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Pérez-Pérez ME, Mallén-Ponce MJ, Odriozola-Gil Y, Rubio A, Salas JJ, Martínez-Force E, Pérez-Pulido AJ, Crespo JL. Lipid turnover through lipophagy in the newly identified extremophilic green microalga Chlamydomonas urium. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2024; 243:284-298. [PMID: 38730535 DOI: 10.1111/nph.19811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Autophagy is a central degradative pathway highly conserved among eukaryotes, including microalgae, which remains unexplored in extremophilic organisms. In this study, we described and characterized autophagy in the newly identified extremophilic green microalga Chlamydomonas urium, which was isolated from an acidic environment. The nuclear genome of C. urium was sequenced, assembled and annotated in order to identify autophagy-related genes. Transmission electron microscopy, immunoblotting, metabolomic and photosynthetic analyses were performed to investigate autophagy in this extremophilic microalga. The analysis of the C. urium genome revealed the conservation of core autophagy-related genes. We investigated the role of autophagy in C. urium by blocking autophagic flux with the vacuolar ATPase inhibitor concanamycin A. Our results indicated that inhibition of autophagic flux in this microalga resulted in a pronounced accumulation of triacylglycerols and lipid droplets (LDs). Metabolomic and photosynthetic analyses indicated that C. urium cells with impaired vacuolar function maintained an active metabolism. Such effects were not observed in the neutrophilic microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Inhibition of autophagic flux in C. urium uncovered an active recycling of LDs through lipophagy, a selective autophagy pathway for lipid turnover. This study provided the metabolic basis by which extremophilic algae are able to catabolize lipids in the vacuole.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Esther Pérez-Pérez
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla), 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Manuel J Mallén-Ponce
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla), 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Yosu Odriozola-Gil
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla), 41092, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Alejandro Rubio
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD, UPO-CSIC-JA), Faculty of Experimental Sciences (Genetics Department), University Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - Joaquín J Salas
- Instituto de la Grasa (CSIC), Ctra Utrera Km1, Ed. 46, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Antonio J Pérez-Pulido
- Centro Andaluz de Biología del Desarrollo (CABD, UPO-CSIC-JA), Faculty of Experimental Sciences (Genetics Department), University Pablo de Olavide, 41013, Sevilla, Spain
| | - José L Crespo
- Instituto de Bioquímica Vegetal y Fotosíntesis (CSIC-Universidad de Sevilla), 41092, Sevilla, Spain
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2
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Şirin PA, Serdar S. Effects of nitrogen starvation on growth and biochemical composition of some microalgae species. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2024:10.1007/s12223-024-01136-5. [PMID: 38285280 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-024-01136-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrient sources for the growth of microalgae. We studied the effects of nitrogen starvation on the growth responses, biochemical composition, and fatty acid profile of Dunaliella tertiolecta, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, and Nannochloropsis oculata. The lack of nitrogen caused changes in carbohydrate, protein, lipid, and fatty acid composition in all examined microalgae. The carbohydrate content increased 59% in D. tertiolecta, while the lipid level increased 139% in P. tricornutum under nitrogen stress conditions compared to the control groups. Nitrogen starvation increased the oligosaccharide and polysaccharide contents of D. tertiolecta 4.1-fold and 3.6-fold, respectively. Furthermore, triacylglycerol (TAG) levels in N. oculata and P. tricornutum increased 2.3-fold and 7.4-fold, respectively. The dramatic increase in the amount of TAG is important for the use of these microalgae as raw materials in biodiesel. Nitrogen starvation increased the amounts of oligosaccharides and polysaccharides of D. tertiolecta, while increased eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) in N. oculata and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content in P. tricornutum. The amount of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), EPA, DHA, oligosaccharides, and polysaccharides in microalgal species can be increased without using the too costly nitrogen source in the culture conditions, which can reduce the most costly of living feeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pınar Akdoğan Şirin
- Fatsa Faculty of Marine Science, Department of Fisheries Technology Engineering, Ordu University, 52400, Fatsa, Ordu, Turkey.
