46 draft genome and performed comparative analyses among Arthrospira species to elucidate the genomic background of this strain. The genome consists of 5.7 Mbp with a GC% of 44.5% and encodes 5,008 proteins. Our phylogenetic analysis using multiple orthologous proteins shows that Arthrospira is divided into two clades and that NIES-46 is closely related to A. platensis NIES-39. The genome structure and protein functions are highly conserved between A. platensis NIES-39 and NIES-46, suggesting that these two strains have recently diverged. Genes involved in hydrogen production are well-conserved among Arthrospira species, indicating conserved abilities to produce hydrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigekatsu Suzuki
- Center for Biology and Environmental Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Haruyo Yamaguchi
- Center for Biology and Environmental Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masanobu Kawachi
- Center for Biology and Environmental Studies, National Institute for Environmental Studies, 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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13
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Gale GAR, Schiavon Osorio AA, Mills LA, Wang B, Lea-Smith DJ, McCormick AJ. Emerging Species and Genome Editing Tools: Future Prospects in Cyanobacterial Synthetic Biology. Microorganisms 2019; 7:E409. [PMID: 31569579 PMCID: PMC6843473 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7100409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in synthetic biology and an emerging algal biotechnology market have spurred a prolific increase in the availability of molecular tools for cyanobacterial research. Nevertheless, work to date has focused primarily on only a small subset of model species, which arguably limits fundamental discovery and applied research towards wider commercialisation. Here, we review the requirements for uptake of new strains, including several recently characterised fast-growing species and promising non-model species. Furthermore, we discuss the potential applications of new techniques available for transformation, genetic engineering and regulation, including an up-to-date appraisal of current Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/CRISPR associated protein (CRISPR/Cas) and CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) research in cyanobacteria. We also provide an overview of several exciting molecular tools that could be ported to cyanobacteria for more advanced metabolic engineering approaches (e.g., genetic circuit design). Lastly, we introduce a forthcoming mutant library for the model species Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that promises to provide a further powerful resource for the cyanobacterial research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grant A R Gale
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK.
| | - Alejandra A Schiavon Osorio
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
| | - Lauren A Mills
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Baojun Wang
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3FF, UK.
| | - David J Lea-Smith
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK.
| | - Alistair J McCormick
- Institute of Molecular Plant Sciences, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
- Centre for Synthetic and Systems Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, UK.
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14
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Klanchui A, Dulsawat S, Chaloemngam K, Cheevadhanarak S, Prommeenate P, Meechai A. An Improved Genome-Scale Metabolic Model of Arthrospira platensis C1 ( iAK888) and Its Application in Glycogen Overproduction. Metabolites 2018; 8:metabo8040084. [PMID: 30486288 PMCID: PMC6315860 DOI: 10.3390/metabo8040084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycogen-enriched biomass of Arthrospiraplatensis has increasingly gained attention as a source for bioethanol production. To study the metabolic capabilities of glycogen production in A. platensis C1, a genome-scale metabolic model (GEM) could be a useful tool for predicting cellular behavior and suggesting strategies for glycogen overproduction. New experimentally validated GEM of A. platensis C1 namely iAK888, which has improved metabolic coverage and functionality was employed in this research. The iAK888 is a fully functional compartmentalized GEM consisting of 888 genes, 1,096 reactions, and 994 metabolites. This model was demonstrated to reasonably predict growth and glycogen fluxes under different growth conditions. In addition, iAK888 was further employed to predict the effect of deficiencies of NO3−, PO43−, or SO42− on the growth and glycogen production in A. platensis C1. The simulation results showed that these nutrient limitations led to a decrease in growth flux and an increase in glycogen flux. The experiment of A. platensis C1 confirmed the enhancement of glycogen fluxes after the cells being transferred from normal Zarrouk’s medium to either NO3−, PO43−, or SO42−-free Zarrouk’s media. Therefore, iAK888 could be served as a predictive model for glycogen overproduction and a valuable multidisciplinary tool for further studies of this important academic and industrial organism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amornpan Klanchui
- Biological Engineering Program, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand.
| | - Sudarat Dulsawat
- Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok 10150, Thailand.
| | - Kullapat Chaloemngam
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand.
| | - Supapon Cheevadhanarak
- Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10150, 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.
| | - Asawin Meechai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand.
