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Li Y, Deng L, Walker EJL, Karas BJ, Mock T. Genetic engineering in diatoms: advances and prospects. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2025; 121:e70102. [PMID: 40089910 PMCID: PMC11910954 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.70102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2025] [Accepted: 03/04/2025] [Indexed: 03/17/2025]
Abstract
Diatoms are among the most diverse and ecologically significant groups of photosynthetic microalgae, contributing over 20% of global primary productivity. Their ecological significance, unique biology, and genetic tractability make them ideal targets for genetic and genomic engineering and metabolic reprogramming. Over the past few decades, numerous genetic methods have been developed and applied to these organisms to better understand the function of individual genes and how they underpin diatom metabolism. Additionally, the ability of diatoms to synthesize diverse high-value metabolites and elaborate mineral structures offers significant potential for applications in biotechnology, including the synthesis of novel pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and biomaterials. This review discusses the latest developments in diatom genetic engineering and provides prospects not only to promote the use of diatoms in diverse fields of biotechnology but also to deepen our understanding of their role in natural ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixuan Li
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Longji Deng
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
| | - Emma Jane Lougheed Walker
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonOntarioN6A 5C1Canada
| | - Bogumil J. Karas
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and DentistryWestern UniversityLondonOntarioN6A 5C1Canada
| | - Thomas Mock
- School of Environmental SciencesUniversity of East AngliaNorwich Research ParkNorwichNR4 7TJUK
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2
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Cutolo EA, Campitiello R, Di Dato V, Orefice I, Angstenberger M, Cutolo M. Marine Phytoplankton Bioactive Lipids and Their Perspectives in Clinical Inflammation. Mar Drugs 2025; 23:86. [PMID: 39997210 PMCID: PMC11857744 DOI: 10.3390/md23020086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2025] [Revised: 02/12/2025] [Accepted: 02/14/2025] [Indexed: 02/26/2025] Open
Abstract
Marine phytoplankton is an emerging source of immunomodulatory bioactive lipids (BLs). Under physiological growth conditions and upon stress challenges, several eukaryotic microalgal species accumulate lipid metabolites that resemble the precursors of animal mediators of inflammation: eicosanoids and prostaglandins. Therefore, marine phytoplankton could serve as a biotechnological platform to produce functional BLs with therapeutic applications in the management of chronic inflammatory diseases and other clinical conditions. However, to be commercially competitive, the lipidic precursor yields should be enhanced. Beside tailoring the cultivation of native producers, genetic engineering is a feasible strategy to accrue the production of lipid metabolites and to introduce heterologous biosynthetic pathways in microalgal hosts. Here, we present the state-of-the-art clinical research on immunomodulatory lipids from eukaryotic marine phytoplankton and discuss synthetic biology approaches to boost their light-driven biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edoardo Andrea Cutolo
- Laboratory of Photosynthesis and Bioenergy, Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada le Grazie 15, 37134 Verona, Italy
| | - Rosanna Campitiello
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy; (R.C.); (M.C.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Valeria Di Dato
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.D.)
| | - Ida Orefice
- Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn Napoli, Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology Department, Via Ammiraglio Ferdinando Acton 55, 80133 Napoli, Italy; (V.D.D.)
| | - Max Angstenberger
- Institute of Molecular Biosciences, Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Max-von-Laue-Str. 9, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany;
| | - Maurizio Cutolo
- Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Genoa, 16132 Genova, Italy; (R.C.); (M.C.)