| | - Serpil Serdar
- Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Aquaculture, Ege University, 35030, Bornova, Izmir, Turkey
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3
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Launay H, Avilan L, Gérard C, Parsiegla G, Receveur-Brechot V, Gontero B, Carriere F. Location of the photosynthetic carbon metabolism in microcompartments and separated phases in microalgal cells. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2853-2878. [PMID: 37827572 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Carbon acquisition, assimilation and storage in eukaryotic microalgae and cyanobacteria occur in multiple compartments that have been characterised by the location of the enzymes involved in these functions. These compartments can be delimited by bilayer membranes, such as the chloroplast, the lumen, the peroxisome, the mitochondria or monolayer membranes, such as lipid droplets or plastoglobules. They can also originate from liquid-liquid phase separation such as the pyrenoid. Multiple exchanges exist between the intracellular microcompartments, and these are reviewed for the CO2 concentration mechanism, the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, the lipid metabolism and the cellular energetic balance. Progress in microscopy and spectroscopic methods opens new perspectives to characterise the molecular consequences of the location of the proteins involved, including intrinsically disordered proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Launay
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
| | - Luisana Avilan
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
| | - Cassy Gérard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
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4
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Zhao J, Ge Y, Liu K, Yamaoka Y, Zhang D, Chi Z, Akkaya M, Kong F. Overexpression of a MYB1 Transcription Factor Enhances Triacylglycerol and Starch Accumulation and Biomass Production in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2023; 71:17833-17841. [PMID: 37934701 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c05290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are promising platforms for biofuel production. Transcription factors (TFs) are emerging as key regulators of lipid metabolism for biofuel production in microalgae. We previously identified a novel TF MYB1, which mediates lipid accumulation in the green microalga Chlamydomonas under nitrogen depletion. However, the function of MYB1 on lipid metabolism in microalgae under standard growth conditions remains poorly understood. Here, we examined the effects of MYB1 overexpression (MYB1-OE) on lipid metabolism and physiological changes in Chlamydomonas. Under standard growth conditions, MYB1-OE transformants accumulated 1.9 to 3.2-fold more triacylglycerols (TAGs) than that in the parental line (PL), and total fatty acids (FAs) also significantly increased. Moreover, saturated FA (C16:0) was enriched in TAGs and total FAs in MYB1-OE transformants. Notably, starch and protein content and biomass production also significantly increased in MYB1-OE transformants compared with that in PL. Furthermore, RT-qPCR results showed that the expressions of key genes involved in TAG, FA, and starch biosynthesis were upregulated. In addition, MYB1-OE transformants showed higher biomass production without a compromised cell growth rate and photosynthetic activity. Overall, our results indicate that MYB1 overexpression not only enhanced lipid content but also improved starch and protein content and biomass production under standard growth conditions. TF MYB1 engineering is a promising genetic engineering tool for biofuel production in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jilong Zhao
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yunlong Ge
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Keqing Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Yasuyo Yamaoka
- Division of Biotechnology, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon 14662, Korea
| | - Di Zhang
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Zhanyou Chi
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Mahinur Akkaya
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Fantao Kong
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
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5
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Ezzedine JA, Uwizeye C, Si Larbi G, Villain G, Louwagie M, Schilling M, Hagenmuller P, Gallet B, Stewart A, Petroutsos D, Devime F, Salze P, Liger L, Jouhet J, Dumont M, Ravanel S, Amato A, Valay JG, Jouneau PH, Falconet D, Maréchal E. Adaptive traits of cysts of the snow alga Sanguina nivaloides unveiled by 3D subcellular imaging. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7500. [PMID: 37980360 PMCID: PMC10657455 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43030-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Sanguina nivaloides is the main alga forming red snowfields in high mountains and Polar Regions. It is non-cultivable. Analysis of environmental samples by X-ray tomography, focused-ion-beam scanning-electron-microscopy, physicochemical and physiological characterization reveal adaptive traits accounting for algal capacity to reside in snow. Cysts populate liquid water at the periphery of ice, are photosynthetically active, can survive for months, and are sensitive to freezing. They harbor a wrinkled plasma membrane expanding the interface with environment. Ionomic analysis supports a cell efflux of K+, and assimilation of phosphorus. Glycerolipidomic analysis confirms a phosphate limitation. The chloroplast contains thylakoids oriented in all directions, fixes carbon in a central pyrenoid and produces starch in peripheral protuberances. Analysis of cells kept in the dark shows that starch is a short-term carbon storage. The biogenesis of cytosolic droplets shows that they are loaded with triacylglycerol and carotenoids for long-term carbon storage and protection against oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jade A Ezzedine
