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Paul K, Gaikwad M, Choudhary P, Mohan N, Pai P, Patil SD, Pawar Y, Chawande A, Banerjee A, Nagle V, Chelliah M, Sapre A, Dasgupta S. Year-round sustainable biomass production potential of Nannochloris sp. in outdoor raceway pond enabled through strategic photobiological screening. Photosynth Res 2022; 154:303-328. [PMID: 36434418 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-022-00984-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae cultivation utilizes the energy of sunlight to reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) for producing renewable energy feedstock. The commercial success of the biological fixation of carbon in a consistent manner depends upon the availability of a robust microalgae strain. In the present work, we report the identification of a novel marine Nannochloris sp. through multiparametric photosynthetic evaluation. Detailed photobiological analysis of this strain has revealed a smaller functional antenna, faster relaxation kinetics of non-photochemical quenching, and a high photosynthetic rate with increasing light and temperatures. Furthermore, laboratory scale growth assessment demonstrated a broad range halotolerance of 10-70 parts per thousand (PPT) and high-temperature tolerance up to 45 °C. Such traits led to the translation of biomass productivity potential from the laboratory scale (0.2-3.0 L) to the outdoor 50,000 L raceway pond scale (500-m2) without any pond crashes. The current investigation revealed outdoor single-day peak areal biomass productivity of 43 g m-2 d-1 in summer with an annual (March 2019-February 2020) average productivity of 20 g m-2 d-1 in seawater. From a sustainability perspective, this is the first report of successful round-the-year (> 347 days) multi-season (summer, monsoon, and winter) outdoor cultivation of Nannochloris sp. in broad seawater salinity (1-57 PPT), wide temperature ranges (15-40 °C), and in fluctuating light conditions. Concurrently, outdoor cultivation of this strain demonstrated conducive fatty acid distribution, including increased unsaturated fatty acids in winter. This inherent characteristic might play a role in protecting photosynthesis machinery at low temperatures and in high light stress. Altogether, our marine Nannochloris sp. showed tremendous potential for commercial scale cultivation to produce biofuels, food ingredients, and a sustainable source for vegetarian protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenny Paul
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Mahadev Gaikwad
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | | | | | - Puja Pai
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Smita D Patil
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Yogesh Pawar
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Akshay Chawande
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Arun Banerjee
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India.
| | - Vinod Nagle
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | | | - Ajit Sapre
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
| | - Santanu Dasgupta
- Synthetic Biology Research and Development Group, Reliance Industries Limited, Reliance Corporate Park, Ghansoli, Thane- Belapur Road, Navi Mumbai, 400701, India
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2
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Bairagi N, Watanabe S, Nimura-Matsune K, Tanaka K, Tsurumaki T, Nakanishi S, Tanaka K. Conserved Two-component Hik2-Rre1 Signaling Is Activated Under Temperature Upshift and Plastoquinone-reducing Conditions in the Cyanobacterium Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942. Plant Cell Physiol 2022; 63:176-188. [PMID: 34750635 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The highly conserved Hik2-Rre1 two-component system is a multi-stress responsive signal-transducing module that controls the expression of hsp and other genes in cyanobacteria. Previously, we found in Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 that the heat-inducible phosphorylation of Rre1 was alleviated in a hik34 mutant, suggesting that Hik34 positively regulates signaling. In this study, we examined the growth of the hik34 deletion mutant in detail, and newly identified suppressor mutations located in rre1 or sasA gene negating the phenotype. Subsequent analyses indicated that heat-inducible Rre1 phosphorylation is dependent on Hik2 and that Hik34 modulates this Hik2-dependent response. In the following part of this study, we focused on the mechanism to control the Hik2 activity. Other recent studies reported that Hik2 activity is regulated by the redox status of plastoquinone (PQ) through the 3Fe-4S cluster attached to the cyclic GMP, adenylyl cyclase, FhlA (GAF) domain. Consistent with this, Rre1 phosphorylation occurred after the addition of 2,5-dibromo-6-isopropyl-3-methyl-1,4-benzoquinone but not after the addition of 3-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1,1-dimethylurea to the culture medium, which corresponded to PQ-reducing or -oxidizing conditions, respectively, suggesting that the Hik2-to-Rre1 phosphotransfer was activated under PQ-reducing conditions. However, there was no correlation between the measured PQ redox status and Rre1 phosphorylation during the temperature upshift. Therefore, changes in the PQ redox status are not the direct reason for the heat-inducible Rre1 phosphorylation, while some redox regulation is likely involved as oxidation events dependent on 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone prevented heat-inducible Rre1 phosphorylation. On the basis of these results, we propose a model for the control of Hik2-dependent Rre1 phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nachiketa Bairagi
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
| | - Satoru Watanabe
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502 Japan
| | - Kaori Nimura-Matsune
- Department of Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Sakuragaoka, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo, 156-8502 Japan
| | - Kenya Tanaka
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8531 Japan
- Engineering Biology Research Center, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Nada-ku, Kobe, 657-8501 Japan
| | - Tatsuhiro Tsurumaki
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
| | - Shuji Nakanishi
- Research Center for Solar Energy Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka, 560-8531 Japan
- Innovative Catalysis Science Division, Institute for Open and Transdisciplinary Research Initiatives, Osaka University, 2-1 Yamada-oka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Kan Tanaka
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta, Midori-ku, Yokohama, 226-8503 Japan
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3