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16132 Genova, Italy
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3
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Jiang W, Deng F, Babla M, Chen C, Yang D, Tong T, Qin Y, Chen G, Marchant B, Soltis P, Soltis DE, Zeng F, Chen ZH. Efficient gene editing of a model fern species through gametophyte-based transformation. PLANT PHYSIOLOGY 2024; 196:2346-2361. [PMID: 39268871 PMCID: PMC11638000 DOI: 10.1093/plphys/kiae473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2024] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated nuclease (Cas) system allows precise and easy editing of genes in many plant species. However, this system has not yet been applied to any fern species through gametophytes due to the complex characteristics of fern genomes, genetics, and physiology. Here, we established a protocol for gametophyte-based screening of single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs) with high efficiency for CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knockout in a model fern species, Ceratopteris richardii. We utilized the C. richardii ACTIN promoter to drive sgRNA expression and the enhanced CaMV 35S promoter to drive the expression of Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 in this CRISPR-mediated editing system, which was employed to successfully edit a few genes, such as Nucleotidase/phosphatase 1 (CrSAL1) and Phytoene Desaturase (CrPDS), which resulted in an albino phenotype in C. richardii. Knockout of CrSAL1 resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) reduced stomatal conductance (gs), leaf transpiration rate (E), guard cell length, and abscisic acid (ABA)-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation in guard cells. Moreover, CrSAL1 overexpressing plants showed significantly increased net photosynthetic rate (A), gs, and E as well as most of the stomatal traits and ABA-induced ROS production in guard cells compared to the wild-type (WT) plants. Taken together, our optimized CRISPR/Cas9 system provides a useful tool for functional genomics in a model fern species, allowing the exploration of fern gene functions for evolutionary biology, herbal medicine discovery, and agricultural applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Jiang
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Xianghu Laboratory, Hangzhou 311231, China
| | - Fenglin Deng
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
- Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Mohammad Babla
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
| | - Dongmei Yang
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Danzhou, 571737, China
| | - Tao Tong
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Yuan Qin
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Institute of Digital Agriculture, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Science, Hangzhou 310021, China
| | - Blaine Marchant
- Department of Biology, University of Missouri—St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121, USA
| | - Pamela Soltis
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | | | - Fanrong Zeng
- MARA Key Laboratory of Sustainable Crop Production in the Middle Reaches of the Yangtze River, College of Agriculture, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Zhong-Hua Chen
- School of Science, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
- Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia
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4
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Amari C, Carletti M, Yan S, Michaud M, Salvaing J. Lipid droplets degradation mechanisms from microalgae to mammals, a comparative overview. Biochimie 2024; 227:19-34. [PMID: 39299537 DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2024.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2024] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Lipid droplets (LDs) are organelles composed of a hydrophobic core (mostly triacylglycerols and steryl esters) delineated by a lipid monolayer and found throughout the tree of life. LDs were seen for a long time as simple energy storage organelles but recent works highlighted their versatile roles in several fundamental cellular processes, particularly during stress response. LDs biogenesis occurs in the ER and their number and size can be dynamically regulated depending on their function, e.g. during development or stress. Understanding their biogenesis and degradation mechanisms is thus essential to better apprehend their roles. LDs degradation can occur in the cytosol by lipolysis or after their internalization into lytic compartments (e.g. vacuoles or lysosomes) using diverse mechanisms that depend on the considered organism, tissue, developmental stage or environmental condition. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the different LDs degradation pathways in several main phyla of model organisms, unicellular or pluricellular, photosynthetic or not (budding yeast, mammals, land plants and microalgae). We highlight the conservation of the main degradation pathways throughout evolution, but also the differences between organisms, or inside an organism between different organs. Finally, we discuss how this comparison can help to shed light on relationships between LDs degradation pathways and LDs functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chems Amari
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France; Department of Chemistry, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Marta Carletti
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Siqi Yan
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Morgane Michaud
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Juliette Salvaing
- Laboratoire de Physiologie Cellulaire et Végétale, Université Grenoble Alpes, Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et Aux Energies Alternatives, IRIG, CEA-Grenoble, 17 Rue des Martyrs, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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Diaz-Garza AM, Merindol N, Dos Santos KCG, Lavoie-Marchand F, Ingalls B, Desgagné-Penix I. No two clones are alike: characterization of heterologous subpopulations in a transgenic cell line of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Microb Cell Fact 2024; 23:286. [PMID: 39428506 PMCID: PMC11492738 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-024-02559-y] [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: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 10/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Conjugation-based episome delivery is a highly efficient method used to transfer DNA into the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, facilitating the production of recombinant proteins and high-value metabolites. However, previous reports have indicated phenotypic heterogeneity among individual cells from clonally propagated exconjugant cell lines, potentially affecting the stability of recombinant protein production in the diatom. RESULTS Here, we characterized the differences between subpopulations with distinct fluorescence intensity phenotypes derived from a single exconjugant colony of P. tricornutum expressing the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP). We analyzed the expression cassette sequence integrity, plasmid copy number, and global gene expression. Our findings reveal that lower copy numbers and the deletion of the expression cassette in part of the population contributed to low transgene expression. Gene co-expression analysis identified a set of genes with similar expression pattern to eGFP including a gene encoding a putative Flp recombinase, which may be related to variations in fluorescence intensity. These genes thus present themselves as potential candidates for increasing recombinant proteins production in P. tricornutum episomal expression system. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study elucidates genetic and transcriptomic differences between distinct subpopulations in a clonally propagated culture, contributes to a better understanding of heterogeneity in diatom expression systems for synthetic biology applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aracely Maribel Diaz-Garza
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois- Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Natacha Merindol
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois- Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | | | - Félix Lavoie-Marchand
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois- Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada
| | - Brian Ingalls
- Department of Applied Mathematics, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Isabel Desgagné-Penix
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Physics, Université du Québec à Trois- Rivières, Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada.
- Plant Biology Research Group, Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières, Trois‑Rivières, QC, Canada.