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Clarisse Uwizeye
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Grégory Si Larbi
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Gaelle Villain
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Mathilde Louwagie
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marion Schilling
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Hagenmuller
- Centre d'Etudes de la Neige, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France, CNRS, CNRM, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Benoît Gallet
- Institut de Biologie Structurale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Grenoble Alpes, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives; IRIG, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Adeline Stewart
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Dimitris Petroutsos
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Fabienne Devime
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Pascal Salze
- Jardin du Lautaret, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; 2233 rue de la piscine, Domaine Universitaire, 38610, Gières, France
| | - Lucie Liger
- Jardin du Lautaret, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; 2233 rue de la piscine, Domaine Universitaire, 38610, Gières, France
| | - Juliette Jouhet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Dumont
- Centre d'Etudes de la Neige, Université Grenoble Alpes, Université de Toulouse, Météo-France, CNRS, CNRM, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Stéphane Ravanel
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Alberto Amato
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Jean-Gabriel Valay
- Jardin du Lautaret, Université Grenoble-Alpes, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; 2233 rue de la piscine, Domaine Universitaire, 38610, Gières, France
| | - Pierre-Henri Jouneau
- Laboratoire Modélisation et Exploration des Matériaux, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Denis Falconet
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Eric Maréchal
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Université Grenoble Alpes; IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 avenue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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6
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Tejada-Jimenez M, Leon-Miranda E, Llamas A. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii-A Reference Microorganism for Eukaryotic Molybdenum Metabolism. Microorganisms 2023; 11:1671. [PMID: 37512844 PMCID: PMC10385300 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11071671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Molybdenum (Mo) is vital for the activity of a small but essential group of enzymes called molybdoenzymes. So far, specifically five molybdoenzymes have been discovered in eukaryotes: nitrate reductase, sulfite oxidase, xanthine dehydrogenase, aldehyde oxidase, and mARC. In order to become biologically active, Mo must be chelated to a pterin, forming the so-called Mo cofactor (Moco). Deficiency or mutation in any of the genes involved in Moco biosynthesis results in the simultaneous loss of activity of all molybdoenzymes, fully or partially preventing the normal development of the affected organism. To prevent this, the different mechanisms involved in Mo homeostasis must be finely regulated. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a unicellular, photosynthetic, eukaryotic microalga that has produced fundamental advances in key steps of Mo homeostasis over the last 30 years, which have been extrapolated to higher organisms, both plants and animals. These advances include the identification of the first two molybdate transporters in eukaryotes (MOT1 and MOT2), the characterization of key genes in Moco biosynthesis, the identification of the first enzyme that protects and transfers Moco (MCP1), the first characterization of mARC in plants, and the discovery of the crucial role of the nitrate reductase-mARC complex in plant nitric oxide production. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the progress achieved in using C. reinhardtii as a model organism in Mo homeostasis and to propose how this microalga can continue improving with the advancements in this field in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Tejada-Jimenez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Esperanza Leon-Miranda
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
| | - Angel Llamas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Campus de Rabanales and Campus Internacional de Excelencia Agroalimentario (CeiA3), Edificio Severo Ochoa, University of Córdoba, 14071 Córdoba, Spain
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7
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Doug K. Allen. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2023; 237:710-713. [PMID: 36601907 DOI: 10.1111/nph.18608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
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8
