Article
Agricultural Engineering
Ajeet Singh Chauhan, Anil Kumar Patel, Chiu-Wen Chen, Jo-Shu Chang, Philippe Michaud, Cheng-Di Dong, Reeta Rani Singhania
Summary: Considering the increasing health concerns, urban population tends to adopt a healthy lifestyle and incorporate nutritional food supplements to mitigate common health risks. The consumption of omega-3 and omega-6 PUFAs is on the rise, thus alternative commercial production methods are being developed. Microbial sources are emerging platforms to meet the global demand for omega PUFAs. Marine oleaginous protist Aurantiochytrium sp. has been identified as a potential source for substantial production of DHA and SFA. The objective of this research was to enhance PUFA yield by optimizing glucose concentration and nitrogen ratio. The maximum lipid and DHA yield and content were achieved at 30 g/L glucose, while the relative PUFA content was highest at 10 g/L glucose, with remaining SFA potentially usable for biodiesel.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kunimitsu Kaya, Fujio Shiraishi, Tetsuo Iida, Masaki Yamada, Tomoharu Sano
Summary: This study isolated a novel acidic morpholine-derivative glyceride from the cells of aurantiochytrid, Aurantiochytrium, and elucidated its structure and content. The content of M-glyceride was found to vary with the cell cycle and it was shown to stimulate cell growth. The presence of morpholine derivatives in biological components is rare, and auranic acid is identified as a novel morpholine derivative.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Katsaya Khumrangsee, Theppanya Charoenrat, Jantana Praiboon, Supenya Chittapun
Summary: This research successfully developed a cultivation process for producing Aurantiochytrium biomass containing DHA and carotenoid. Monosodium glutamate was found to be a great nitrogen source for Aurantiochytrium sp. FIKU018, and pH 6 was determined to be the optimum condition for growth. The implementation of fed-batch fermentation and stepwise aeration greatly improved the accumulation of total fatty acids, DHA, and carotenoid in the biomass.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Nikhil L. Kadalag, Pratik R. Pawar, Gunjan Prakash
Summary: In this study, co-cultivation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum with Aurantiochytrium limacinum was used as a unique strategy to achieve the desired fatty acid composition. The initial cell density ratio was modulated to overcome the dominance of A. limacinum and regulate the proliferation of both species, resulting in the production of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) such as docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), as well as monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and pigments.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Kim Jye Lee-Chang, Matthew C. Taylor, Guy Drummond, Roger J. Mulder, Maged Peter Mansour, Mina Brock, Peter D. Nichols
Summary: This study demonstrates the regiospecificity of the TAG fraction from Australian thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium sp. strain TC 20, with DHA concentrated in the sn-2 position. The concentration of sn-2 DHA in thraustochytrid TC 20 oil is higher compared to tuna oil.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Memon Kashif Ali, Xiuping Liu, Jiaqian Li, Xingyu Zhu, Biswarup Sen, Guangyi Wang
Summary: This study investigated the effects of different concentrations of bioactive compounds on the culture of Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 and found that alpha-tocopherol was the most effective compound in reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS). Supplementing with 0.7 g/L of alpha-tocopherol led to significant improvements in biomass and squalene production, and gene expression analysis suggested its role in regulating metabolic pathways and reducing ROS levels. These findings demonstrate the potential of alpha-tocopherol supplementation for enhancing squalene production in Aurantiochytrium sp. TWZ-97 culture.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Sachin Vyas, Maurizio Bettiga, Ulrika Rova, Paul Christakopoulos, Leonidas Matsakas, Alok Patel
Summary: This study preliminarily analyzed the squalene synthase gene in thraustochytrids using bioinformatic tools, and characterized and predicted its features through sequence alignment and the construction of secondary and 3-D models.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Zhuojun Wang, Sen Wang, Yingang Feng, Weijian Wan, Huidan Zhang, Xinfeng Bai, Qiu Cui, Xiaojin Song
Summary: A combined metabolic engineering strategy was employed to increase the DHA purity in oleaginous thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium by partially deactivating the competing pathway and strengthening substrate supply. The final mutant achieved a DHA purity of 61% in total fatty acids, demonstrating an advanced strategy for high-purity DHA production.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chuanzeng Lan, Sen Wang, Huidan Zhang, Zhuojun Wang, Weijian Wan, Huan Liu, Yang Hu, Qiu Cui, Xiaojin Song
Summary: The study analyzed the functions of four DGAT2s in industrial oleaginous thraustochytrid Aurantiochytrium, with results indicating that DGAT2C mainly connects PUFA to TAG molecules, while DGAT2A and DGAT2D target SFA and/or MUFA. This research demonstrates the specific TAG assembly routes in Aurantiochytrium, providing insights for designing TAG molecules with desired characteristics.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yohei Ishibashi, Shohei Sadamitsu, Yoshitomo Fukahori, Yuki Yamamoto, Rin Tanogashira, Takashi Watanabe, Masahiro Hayashi, Makoto Ito, Nozomu Okino
Summary: Thraustochytrids are marine microorganisms that synthesize and store useful lipids. This study identified DGAT2C as the sterol ester synthase and DGAT2D as the triglyceride synthase in Aurantiochytrium limacinum. DGAT2C is localized to the endoplasmic reticulum and its suitable N-terminal deletion can increase sterol production.