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Lewis CM, Flory JD, Moore TA, Moore AL, Rittmann BE, Vermaas WFJ, Torres CI, Fromme P. Electrochemically Driven Photosynthetic Electron Transport in Cyanobacteria Lacking Photosystem II. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:2933-2942. [PMID: 35157427 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c09291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Light-activated photosystem II (PSII) carries out the critical step of splitting water in photosynthesis. However, PSII is susceptible to light-induced damage. Here, results are presented from a novel microbial electro-photosynthetic system (MEPS) that uses redox mediators in conjunction with an electrode to drive electron transport in live Synechocystis (ΔpsbB) cells lacking PSII. MEPS-generated, light-dependent current increased with light intensity up to 2050 μmol photons m-2 s-1, which yielded a delivery rate of 113 μmol electrons h-1 mg-chl-1 and an average current density of 150 A m-2 s-1 mg-chl-1. P700+ re-reduction kinetics demonstrated that initial rates exceeded wildtype PSII-driven electron delivery. The electron delivery occurs ahead of the cytochrome b6f complex to enable both NADPH and ATP production. This work demonstrates an electrochemical system that can drive photosynthetic electron transport, provides a platform for photosynthetic foundational studies, and has the potential for improving photosynthetic performance at high light intensities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine M Lewis
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Biodesign Institute Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Biodesign Institute Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Justin D Flory
- Biodesign Institute Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Engineering Center for Negative Carbon Emmisions, at Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85281, United States
| | - Thomas A Moore
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Ana L Moore
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Julie Ann Wrigley Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation, Arizona State University, Tempe Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Bruce E Rittmann
- School of Sustainable Engineering and the Built Environment, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Biodesign Institute Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Wim F J Vermaas
- School of Life Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - César I Torres
- Biodesign Institute Swette Center for Environmental Biotechnology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,School for Engineering of Matter, Transport and Energy, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
| | - Petra Fromme
- School of Molecular Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States.,Biodesign Institute Center for Applied Structural Discovery, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, United States
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4
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Clifford ER, Bradley RW, Wey LT, Lawrence JM, Chen X, Howe CJ, Zhang JZ. Phenazines as model low-midpoint potential electron shuttles for photosynthetic bioelectrochemical systems. Chem Sci 2021; 12:3328-3338. [PMID: 34164103 PMCID: PMC8179378 DOI: 10.1039/d0sc05655c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical approaches for energy conversion rely on efficient wiring of natural electron transport chains to electrodes. However, state-of-the-art exogenous electron mediators give rise to significant energy losses and, in the case of living systems, long-term cytotoxicity. Here, we explored new selection criteria for exogenous electron mediation by examining phenazines as novel low-midpoint potential molecules for wiring the photosynthetic electron transport chain of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to electrodes. We identified pyocyanin (PYO) as an effective cell-permeable phenazine that can harvest electrons from highly reducing points of photosynthesis. PYO-mediated photocurrents were observed to be 4-fold higher than mediator-free systems with an energetic gain of 200 mV compared to the common high-midpoint potential mediator 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone (DCBQ). The low-midpoint potential of PYO led to O2 reduction side-reactions, which competed significantly against photocurrent generation; the tuning of mediator concentration was important for outcompeting the side-reactions whilst avoiding acute cytotoxicity. DCBQ-mediated photocurrents were generally much higher but also decayed rapidly and were non-recoverable with fresh mediator addition. This suggests that the cells can acquire DCBQ-resistance over time. In contrast, PYO gave rise to steadier current enhancement despite the co-generation of undesirable reactive oxygen species, and PYO-exposed cells did not develop acquired resistance. Moreover, we demonstrated that the cyanobacteria can be genetically engineered to produce PYO endogenously to improve long-term prospects. Overall, this study established that energetic gains can be achieved via the use of low-potential phenazines in photosynthetic bioelectrochemical systems, and quantifies the factors and trade-offs that determine efficacious mediation in living bioelectrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleanor R Clifford
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Robert W Bradley
- Department of Life Sciences Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Laura T Wey
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Joshua M Lawrence
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Xiaolong Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
| | - Christopher J Howe
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge Tennis Court Road Cambridge CB2 1QW UK
| | - Jenny Z Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge Lensfield Road Cambridge CB2 1EW UK
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5
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Kim P, Kaur M, Jang HI, Kim YI. The Circadian Clock-A Molecular Tool for Survival in Cyanobacteria. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10120365. [PMID: 33419320 PMCID: PMC7766417 DOI: 10.3390/life10120365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cyanobacteria are photosynthetic organisms that are known to be responsible for oxygenating Earth’s early atmosphere. Having evolved to ensure optimal survival in the periodic light/dark cycle on this planet, their genetic codes are packed with various tools, including a sophisticated biological timekeeping system. Among the cyanobacteria is Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, the simplest clock-harboring organism with a powerful genetic tool that enabled the identification of its intricate timekeeping mechanism. The three central oscillator proteins—KaiA, KaiB, and KaiC—drive the 24 h cyclic gene expression rhythm of cyanobacteria, and the “ticking” of the oscillator can be reconstituted inside a test tube just by mixing the three recombinant proteins with ATP and Mg2+. Along with its biochemical resilience, the post-translational rhythm of the oscillation can be reset through sensing oxidized quinone, a metabolite that becomes abundant at the onset of darkness. In addition, the output components pick up the information from the central oscillator, tuning the physiological and behavioral patterns and enabling the organism to better cope with the cyclic environmental conditions. In this review, we highlight our understanding of the cyanobacterial circadian clock and discuss how it functions as a molecular chronometer that readies the host for predictable changes in its surroundings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pyonghwa Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (P.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Manpreet Kaur
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (P.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Hye-In Jang
- School of Cosmetic Science and Beauty Biotechnology, Semyung University, Jecheon 27136, Korea
- Correspondence: (H.-I.J.); (Y.-I.K.)