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Lu H, Liu K, Zhang H, Xie X, Ge Y, Chi Z, Xue S, Kong F, Ohama T. Enhanced triacyclglycerols and starch synthesis in Chlamydomonas stimulated by the engineered biodegradable nanoparticles. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:971-983. [PMID: 36622426 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12366-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae are promising feedstock for renewable fuels. The accumulation of oils in microalgae can be enhanced by nanoparticle exposure. However, the nanoparticles employed in previous studies are mostly non-biodegradable, which hinders nanoparticles developing as promising approach for biofuel production. We recently reported the engineered resin nanoparticles (iBCA-NPs), which were found to be biodegradable in this study. When the cells of green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were exposed to the iBCA-NPs for 1 h, the cellular triacyclglycerols (TAG) and starch contents increased by 520% and 60% than that in the control. The TAG production improved by 1.8-fold compared to the control without compromised starch production. Additionally, the content of total fatty acids increased by 1.3-fold than that in control. Furthermore, we found that the iBCA-NPs addition resulted in increased cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content and upregulated the activities of antioxidant enzymes. The relative expressions of the key genes involved in TAG and starch biosynthesis were also upregulated. Overall, our results showed that short exposure of the iBCA-NPs dramatically enhances TAG and starch accumulation in Chlamydomonas, which probably resulted from prompt upregulated expression of the key genes in lipid and starch metabolic pathways that were triggered by over-accumulated ROS. This study reported a useful approach to enhance energy-rich reserve accumulation in microalgae. KEY POINTS: 1. The first attempt to increase oil and starch in microalgae by biodegradable NPs. 2. The biodegradability of iBCA-NPs by the BOD test was more than 50% after 28 days. 3. The iBCA-NPs induce more energy reserves than that of previously reported NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Lu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Keqing Liu
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Xi Xie
- Dalian Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources for Marine Shellfish, Liaoning Ocean and Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dalian, 116023, China
| | - Yunlong Ge
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Zhanyou Chi
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Song Xue
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China
| | - Fantao Kong
- School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, 116024, China.
| | - Takeshi Ohama
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kochi University of Technology, 185 Miyanokuchi, Tosayamada, Kami-City, 782-8502, Japan
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9
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Co-Expression of Lipid Transporters Simultaneously Enhances Oil and Starch Accumulation in the Green Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii under Nitrogen Starvation. Metabolites 2023; 13:metabo13010115. [PMID: 36677040 PMCID: PMC9866645 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13010115] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid transporters synergistically contribute to oil accumulation under normal conditions in microalgae; however, their effects on lipid metabolism under stress conditions are unknown. Here, we examined the effect of the co-expression of lipid transporters, fatty acid transporters, (FAX1 and FAX2) and ABC transporter (ABCA2) on lipid metabolism and physiological changes in the green microalga Chlamydomonas under nitrogen (N) starvation. The results showed that the TAG content in FAX1-FAX2-ABCA2 over-expressor (OE) was 2.4-fold greater than in the parental line. Notably, in FAX1-FAX2-ABCA2-OE, the major membrane lipids and the starch and cellular biomass content also significantly increased compared with the control lines. Moreover, the expression levels of genes directly involved in TAG, fatty acid, and starch biosynthesis were upregulated. FAX1-FAX2-ABCA2-OE showed altered photosynthesis activity and increased ROS levels during nitrogen (N) deprivation. Our results indicated that FAX1-FAX2-ABCA2 overexpression not only enhanced cellular lipids but also improved starch and biomass contents under N starvation through modulation of lipid and starch metabolism and changes in photosynthesis activity. The strategy developed here could also be applied to other microalgae to produce FA-derived energy-rich and value-added compounds.
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10
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Enhanced accumulation of oil through co-expression of fatty acid and ABC transporters in Chlamydomonas under standard growth conditions. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS 2022; 15:54. [PMID: 35596223 PMCID: PMC9123788 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-022-02154-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 05/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Chloroplast and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-localized fatty acid (FA) transporters have been reported to play important roles in oil (mainly triacylglycerols, TAG) biosynthesis. However, whether these FA transporters synergistically contribute to lipid accumulation, and their effect on lipid metabolism in microalgae are unknown.