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Navarrete A, Pollak B. Context-dependent antisense transcription from a neighboring gene interferes with the expression of mNeonGreen as a functional in vivo fluorescent reporter in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. THE PLANT JOURNAL : FOR CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 119:2255-2272. [PMID: 39015950 DOI: 10.1111/tpj.16915] [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: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Advancing chloroplast genetic engineering in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii remains challenging, decades after its first successful transformation. This study introduces the development of a chloroplast-optimized mNeonGreen fluorescent reporter, enabling in vivo observation through a sixfold increase in fluorescence via context-aware construct engineering. Our research highlights the influence of transcriptional readthrough and antisense mRNA pairing on post-transcriptional regulation, pointing to novel strategies for optimizing heterologous gene expression. We further demonstrate the applicability of these insights using an accessible experimentation system using glass-bead transformation and reestablishment of photosynthesis using psbH mutants, focusing on the mitigation of transcriptional readthrough effects. By characterizing heterologous expression using regulatory elements such as PrrnS, 5'atpA, and 3' rbcL in a sense-transcriptional context, we further documented up to twofold improvement in fluorescence levels. Our findings contribute new tools for molecular biology research in the chloroplast and evidence fundamental gene regulation processes that could enable the development of more effective chloroplast engineering strategies. This work not only paves the way for more efficient genetic engineering of chloroplasts but also deepens our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms at play.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel Navarrete
- Instituto Milenio de Biología Integrativa (iBio), Santiago, Chile
| | - Bernardo Pollak
- Instituto Milenio de Biología Integrativa (iBio), Santiago, Chile
- Fundación Ciencia y Vida, Santiago, Chile
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7
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Li J, Wu S, Zhang K, Sun X, Lin W, Wang C, Lin S. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/CRISPR-Associated Protein and Its Utility All at Sea: Status, Challenges, and Prospects. Microorganisms 2024; 12:118. [PMID: 38257946 PMCID: PMC10820777 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12010118] [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: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Initially discovered over 35 years ago in the bacterium Escherichia coli as a defense system against invasion of viral (or other exogenous) DNA into the genome, CRISPR/Cas has ushered in a new era of functional genetics and served as a versatile genetic tool in all branches of life science. CRISPR/Cas has revolutionized the methodology of gene knockout with simplicity and rapidity, but it is also powerful for gene knock-in and gene modification. In the field of marine biology and ecology, this tool has been instrumental in the functional characterization of 'dark' genes and the documentation of the functional differentiation of gene paralogs. Powerful as it is, challenges exist that have hindered the advances in functional genetics in some important lineages. This review examines the status of applications of CRISPR/Cas in marine research and assesses the prospect of quickly expanding the deployment of this powerful tool to address the myriad fundamental marine biology and biological oceanography questions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiashun Li
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Shuaishuai Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Kaidian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Resource Utilization in the South China Sea, School of Marine Biology and Fisheries, Hainan University, Haikou 570203, China
| | - Xueqiong Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Wenwen Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Cong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
| | - Senjie Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361101, China
- Department of Marine Sciences, University of Connecticut, Groton, CT 06340, USA
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Russo MT, Rogato A, Jaubert M, Karas BJ, Falciatore A. Phaeodactylum tricornutum: An established model species for diatom molecular research and an emerging chassis for algal synthetic biology. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:1114-1122. [PMID: 37975560 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Diatoms are prominent and highly diverse microalgae in aquatic environments. Compared with other diatom species, Phaeodactylum tricornutum is an "atypical diatom" displaying three different morphotypes and lacking the usual silica shell. Despite being of limited ecological relevance, its ease of growth in the laboratory and well-known physiology, alongside the steady increase in genome-enabled information coupled with effective tools for manipulating gene expression, have meant it has gained increased recognition as a powerful experimental model for molecular research on diatoms. We here present a brief overview of how over the last 25 years P. tricornutum has contributed to the unveiling of fundamental aspects of diatom biology, while also emerging as a new tool for algal process engineering and synthetic biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monia T Russo
- Department of Ecosustainable Marine Biotechnology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Alessandra Rogato
- Institute of Biosciences and Bioresources, National Research Council, IBBR-CNR, Naples, Italy
- Department of Integrative Marine Ecology, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Naples, Italy
| | - Marianne Jaubert
- UMR7141 Laboratoire de Biologie du chloroplaste et perception de la lumière chez les micro-algues, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France
| | - Bogumil J Karas
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Angela Falciatore
- UMR7141 Laboratoire de Biologie du chloroplaste et perception de la lumière chez les micro-algues, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, Paris, France