| | - Yong-Ick Kim
- Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA; (P.K.); (M.K.)
- Institute for Brain and Neuroscience Research, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA
- Correspondence: (H.-I.J.); (Y.-I.K.)
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6
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Forsman JA, Vass I, Eaton-rye JJ. D1:Glu244 and D1:Tyr246 of the bicarbonate-binding environment of Photosystem II moderate high light susceptibility and electron transfer through the quinone-Fe-acceptor complex. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics 2019; 1860:148054. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2019.07.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2019] [Revised: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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7
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Khorobrykh S, Tsurumaki T, Tanaka K, Tyystjärvi T, Tyystjärvi E. Measurement of the redox state of the plastoquinone pool in cyanobacteria. FEBS Lett 2019; 594:367-375. [PMID: 31529488 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Revised: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Here, we developed a method for measuring the in vivo redox state of the plastoquinone (PQ) pool in the cyanobacteria Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Cells were illuminated on a glass fiber filter, PQ was extracted with ethyl acetate and determined with HPLC. Control samples with fully oxidized and reduced photoactive PQ pool were prepared by far-red and high light treatments, respectively, or by blocking the photosynthetic electron transfer chemically before or after PQ in moderate light. The photoactive pool comprised 50% of total PQ. We find that the PQ pool of cyanobacteria behaves under light treatments qualitatively similarly as in plant chloroplasts, is less reduced during growth under high than under ambient CO2 and remains partly reduced in darkness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Khorobrykh
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Tatsuhiro Tsurumaki
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan.,Graduate School of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kan Tanaka
- Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Taina Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, Finland
| | - Esa Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, Finland
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyejun Cho
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 05029 South Korea
| | - Jinhwan Lee
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 05029 South Korea
| | - Sunghyun Kim
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 05029 South Korea
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9
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Abstract
Biophotovoltaics is a relatively new discipline in microbial fuel cell research. The basic idea is the conversion of light energy into electrical energy using photosynthetic microorganisms. The microbes will use their photosynthetic apparatus and the incoming light to split the water molecule. The generated protons and electrons are harvested using a bioelectrochemical system. The key challenge is the extraction of electrons from the microbial electron transport chains into a solid-state anode. On the cathode, a corresponding electrochemical counter reaction will consume the protons and electrons, e.g., through the oxygen reduction to water, or hydrogen formation. In this review, we are aiming to summarize the current state of the art and point out some limitations. We put a specific emphasis on cyanobacteria, as these microbes are considered future workhorses for photobiotechnology and are currently the most widely applied microbes in biophotovoltaics research. Current progress in biophotovoltaics is limited by very low current outputs of the devices while a lack of comparability and standardization of the experimental set-up hinders a systematic optimization of the systems. Nevertheless, the fundamental questions of redox homeostasis in photoautotrophs and the potential to directly harvest light energy from a highly efficient photosystem, rather than through oxidation of inefficiently produced biomass are highly relevant aspects of biophotovoltaics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jens O. Krömer
- Systems Biotechnology, Department of Solar Materials, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research, Leipzig, Germany
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10
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Chen Q, van der Steen JB, Arents JC, Hartog AF, Ganapathy S, de Grip WJ, Hellingwerf KJ. Deletion of sll1541 in Synechocystis sp. Strain PCC 6803 Allows Formation of a Far-Red-Shifted holo-Proteorhodopsin In Vivo. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:e02435-17. [PMID: 29475867 DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02435-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
In many pro- and eukaryotes, a retinal-based proton pump equips the cell to drive ATP synthesis with (sun)light. Such pumps, therefore, have been proposed as a plug-in for cyanobacteria to artificially increase the efficiency of oxygenic photosynthesis. However, little information on the metabolism of retinal, their chromophore, is available for these organisms. We have studied the in vivo roles of five genes (sll1541, slr1648, slr0091, slr1192, and slr0574) potentially involved in retinal metabolism in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC 6803. With a gene deletion approach, we have shown that Synechocystis apo-carotenoid-15,15-oxygenase (SynACO), encoded by gene sll1541, is an indispensable enzyme for retinal synthesis in Synechocystis, presumably via asymmetric cleavage of β-apo-carotenal. The second carotenoid oxygenase (SynDiox2), encoded by gene slr1648, competes with SynACO for substrate(s) but only measurably contributes to retinal biosynthesis in stationary phase via an as-yet-unknown mechanism. In vivo degradation of retinal may proceed through spontaneous chemical oxidation and via enzyme-catalyzed processes. Deletion of gene slr0574 (encoding CYP120A1), but not of slr0091 or of slr1192, causes an increase (relative to the level in wild-type Synechocystis) in the retinal content in both the linear and stationary