Results
Here, we co-overexpressed two chloroplast-localized FA exporters (FAX1 and FAX2) and one ER-localized FA transporter (ABCA2) in Chlamydomonas. Under standard growth conditions, FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2 over-expression lines (OE) accumulated up to twofold more TAG than the parental strain UVM4, and the total amounts of major polyunsaturated FAs (PUFA) in TAG increased by 4.7-fold. In parallel, the total FA contents and major membrane lipids in FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2-OE also significantly increased compared with those in the control lines. Additionally, the total accumulation contribution ratio of PUFA, to total FA and TAG synthesis in FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2-OE, was 54% and 40% higher than that in UVM4, respectively. Consistently, the expression levels of genes directly involved in TAG synthesis, such as type-II diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGTT1, DGTT3 and DGTT5), and phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase 1 (PDAT1), significantly increased, and the expression of PGD1 (MGDG-specific lipase) was upregulated in FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2-OE compared to UVM4.
Conclusion
These results indicate that the increased expression of FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2 has an additive effect on enhancing TAG, total FA and membrane lipid accumulation and accelerates the PUFA remobilization from membrane lipids to TAG by fine-tuning the key genes involved in lipid metabolism under standard growth conditions. Overall, FAX1/FAX2/ABCA2-OE shows better traits for lipid accumulation than the parental line and previously reported individual FA transporter-OE. Our study provides a potential useful strategy to increase the production of FA-derived energy-rich and value-added compounds in microalgae.
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11
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Liu H, Yan N, Wong TY, Lam H, Lam JWY, Kwok RTK, Sun J, Tang BZ. Fluorescent Imaging and Sorting of High-Lipid-Content Strains of Green Algae by Using an Aggregation-Induced Emission Luminogen. ACS NANO 2022; 16:14973-14981. [PMID: 36099405 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c05976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae-based biofuels are receiving attention at the environmental, economic, and social levels because they are clean, renewable, and quickly produced. The green algae Chlorella vulgaris has been extensively studied in research laboratories and the biofuel industry as a model organism to increase lipid production to be cost-effective in commercial production. In this work, we utilized a lipid-droplet-specific luminogen with aggregation-induced emission (AIE) characteristics to increase the lipid production of C. vulgaris by fluorescent imaging and sorting of those algal cells with large and rich lipid droplets for subculturing. The AIE-active TPA-A enabled real-time monitoring of the size and number of lipid droplets in C. vulgaris during their growth period so that we can identify the best time for harvesting. Furthermore, the algae cells with high lipid content were identified and collected for subculturing by the technique of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS). The lipid production in the generation of two successive selections was almost doubled compared to the generation with natural selection. This work demonstrated that the technologies of AIE and FACS could be applied together to improve the production of a third-generation biofuel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixiang Liu
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st Rd, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Neng Yan
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Tin Yan Wong
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Henry Lam
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jacky W Y Lam
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st Rd, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China
- The Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ryan T K Kwok
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st Rd, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China
- The Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Jianwei Sun
- The Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
| | - Ben Zhong Tang
- HKUST-Shenzhen Research Institute, No. 9 Yuexing 1st Rd, South Area, Hi-tech Park, Nanshan, Shenzhen 518057, China
- The Hong Kong Branch of Chinese National Engineering Research Center for Tissue Restoration and Reconstruction, Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China
- School of Science and Engineering, Shenzhen Institute of Aggregate Science and Technology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, China
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12