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Dhokane D, Shaikh A, Yadav A, Giri N, Bandyopadhyay A, Dasgupta S, Bhadra B. CRISPR-based bioengineering in microalgae for production of industrially important biomolecules. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1267826. [PMID: 37965048 PMCID: PMC10641005 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1267826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Microalgae, as photosynthetic organisms, have the potential to produce biomolecules for use in food, feed, cosmetics, nutraceuticals, fuel, and other applications. Faster growth rates and higher protein and lipid content make microalgae a popular chassis for many industrial applications. However, challenges such as low productivity and high production costs have limited their commercialization. To overcome these challenges, bioengineering approaches such as genetic engineering, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology have been employed to improve the productivity and quality of microalgae-based products. Genetic engineering employing genome editing tools like CRISPR/Cas allows precise and targeted genetic modifications. CRISPR/Cas systems are presently used to modify the genetic makeup of microalgae for enhanced production of specific biomolecules. However, these tools are yet to be explored explicitly in microalgae owing to some limitations. Despite the progress made in CRISPR-based bioengineering approaches, there is still a need for further research to optimize the production of microalgae-based products. This includes improving the efficiency of genome editing tools, understanding the regulatory mechanisms of microalgal metabolism, and optimizing growth conditions and cultivation strategies. Additionally, addressing the ethical, social, and environmental concerns associated with genetic modification of microalgae is crucial for the responsible development and commercialization of microalgae-based products. This review summarizes the advancements of CRISPR-based bioengineering for production of industrially important biomolecules and provides key considerations to use CRISPR/Cas systems in microalgae. The review will help researchers to understand the progress and to initiate genome editing experiments in microalgae.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Bhaskar Bhadra
- Synthetic Biology Group, Reliance Industries Ltd., Navi Mumbai, India
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10
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Murison V, Hérault J, Côme M, Guinio S, Lebon A, Chamot C, Bénard M, Galas L, Schoefs B, Marchand J, Bardor M, Ulmann L. Comparison of two Phaeodactylum tricornutum ecotypes under nitrogen starvation and resupply reveals distinct lipid accumulation strategies but a common degradation process. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1257500. [PMID: 37810403 PMCID: PMC10556672 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1257500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Phaeodactylum tricornutum is a model species frequently used to study lipid metabolism in diatoms. When exposed to a nutrient limitation or starvation, diatoms are known to accumulate neutral lipids in cytoplasmic lipid droplets (LDs). Those lipids are produced partly de novo and partly from the recycle of plastid membrane lipids. Under a nitrogen resupply, the accumulated lipids are catabolized, a phenomenon about which only a few data are available. Various strains of P. tricornutum have been isolated around the world that may differ in lipid accumulation patterns. Methods To get further information on this topic, two genetically distant ecotypes of P. tricornutum (Pt1 and Pt4) have been cultivated under nitrogen deprivation during 11 days followed by a resupply period of 3 days. The importance of cytoplasmic LDs relative to the plastid was assessed by a combination of confocal laser scanning microscopy and cell volume estimation using bright field microscopy pictures. Results and discussion We observed that in addition to a basal population of small LDs (0.005 μm3 to 0.7 μm3) present in both strains all along the experiment, Pt4 cells immediately produced two large LDs (up to 12 μm3 after 11 days) while Pt1 cells progressively produced a higher number of smaller LDs (up to 7 μm3 after 11 days). In this work we showed that, in addition to intracellular available space, lipid accumulation may be limited by the pre-starvation size of the plastid as a source of membrane lipids to be recycled. After resupplying nitrogen and for both ecotypes, a fragmentation of the largest LDs was observed as well as a possible migration of LDs to the vacuoles that would suggest an autophagic degradation. Altogether, our results deepen the understanding of LDs dynamics and open research avenues for a better knowledge of lipid degradation in diatoms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Murison
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, IUT Département Génie Biologique, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Laval, France
| | - Josiane Hérault
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, IUT Département Génie Biologique, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Laval, France
| | - Martine Côme
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, IUT Département Génie Biologique, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Laval, France
| | - Sabrina Guinio
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, IUT Département Génie Biologique, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Laval, France
| | - Alexis Lebon
- Université de Rouen Normandie, INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PRIMACEN, Rouen, France
| | - Christophe Chamot
- Université de Rouen Normandie, INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PRIMACEN, Rouen, France
| | - Magalie Bénard
- Université de Rouen Normandie, INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PRIMACEN, Rouen, France
| | - Ludovic Galas
- Université de Rouen Normandie, INSERM, CNRS, HeRacLeS US51 UAR2026, PRIMACEN, Rouen, France
| | - Benoît Schoefs
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Le Mans, France
| | - Justine Marchand
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, UFR Sciences et Techniques, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Le Mans, France
| | - Muriel Bardor
- Université de Rouen Normandie, Laboratoire GlycoMEV UR4358, SFR Normandie Végétal FED 4277, Innovation Chimie Carnot, Rouen, France
| | - Lionel Ulmann
- Biology of Organisms, Stress, Health and Environment, IUT Département Génie Biologique, Le Mans Université, IUML-FR 3473 CNRS, Laval, France
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