growth phases. These results suggest that CYP120A1 does contribute to retinal degradation. Preliminary data obtained using 13C-labeled retinal suggest that conversion to retinol and retinoic acid and subsequent further oxidation also play a role. Deletion of sll1541 leads to deficiency in retinal synthesis and allows the in vivo reconstitution of far-red-absorbing holo-proteorhodopsin with exogenous retinal analogues, as demonstrated here for all-trans 3,4-dehydroretinal and 3-methylamino-16-nor-1,2,3,4-didehydroretinal.IMPORTANCE Retinal is formed by many cyanobacteria and has a critical role in most forms of life for processes such as photoreception, growth, and stress survival. However, the metabolic pathways in cyanobacteria for synthesis and degradation of retinal are poorly understood. In this paper we identify genes involved in its synthesis, characterize their role, and provide an initial characterization of the pathway of its degradation. This led to the identification of sll1541 (encoding SynACO) as the essential gene for retinal synthesis. Multiple pathways for retinal degradation presumably exist. These results have allowed us to construct a strain that expresses a light-dependent proton pump with an action spectrum extending beyond 700 nm. The availability of this strain will be important for further work aimed at increasing the overall efficiency of oxygenic photosynthesis.
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11
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Acuña AM, van Alphen P, Branco dos Santos F, van Grondelle R, Hellingwerf KJ, van Stokkum IH. Spectrally decomposed dark-to-light transitions in a PSI-deficient mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics 2018; 1859:57-68. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2017] [Revised: 10/23/2017] [Accepted: 11/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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12
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Kaczmarzyk D, Cengic I, Yao L, Hudson EP. Diversion of the long-chain acyl-ACP pool in Synechocystis to fatty alcohols through CRISPRi repression of the essential phosphate acyltransferase PlsX. Metab Eng 2018; 45:59-66. [PMID: 29199103 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Fatty alcohol production in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 was achieved through heterologous expression of the fatty acyl-CoA/ACP reductase Maqu2220 from the bacteria Marinobacter aquaeolei VT8 and the fatty acyl-ACP reductase DPW from the rice Oryza sativa. These platform strains became models for testing multiplex CRISPR-interference (CRISPRi) metabolic engineering strategies to both improve fatty alcohol production and to study membrane homeostasis. CRISPRi allowed partial repression of up to six genes simultaneously, each encoding enzymes of acyl-ACP-consuming pathways. We identified the essential phosphate acyltransferase enzyme PlsX (slr1510) as a key node in C18 fatty acyl-ACP consumption, repression of slr1510 increased octadecanol productivity threefold over the base strain and gave the highest specific titers reported for this host, 10.3mgg-1 DCW. PlsX catalyzes the first committed step of phosphatidic acid synthesis, and has not been characterized in Synechocystis previously. We found that accumulation of fatty alcohols impaired growth, altered the membrane composition, and caused a build-up of reactive oxygen species.
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13
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Chen Q, Arents J, Ganapathy S, de Grip WJ, Hellingwerf KJ. Functional Expression of Gloeobacter Rhodopsin inSynechocystissp. PCC6803. Photochem Photobiol 2017; 93:772-781. [DOI: 10.1111/php.12745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Que Chen
- Molecular Microbial Physiology; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Jos Arents
- Molecular Microbial Physiology; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Biophysical Organic Chemistry; Leiden Institute of Chemistry; Leiden University; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. de Grip
- Biophysical Organic Chemistry; Leiden Institute of Chemistry; Leiden University; Leiden The Netherlands
| | - Klaas J. Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology; Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences; University of Amsterdam; Amsterdam The Netherlands
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14
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Schuergers N, Werlang C, Ajo-Franklin CM, Boghossian AA. A Synthetic Biology Approach to Engineering Living Photovoltaics. Energy Environ Sci 2017; 10:1102-1115. [PMID: 28694844 PMCID: PMC5501249 DOI: 10.1039/c7ee00282c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
The ability to electronically interface living cells with electron accepting scaffolds is crucial for the development of next-generation biophotovoltaic technologies. Although recent studies have focused on engineering synthetic interfaces that can maximize electronic communication between the cell and scaffold, the efficiency of such devices is limited by the low conductivity of the cell membrane. This review provides a materials science perspective on applying a complementary, synthetic biology approach to engineering membrane-electrode interfaces. It focuses on the technical challenges behind the introduction of foreign extracellular electron transfer pathways in bacterial host cells and the past and future efforts to engineer photosynthetic organisms with artificial electron-export capabilities for biophotovoltaic applications. The article highlights advances in engineering protein-based, electron-exporting conduits in a model host organism, E. coli, before reviewing state-of-the-art biophotovoltaic technologies that use both unmodified and bioengineered photosynthetic bacteria with improved electron transport capabilities. A thermodynamic analysis is used to propose an energetically feasible pathway for extracellular electron transport in engineered cyanobacteria and identify metabolic bottlenecks amenable to protein engineering techniques. Based on this analysis, an engineered photosynthetic organism expressing a foreign, protein-based electron conduit yields a maximum theoretical solar conversion efficiency of 6-10% without accounting for additional bioengineering optimizations for light-harvesting.