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15
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Dehghani J, Adibkia K, Movafeghi A, Barzegari A, Pourseif MM, Maleki Kakelar H, Golchin A, Omidi Y. Stable transformation of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis: a promising microalga for production of edible vaccines. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:9267-9278. [PMID: 30159589 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-9296-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 08/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The planktonic blue-green microalga Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis possesses important features (e.g., high protein and vital lipids contents as well as essential vitamins) and can be consumed by humans and animals. Accordingly, this microalga gained growing attention as a new platform for producing edible-based pharmaceutical proteins. However, there are limited successful strategies for the transformation of S. platensis, in part because of an efficient expression of strong endonucleases in its cytoplasm. In the current work, as a pilot step for the expression of therapeutic proteins, an Agrobacterium-based system was established to transfer gfp:gus and hygromycin resistance (hygr) genes into the genome of S. platensis. The presence of acetosyringone in the transfection medium significantly reduced the transformation efficiency. The PCR and real-time RT-PCR data confirmed the successful integration and transcription of the genes. Flow cytometry and β-glucuronidase (GUS) activity experiments confirmed the successful production of GFP and the enzyme. Moreover, the western blot analysis showed a ~ 90 kDa band in the transformed cells, indicating the successful production of the GFP:GUS protein. Three months after the transformation, the gene expression stability was validated by histochemical, flow cytometry, and hygromycin B resistance analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaber Dehghani
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Khosro Adibkia
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Movafeghi
- Department of Plant Biology, Faculty of Natural Science, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Barzegari
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mohammad M Pourseif
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hadi Maleki Kakelar
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Asal Golchin
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. .,Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
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16
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Furmaniak MA, Misztak AE, Franczuk MD, Wilmotte A, Waleron M, Waleron KF. Edible Cyanobacterial Genus Arthrospira: Actual State of the Art in Cultivation Methods, Genetics, and Application in Medicine. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:2541. [PMID: 29326676 PMCID: PMC5741684 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.02541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The cyanobacterial genus Arthrospira appears very conserved and has been divided into five main genetic clusters on the basis of molecular taxonomy markers. Genetic studies of seven Arthrospira strains, including genome sequencing, have enabled a better understanding of those photosynthetic prokaryotes. Even though genetic manipulations have not yet been performed with success, many genomic and proteomic features such as stress adaptation, nitrogen fixation, or biofuel production have been characterized. Many of above-mentioned studies aimed to optimize the cultivation conditions. Factors like the light intensity and quality, the nitrogen source, or different modes of growth (auto-, hetero-, or mixotrophic) have been studied in detail. The scaling-up of the biomass production using photobioreactors, either closed or open, was also investigated to increase the production of useful compounds. The richness of nutrients contained in the genus Arthrospira can be used for promising applications in the biomedical domain. Ingredients such as the calcium spirulan, immulina, C-phycocyanin, and γ-linolenic acid (GLA) show a strong biological activity. Recently, its use in the fight against cancer cells was documented in many publications. The health-promoting action of "Spirulina" has been demonstrated in the case of cardiovascular diseases and age-related conditions. Some compounds also have potent immunomodulatory properties, promoting the growth of beneficial gut microflora, acting as antimicrobial and antiviral. Products derived from Arthrospira were shown to successfully replace biomaterial scaffolds in regenerative medicine. Supplementation with the cyanobacterium also improves the health of livestock and quality of the products of animal origin. They were also used in cosmetic preparations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magda A Furmaniak
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Agnieszka E Misztak
- Department of Biotechnology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Martyna D Franczuk
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Annick Wilmotte
- InBios-Centre for Protein Engineering, Department of Life Sciences, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium
| | - Małgorzata Waleron
- Department of Biotechnology, Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology of University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Krzysztof F Waleron
- Chair and Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
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