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Kato N, McCuiston C, Szuska KA, Lauersen KJ, Nelson G, Strain A. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Alternates Peroxisomal Contents in Response to Trophic Conditions. Cells 2022; 11:cells11172724. [PMID: 36078132 PMCID: PMC9454557 DOI: 10.3390/cells11172724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a model green microalga capable of heterotrophic growth on acetic acid but not fatty acids, despite containing a full complement of genes for β-oxidation. Recent reports indicate that the alga preferentially sequesters, rather than breaks down, lipid acyl chains as a means to rebuild its membranes rapidly. Here, we assemble a list of potential Chlamydomonas peroxins (PEXs) required for peroxisomal biogenesis to suggest that C. reinhardtii has a complete set of peroxisome biogenesis factors. To determine involvements of the peroxisomes in the metabolism of exogenously added fatty acids, we examined transgenic C. reinhardtii expressing fluorescent proteins fused to N- or C-terminal peptide of peroxisomal proteins, concomitantly with fluorescently labeled palmitic acid under different trophic conditions. We used confocal microscopy to track the populations of the peroxisomes in illuminated and dark conditions, with and without acetic acid as a carbon source. In the cells, four major populations of compartments were identified, containing: (1) a glyoxylate cycle enzyme marker and a protein containing peroxisomal targeting signal 1 (PTS1) tripeptide but lacking the fatty acid marker, (2) the fatty acid marker alone, (3) the glyoxylate cycle enzyme marker alone, and (4) the PTS1 marker alone. Less than 5% of the compartments contained both fatty acid and peroxisomal markers. Statistical analysis on optically sectioned images found that C. reinhardtii simultaneously carries diverse populations of the peroxisomes in the cell and modulates peroxisomal contents based on light conditions. On the other hand, the ratio of the compartment containing both fatty acid and peroxisomal markers did not change significantly regardless of the culture conditions. The result indicates that β-oxidation may be only a minor occurrence in the peroxisomal population in C. reinhardtii, which supports the idea that lipid biosynthesis and not β-oxidation is the primary metabolic preference of fatty acids in the alga.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naohiro Kato
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Clayton McCuiston
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Kimberly A. Szuska
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Kyle J. Lauersen
- Bioengineering Program, Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gabela Nelson
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
| | - Alexis Strain
- Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA 70803, USA
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13
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Peter J, Huleux M, Spaniol B, Sommer F, Neunzig J, Schroda M, Li-Beisson Y, Philippar K. Fatty acid export (FAX) proteins contribute to oil production in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:939834. [PMID: 36120551 PMCID: PMC9470853 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.939834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In algae and land plants, transport of fatty acids (FAs) from their site of synthesis in the plastid stroma to the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) for assembly into acyl lipids is crucial for cellular lipid homeostasis, including the biosynthesis of triacylglycerol (TAG) for energy storage. In the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, understanding and engineering of these processes is of particular interest for microalga-based biofuel and biomaterial production. Whereas in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, FAX (fatty acid export) proteins have been associated with a function in plastid FA-export and hence TAG synthesis in the ER, the knowledge on the function and subcellular localization of this protein family in Chlamydomonas is still scarce. Among the four FAX proteins encoded in the Chlamydomonas genome, we found Cr-FAX1 and Cr-FAX5 to be involved in TAG production by functioning in chloroplast and ER membranes, respectively. By in situ immunolocalization, we show that Cr-FAX1 inserts into the chloroplast envelope, while Cr-FAX5 is located in ER membranes. Severe reduction of Cr-FAX1 or Cr-FAX5 proteins by an artificial microRNA approach results in a strong decrease of the TAG content in the mutant strains. Further, overexpression of chloroplast Cr-FAX1, but not of ER-intrinsic Cr-FAX5, doubled the content of TAG in Chlamydomonas cells. We therefore propose that Cr-FAX1 in chloroplast envelopes and Cr-FAX5 in ER membranes represent a basic set of FAX proteins to ensure shuttling of FAs from chloroplasts to the ER and are crucial for oil production in Chlamydomonas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janick Peter
- Plant Biology, Center for Human- and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marie Huleux
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology of Aix Marseille, BIAM, Saint Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Benjamin Spaniol
- Molecular Biotechnology and Systems Biology, TU Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Frederik Sommer
- Molecular Biotechnology and Systems Biology, TU Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Jens Neunzig
- Plant Biology, Center for Human- and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Michael Schroda
- Molecular Biotechnology and Systems Biology, TU Kaiserslautern, Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Yonghua Li-Beisson
- Aix Marseille Univ, CEA, CNRS, Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology of Aix Marseille, BIAM, Saint Paul-Lez-Durance, France
| | - Katrin Philippar
- Plant Biology, Center for Human- and Molecular Biology (ZHMB), Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
- *Correspondence: Katrin Philippar,
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14