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Affiliation(s)
- N. Schuergers
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C. Werlang
- Interschool Institute of Bioengineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C. M. Ajo-Franklin
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Molecular Foundry, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
- Synthetic Biology Institute, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, USA
| | - A. A. Boghossian
- Institute of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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Kurkela J, Hakkila K, Antal T, Tyystjärvi T. Acclimation to High CO 2 Requires the ω Subunit of the RNA Polymerase in Synechocystis. Plant Physiol 2017; 174:172-184. [PMID: 28351910 PMCID: PMC5411146 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.01953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Inactivation of the nonessential ω-subunit of the RNA polymerase core in the ΔrpoZ strain of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 leads to a unique high-CO2-sensitive phenotype. Supplementing air in the growth chamber with 30 mL L-1 (3%) CO2 accelerated the growth rate of the control strain (CS) 4-fold, whereas ΔrpoZ did not grow faster than under ambient air. The slow growth of ΔrpoZ during the first days in high CO2 was due to the inability of the mutant cells to adjust photosynthesis to high CO2 The light-saturated photosynthetic activity of ΔrpoZ in high CO2 was only half of that measured in CS, Rubisco content was one-third lower, and cells of ΔrpoZ were not able to increase light-harvesting phycobilisome antenna like CS upon high-CO2 treatment. In addition, altered structural and functional organization of photosystem I and photosystem II were detected in the ΔrpoZ strain compared with CS when cells were grown in high CO2 but not in ambient air. Moreover, respiration of ΔrpoZ did not acclimate to high CO2 Unlike the photosynthetic complexes, the RNA polymerase complex and ribosomes were produced in high CO2 similarly as in CS Our results indicate that the deletion of the ω-subunit specifically affects photosynthesis and respiration, but transcription and translation remain active. Thus, the specific effect of the ω-subunit on photosynthesis but not on all household processes suggests that the ω-subunit might have a regulatory function in cyanobacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha Kurkela
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland (J.K., K.H., T.T.); and
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory 119992, Moscow, Russia (T.A.)
| | - Kaisa Hakkila
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland (J.K., K.H., T.T.); and
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory 119992, Moscow, Russia (T.A.)
| | - Taras Antal
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland (J.K., K.H., T.T.); and
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory 119992, Moscow, Russia (T.A.)
| | - Taina Tyystjärvi
- Department of Biochemistry/Molecular Plant Biology, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland (J.K., K.H., T.T.); and
- Biological Faculty, Moscow State University, Vorobyevi Gory 119992, Moscow, Russia (T.A.)
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Schuurmans RM, Matthijs JCP, Hellingwerf KJ. Transition from exponential to linear photoautotrophic growth changes the physiology of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Photosynth Res 2017; 132:69-82. [PMID: 28108865 PMCID: PMC5357262 DOI: 10.1007/s11120-016-0329-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2016] [Accepted: 12/16/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Phototrophic microorganisms like cyanobacteria show growth curves in batch culture that differ from the corresponding growth curves of chemotrophic bacteria. Instead of the usual three phases, i.e., lag-, log-, and stationary phase, phototrophs display four distinct phases. The extra growth phase is a phase of linear, light-limited growth that follows the exponential phase and is often ignored as being different. Results of this study demonstrate marked growth phase-dependent alterations in the photophysiology of the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 between cells harvested from the exponential and the linear growth phase. Notable differences are a gradual shift in the energy transfer of the light-harvesting phycobilisomes to the photosystems and a distinct change in the redox state of the plastoquinone pool. These differences will likely affect the result of physiological studies and the efficiency of product formation of Synechocystis in biotechnological applications. Our study also demonstrates that the length of the period of exponential growth can be extended by a gradually stronger incident light intensity that matches the increase of the cell density of the culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- R M Schuurmans
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J C P Matthijs
- Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - K J Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Fuente D, Keller J, Conejero JA, Rögner M, Rexroth S, Urchueguía JF. Light distribution and spectral composition within cultures of micro-algae: Quantitative modelling of the light field in photobioreactors. ALGAL RES 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2017.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Du W, Jongbloets JA, Pineda Hernández H, Bruggeman FJ, Hellingwerf KJ, Branco dos Santos F. Photonfluxostat: A method for light-limited batch cultivation of cyanobacteria at different, yet constant, growth rates. ALGAL RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.algal.2016.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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van Beilen JWA, Hellingwerf KJ. All Three Endogenous Quinone Species of Escherichia coli Are Involved in Controlling the Activity of the Aerobic/Anaerobic Response Regulator ArcA. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1339. [PMID: 27656164 PMCID: PMC5013052 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The enteron Escherichia coli is equipped with a branched electron transfer chain that mediates chemiosmotic electron transfer, that drives ATP synthesis. The components of this electron transfer chain couple the oxidation of available electron donors from cellular metabolism (e.g., NADH, succinate, lactate, formate, etc.) to the reduction of electron acceptors like oxygen, nitrate, fumarate, di-methyl-sulfoxide, etc. Three different quinones, i.e., ubiquinone, demethyl-menaquinone and menaquinone, couple the transfer of electrons between the dehydrogenases and reductases/oxidases that constitute this electron transfer chain, whereas, the two-component regulation system ArcB/A regulates gene expression, to allow the organism to adapt itself to the ambient conditions of available electron donors and acceptors. Here, we report that E. coli can grow and adjust well to transitions in the availability of oxygen, with any of the three quinones as its single quinone. In all three ‘single-quinone’ E. coli strains transitions in the activity of ArcB are observed, as evidenced by changes in the level of phosphorylation of the response regulator ArcA, upon depletion/readmission of oxygen. These results lead us to conclude that all quinol species of E. coli can reduce (i.e., activate) the sensor ArcB and all three quinones oxidize (i.e., de-activate) it. These results also confirm our earlier conclusion that demethyl-menaquinone can function in aerobic respiration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan W A van Beilen
- Department of Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Klaas J Hellingwerf
- Department of Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Ermakova M, Huokko T, Richaud P, Bersanini L, Howe CJ, Lea-Smith DJ, Peltier G, Allahverdiyeva Y. Distinguishing the Roles of Thylakoid Respiratory Terminal Oxidases in the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Plant Physiol 2016; 171:1307-19. [PMID: 27208274 PMCID: PMC4902628 DOI: 10.1104/pp.16.00479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 04/11/2016] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Various oxygen-utilizing electron sinks, including the soluble flavodiiron proteins (Flv1/3), and the membrane-localized respiratory terminal oxidases (RTOs), cytochrome c oxidase (Cox) and cytochrome bd quinol oxidase (Cyd), are present in the photosynthetic electron transfer chain of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. However, the role of individual RTOs and their relative importance compared with other electron sinks are poorly understood, particularly under light. Via membrane inlet mass spectrometry gas exchange, chlorophyll a fluorescence, P700 analysis, and inhibitor treatment of the wild type and various mutants deficient in RTOs, Flv1/3, and photosystem I, we investigated the contribution of these complexes to the alleviation of excess electrons in the photosynthetic chain. To our knowledge, for the first time, we demonstrated the activity of Cyd in oxygen uptake under light, although it was detected only upon inhibition of electron transfer at the cytochrome b6f site and in ∆flv1/3 under fluctuating light conditions, where linear electron transfer was drastically inhibited due to impaired photosystem I activity. Cox is mostly responsible for dark respiration and competes with P700 for electrons under high light. Only the ∆cox/cyd double mutant, but not single mutants, demonstrated a highly reduced plastoquinone pool in darkness and impaired gross oxygen evolution under light, indicating that thylakoid-based RTOs are able to compensate partially for each other. Thus, both electron sinks contribute to the alleviation of excess electrons under illumination: RTOs continue to function under light, operating on slower time ranges and on a limited scale, whereas Flv1/3 responds rapidly as a light-induced component and has greater capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ermakova
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Tuomas Huokko
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Pierre Richaud
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Luca Bersanini
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Christopher J Howe
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - David J Lea-Smith
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Gilles Peltier
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
| | - Yagut Allahverdiyeva
- Laboratory of Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, Turku FI-20014, Finland (M.E., T.H., L.B., Y.A.);Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Institut de Biologie Environnementale et de Biotechnologie, Laboratoire de Bioénergétique et Biotechnologie des Bactéries et Microalgues, Cadarache, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13108 Saint-Paul-lez-Durance, France (P.R., G.P.);Aix Marseille Université, Biologie Végétale et Microbiologie Environnementales, Unité Mixte de Recherche 7265, F-13284 Marseille, France (P.R., G.P.); andDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1QW United Kingdom (C.J.H., D.J.L.-S.)
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Tibiletti T, Hernández-prieto MA, Matthijs HC, Niyogi KK, Funk C. Deletion of the gene family of small chlorophyll-binding proteins (ScpABCDE) offsets C/N homeostasis in Synechocystis PCC 6803. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics 2016; 1857:396-407. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2015.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/27/2015] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Chen Q, van der Steen JB, Dekker HL, Ganapathy S, de Grip WJ, Hellingwerf KJ. Expression of holo-proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Metab Eng 2016; 35:83-94. [PMID: 26869136 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymben.2016.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2015] [Revised: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Retinal-based photosynthesis may contribute to the free energy conversion needed for growth of an organism carrying out oxygenic photosynthesis, like a cyanobacterium. After optimization, this may even enhance the overall efficiency of phototrophic growth of such organisms in sustainability applications. As a first step towards this, we here report on functional expression of the archetype proteorhodopsin in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Upon use of the moderate-strength psbA2 promoter, holo-proteorhodopsin is expressed in this cyanobacterium, at a level of up to 10(5) molecules per cell, presumably in a hexameric quaternary structure, and with approximately equal distribution (on a protein-content basis) over the thylakoid and the cytoplasmic membrane fraction. These results also demonstrate that Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 has the capacity to synthesize all-trans-retinal. Expressing a substantial amount of a heterologous opsin membrane protein causes a substantial growth retardation Synechocystis, as is clear from a strain expressing PROPS, a non-pumping mutant derivative of proteorhodopsin. Relative to this latter strain, proteorhodopsin expression, however, measurably stimulates its growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Que Chen
- Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen B van der Steen
- Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Henk L Dekker
- Mass Spectrometry of Biomacromolecules, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Srividya Ganapathy
- Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J de Grip
- Biophysical Organic Chemistry, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas J Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Berla BM, Saha R, Maranas CD, Pakrasi HB. Cyanobacterial Alkanes Modulate Photosynthetic Cyclic Electron Flow to Assist Growth under Cold Stress. Sci Rep 2015; 5:14894. [PMID: 26459862 DOI: 10.1038/srep14894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
All cyanobacterial membranes contain diesel-range C15-C19 hydrocarbons at concentrations similar to chlorophyll. Recently, two universal but mutually exclusive hydrocarbon production pathways in cyanobacteria were discovered. We engineered a mutant of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 that produces no alkanes, which grew poorly at low temperatures. We analyzed this defect by assessing the redox kinetics of PSI. The mutant exhibited enhanced cyclic electron flow (CEF), especially at low temperature. CEF raises the ATP:NADPH ratio from photosynthesis and balances reductant requirements of biosynthesis with maintaining the redox poise of the electron transport chain. We conducted in silico flux balance analysis and showed that growth rate reaches a distinct maximum for an intermediate value of CEF equivalent to recycling 1 electron in 4 from PSI to the plastoquinone pool. Based on this analysis, we conclude that the lack of membrane alkanes causes higher CEF, perhaps for maintenance of redox poise. In turn, increased CEF reduces growth by forcing the cell to use less energy-efficient pathways, lowering the quantum efficiency of photosynthesis. This study highlights the unique and universal role of medium-chain hydrocarbons in cyanobacterial thylakoid membranes: they regulate redox balance and reductant partitioning in these oxygenic photosynthetic cells under stress.
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Schuurmans RM, van Alphen P, Schuurmans JM, Matthijs HCP, Hellingwerf KJ. Comparison of the Photosynthetic Yield of Cyanobacteria and Green Algae: Different Methods Give Different Answers. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139061. [PMID: 26394153 PMCID: PMC4578884 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2015] [Accepted: 09/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The societal importance of renewable carbon-based commodities and energy carriers has elicited a particular interest for high performance phototrophic microorganisms. Selection of optimal strains is often based on direct comparison under laboratory conditions of maximal growth rate or additional valued features such as lipid content. Instead of reporting growth rate in culture, estimation of photosynthetic efficiency (quantum yield of PSII) by pulse-amplitude modulated (PAM) fluorimetry is an often applied alternative method. Here we compared the quantum yield of PSII and the photonic yield on biomass for the green alga Chlorella sorokiniana 211-8K and the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Our data demonstrate that the PAM technique inherently underestimates the photosynthetic efficiency of cyanobacteria by rendering a high F0 and a low FM, specifically after the commonly practiced dark pre-incubation before a yield measurement. Yet when comparing the calculated biomass yield on light in continuous culture experiments, we obtained nearly equal values for both species. Using mutants of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, we analyzed the factors that compromise its PAM-based quantum yield measurements. We will discuss the role of dark respiratory activity, fluorescence emission from the phycobilisomes, and the Mehler-like reaction. Based on the above observations we recommend that PAM measurements in cyanobacteria are interpreted only qualitatively.
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Affiliation(s)
- R. Milou Schuurmans
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Pascal van Alphen
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J. Merijn Schuurmans
- Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Hans C. P. Matthijs
- Aquatic Microbiology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas J. Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Photanol BV, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Allahverdiyeva Y, Isojärvi J, Zhang P, Aro EM. Cyanobacterial Oxygenic Photosynthesis is Protected by Flavodiiron Proteins. Life (Basel) 2015; 5:716-43. [PMID: 25761262 PMCID: PMC4390876 DOI: 10.3390/life5010716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Flavodiiron proteins (FDPs, also called flavoproteins, Flvs) are modular enzymes widely present in Bacteria and Archaea. The evolution of cyanobacteria and oxygenic photosynthesis occurred in concert with the modulation of typical bacterial FDPs. Present cyanobacterial FDPs are composed of three domains, the β-lactamase-like, flavodoxin-like and flavin-reductase like domains. Cyanobacterial FDPs function as hetero- and homodimers and are involved in the regulation of photosynthetic electron transport. Whilst Flv2 and Flv4 proteins are limited to specific cyanobacterial species (β-cyanobacteria) and function in photoprotection of Photosystem II, Flv1 and Flv3 proteins, functioning in the "Mehler-like" reaction and safeguarding Photosystem I under fluctuating light conditions, occur in nearly all cyanobacteria and additionally in green algae, mosses and lycophytes. Filamentous cyanobacteria have additional FDPs in heterocyst cells, ensuring a microaerobic environment for the function of the nitrogenase enzyme under the light. Here, the evolution, occurrence and functional mechanisms of various FDPs in oxygenic photosynthetic organisms are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yagut Allahverdiyeva
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - Janne Isojärvi
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
| | - Eva-Mari Aro
- Molecular Plant Biology, Department of Biochemistry, University of Turku, FI-20014 Turku, Finland.