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Li X, Gu D, You J, Qiao T, Yu X. Gamma-aminobutyric acid coupled with copper ion stress stimulates lipid production of green microalga Monoraphidium sp. QLY-1 through multiple mechanisms. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 352:127091. [PMID: 35364236 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.127091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Induction of copper ion (Cu2+) stress is a method used to increase lipid accumulation in microalgae, but it decreases cell growth. In this work, the impacts of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) coupled with Cu2+ stress on the biomass and oil yield in Monoraphidium sp. QLY-1 were investigated. Results suggested that the combined treatment of GABA and Cu2+ resulted in a higher lipid content (55.13%) than Cu2+ treatment (48.43%). Furthermore, GABA addition upregulated the levels of lipid-relevant genes, cellular GABA, ethylene (ETH), and antioxidant enzyme activities and alleviated oxidative damage caused by Cu2+ stress. The autophagy-relevant gene atg8 was also upregulated by GABA treatment. Further exploration indicated that cell autophagy induced the lipid content up to 58.09% with GABA and Cu2+ stress treatment. This investigation demonstrates that the coupling strategy can stimulate lipid production and shed light on the underlying mechanisms in lipid biosynthesis, cell autophagy, and stress response of microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ximing Li
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China; School of Bioengineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, China
| | - Dan Gu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China
| | - Jinkun You
- Kunming Edible Fungi Institute of All China Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Tengsheng Qiao
- Key Laboratory of Mariculture, Ocean University of China, Ministry of Education, Qingdao 266003, China
| | - Xuya Yu
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650500, China.
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15
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Li-Beisson Y. Editorial Feature: Meet the PCP Editor-Yonghua Li-Beisson. PLANT & CELL PHYSIOLOGY 2022; 63:151-153. [PMID: 34971395 DOI: 10.1093/pcp/pcab163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2021] [Revised: 11/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Li-Beisson
- CEA - Institute of Biosciences and Biotechnology of Aix Marseille, CEA Cadarache, Bat 1900, Saint Paul lez Durance 13108, France
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16
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Yang M, Luo S, Yang J, Chen W, He L, Liu D, Zhao L, Wang X. Lipid droplet - mitochondria coupling: A novel lipid metabolism regulatory hub in diabetic nephropathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:1017387. [PMID: 36387849 PMCID: PMC9640443 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.1017387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) involves serious lipid metabolism disorder, and renal ectopic lipid deposition aggravates DN progression. However, the molecular mechanism of renal lipid deposition in DN remains unclear. Lipid droplets (LDs) are lipid pools in cells that change dynamically in response to the cellular energy needs. The LDs and mitochondria are connected through a part of the mitochondria known as the peridroplet mitochondria (PDM). In this review, we summarize the definition, detection methods, and function of the PDM. Finally, we discuss the research status of PDM in DN and the possibility of its use as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Yang
- Department of Nutrition, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shilu Luo
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinfei Yang
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Liyu He
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Di Liu
- Department of Nephrology, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Li Zhao
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Xi Wang
- Department of Nutrition, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Wang,
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17
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Genetic engineering of microalgae for enhanced lipid production. Biotechnol Adv 2021; 52:107836. [PMID: 34534633 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2021.107836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/09/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Microalgae have the potential to become microbial cell factories for lipid production. Their ability to convert sunlight and CO2 into valuable lipid compounds has attracted interest from cosmetic, biofuel, food and feed industries. In order to make microalgae-derived products cost-effective and commercially competitive, enhanced growth rates and lipid productivities are needed, which require optimization of cultivation systems and strain improvement. Advances in genetic tool development and omics technologies have increased our understanding of lipid metabolism, which has opened up possibilities for targeted metabolic engineering. In this review we provide a comprehensive overview on the developments made to genetically engineer microalgal strains over the last 30 years. We focus on the strategies that lead to an increased lipid content and altered fatty acid profile. These include the genetic engineering of the fatty acid synthesis pathway, Kennedy pathway, polyunsaturated fatty acid and triacylglycerol metabolisms and fatty acid catabolism. Moreover, genetic engineering of specific transcription factors, NADPH generation and central carbon metabolism, which lead to increase of lipid accumulation are also reviewed.
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