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Abstract
Recent advances in the modeling of microbial growth and metabolism have shown that growth rate critically depends upon the optimal allocation of finite proteomic resources among different cellular functions and that modeling growth rates becomes more realistic with the explicit accounting for the costs of macromolecular synthesis, most importantly, protein expression. The "proteomic constraint" is considered together with its application to understanding photosynthetic microbial growth. The central hypothesis is that physical limits of cellular space (and corresponding solvation capacity) in conjunction with cell surface-to-volume ratios represent the underlying constraints on the maximal rate of autotrophic microbial growth. The limitation of cellular space thus constrains the size the total complement of macromolecules, dissolved ions, and metabolites. To a first approximation, the upper limit in the cellular amount of the total proteome is bounded this space limit. This predicts that adaptation to osmotic stress will result in lower maximal growth rates due to decreased cellular concentrations of core metabolic proteins necessary for cell growth owing the accumulation of compatible osmolytes, as surmised previously. The finite capacity of membrane and cytoplasmic space also leads to the hypothesis that the species-specific differences in maximal growth rates likely reflect differences in the allocation of space to niche-specific proteins with the corresponding diminution of space devoted to other functions including proteins of core autotrophic metabolism, which drive cell reproduction. An optimization model for autotrophic microbial growth, the autotrophic replicator model, was developed based upon previous work investigating heterotrophic growth. The present model describes autotrophic growth in terms of the allocation protein resources among core functional groups including the photosynthetic electron transport chain, light-harvesting antennae, and the ribosome groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L. Burnap
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, USA
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Branco dos Santos F, Du W, Hellingwerf KJ. Synechocystis: Not Just a Plug-Bug for CO2, but a Green E. coli. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2014; 2:36. [PMID: 25279375 PMCID: PMC4166995 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2014.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Following multiple reports warning for threats posed by raising levels of atmospheric CO2, it is of paramount importance that human society rapidly evolves to be sustainable. Processes relying on photosynthetic microorganisms, converting CO2 and water into compounds of interest, fueled by light, are very pertinent, particularly if not directly competing for arable land. Here, we identify specific research questions that remain to be targeted to exploit the full potential of cyanobacterial cell factories. We argue that this approach will be more likely to be successful if organisms such as Synechocystis are not perceived as mere chassis for CO2 fixation, but rather considered as the "green" E. coli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Branco dos Santos
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Wei Du
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Klaas J. Hellingwerf
- Molecular Microbial Physiology Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, Swammerdam Institute of Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Photanol B.V., Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Nagy CI, Vass I, Rákhely G, Vass IZ, Tóth A, Duzs A, Peca L, Kruk J, Kós PB. Coregulated genes link sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase and arsenic metabolism in Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803. J Bacteriol 2014; 196:3430-40. [PMID: 25022856 DOI: 10.1128/JB.01864-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the biogeochemistry of the two environmentally hazardous compounds arsenic and sulfide has been extensively investigated, the biological interference of these two toxic but potentially energy-rich compounds has only been hypothesized and indirectly proven. Here we provide direct evidence for the first time that in the photosynthetic model organism Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 the two metabolic pathways are linked by coregulated genes that are involved in arsenic transport, sulfide oxidation, and probably in sulfide-based alternative photosynthesis. Although Synechocystis sp. strain PCC6803 is an obligate photoautotrophic cyanobacterium that grows via oxygenic photosynthesis, we discovered that specific genes are activated in the presence of sulfide or arsenite to exploit the energy potentials of these chemicals. These genes form an operon that we termed suoRSCT, located on a transposable element of type IS4 on the plasmid pSYSM of the cyanobacterium. suoS (sll5036) encodes a light-dependent, type I sulfide:quinone oxidoreductase. The suoR (sll5035) gene downstream of suoS encodes a regulatory protein that belongs to the ArsR-type repressors that are normally involved in arsenic resistance. We found that this repressor has dual specificity, resulting in 200-fold induction of the operon upon either arsenite or sulfide exposure. The suoT gene encodes a transmembrane protein similar to chromate transporters but in fact functioning as an arsenite importer at permissive concentrations. We propose that the proteins encoded by the suoRSCT operon might have played an important role under anaerobic, reducing conditions on primordial Earth and that the operon was acquired by the cyanobacterium via horizontal gene transfer.
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