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biology
Joana Oliveira, Sara Pardilho, Joana M. Dias, Jose C. M. Pires
Summary: This study evaluates the influence of acid concentration, hydrolysis time, and biomass/acid ratio on the thermal acid hydrolysis of Aurantiochytrium sp. through the response surface methodology, aiming at further bioethanol production. The biomass/acid ratio and time are the most influential parameters on the sugar concentration and yield models. This study provides insights into the hydrolysis of microalgae for bioethanol production and suggests that Aurantiochytrium sp. microalgae could be a promising feedstock.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Vetle Simensen, Andre Voigt, Eivind Almaas
Summary: Long-chain, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids are essential for humans and animals, with fish oils being the primary source. Finding alternative sources of high-quality omega-3 PUFAs is crucial as global fish oil production reaches its limits. The high-quality genome-scale metabolic model iVS1191 provides a solid framework for further understanding the metabolic properties of T66 and exploring strategies for increasing omega-3 PUFA production through metabolic engineering.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Joao Reboleira, Rafael Felix, Tania F. L. Vicente, Adriana P. Januario, Carina Felix, Marcelo M. R. de Melo, Carlos M. Silva, Ana C. Ribeiro, Jorge A. Saraiva, Narcisa M. Bandarra, Maria Sapatinha, Maria C. Paulo, Joana Coutinho, Marco F. L. Lemos
Summary: The study utilized various extraction methods to obtain lipophilic extracts from Aurantiochytrium sp. and screened them for multiple biological activities. Promising extracts with high potential were found, particularly with powerful lipid oxidation protection and anti-inflammatory activity in SFE samples, and significant antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activities in HD extract.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
E-Ming Rau, Zdenka Bartosova, Kare Andre Kristiansen, Inga Marie Aasen, Per Bruheim, Helga Ertesvag
Summary: Thraustochytrids are marine eukaryotes that accumulate high amounts of triacylglycerols and synthesize terpenoids like carotenoids and squalene. This study characterizes two putative DGAT2 genes in Aurantiochytrium sp. T66 and their homologs in Aurantiochytrium limacinum SR21. The results show the functional diversity of DGAT2-like proteins and provide valuable information on steryl ester and squalene synthesis in thraustochytrids, paving the way to enhance squalene production through metabolic engineering.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Kaliyamoorthy Kalidasan, Laurent Dufosse, Gunasekaran Manivel, Poomalai Senthilraja, Kandasamy Kathiresan
Summary: The study revealed that the potential strain of thraustochytrids, Schizochytrium sp. (SMKK1), isolated from mangrove leaf litter, demonstrated high antioxidant activity and anti-colorectal cancer properties. The extract from this strain contained polyunsaturated fatty acids which showed promising effects against colon cancer protein IGF binding (IGF-1) through in silico docking method. The most effective compound was docosahexaenoic acid with a docking score of -10.8 Kcal/mol, all five fatty acids passed the ADMET test for further clinical trials for anticancer drug development.
JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stacy D. Singer, Kimberley Burton Hughes, Udaya Subedi, Gaganpreet Kaur Dhariwal, Kazi Kader, Surya Acharya, Guanqun Chen, Abdelali Hannoufa
Summary: In this study, CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutations were used to investigate the function of MsSPL8 gene in alfalfa. The mutated genotypes showed consistent morphological alterations and improved drought tolerance. The phenotypic effects were found to be dependent on the mutational dosage. Furthermore, this research lays the foundation for further exploration of drought tolerance mechanisms in forage crops.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Juli Wang, Stacy D. Singer, Bernardo A. Souto, Justice Asomaning, Aman Ullah, David C. Bressler, Guanqun Chen
Summary: This article reviews the interactions between lipid feedstocks and lipid-based biofuels, as well as the advancements in lipid-associated biofuel technology and the applicability of various lipid sources. It also provides an overview of the latest research on plant lipids, microbial lipids, and animal fats in the context of lipid-based biofuel technology.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qiyuan Shan, Gang Tian, Xin Han, Hui Hui, Mai Yamamoto, Min Hao, Jingwei Wang, Kuilong Wang, Xianan Sang, Luping Qin, Guanqun Chen, Gang Cao
Summary: This study conducted subacute toxicity and metabolomics research on Tetradium ruticarpum (TR). The results showed that rats did not show obvious subacute toxicity when receiving three times the recommended dose of TR, but high doses caused liver damage. Processing could effectively reduce the toxicity of TR, and metabolomics analysis revealed the toxicity metabolic regulatory network. The study is important for understanding the toxicity mechanisms of TR, supporting traditional processing theory, and guiding clinical use.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jun Hong, Leah Rosental, Yang Xu, Dawei Xu, Isabel Orf, Wengsheng Wang, Zhiqiang Hu, Su Su, Shaoxing Bai, Mohammed Ashraf, Chaoyang Hu, Changquan Zhang, Zhikang Li, Jianlong Xu, Qiaoquan Liu, Hui Zhang, Fengli Zhang, Zhijing Luo, Mingjiao Chen, Xiaofei Chen, Natalie Betts, Alisdair Fernie, Wanqi Liang, Guanqun Chen, Yariv Brotman, Dabing Zhang, Jianxin Shi
Summary: This study revealed the genetic regulation of rice seed glycerolipids using metabolite-based approaches. Two genes were found to be involved in the variation of saturated triacylglycerol and lyso-phosphatidylcholine contents. The study also demonstrated the association of these genes with other traits such as heading date and flooding tolerance. The findings suggest that the diversity of rice seed glycerolipids may have been unintentionally shaped during natural and artificial selection.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guanqun Chen, John L. Harwood, M. Joanne Lemieux, Scot J. Stone, Randall J. Weselake
Summary: This review comprehensively discusses research advances on DGATs in prokaryotes and eukaryotes with a focus on their biochemical properties, physiological roles, and biotechnological and therapeutic applications.
PROGRESS IN LIPID RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Agronomy
Udaya Subedi, Kazi Kader, Kethmi N. Jayawardhane, Hari Poudel, Guanqun Chen, Surya Acharya, Luiz S. A. Camargo, Daniela Matias de C. Bittencourt, Stacy D. Singer
Summary: Anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions are a major driver of climate change, and reducing methane produced by ruminant animals is a crucial step. This review explores the potential of using gene editing platforms to directly modulate forages and/or rumen archaea in order to reduce methane production.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Hiroto Maeda, Yuto Hirata, Hirokazu Takahashi, Kenshi Watanabe, Tsunehiro Aki, Yoshiko Okamura
Summary: In this study, a gene transfer system was established for Nitratireductor sp. OM-1, and the function of the thioesterase gene (te) in butenoic acid production was confirmed.
MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kallum McDonald, Yang Xu, Guanqun Chen
Summary: Measuring acyl lipid content and fatty acid composition is crucial in plant lipid research. This study optimizes the direct transmethylation method for plant seed and leaf samples, making it less time-consuming and labor-intensive. The use of commercial disposable pipet tips and polypropylene tubes can further improve efficiency.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OIL CHEMISTS SOCIETY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yang Xu, Stacy D. Singer, Guanqun Chen
Summary: Plant lipids play essential biological roles in plant development and stress responses, and have applications in food, biofuel and oleochemical industries. Our current understanding of the protein interactomes involved in lipid biosynthesis is limited, despite extensive research on proteins associated with lipid metabolism. This review examines advances in identifying and characterizing protein interactomes involved in plant lipid biosynthesis and discusses the use of interactome knowledge in plant lipid biotechnology.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Qiong Xiao, Xue Pan, Yang Xu, Stacy D. Singer, Guanqun Chen
Summary: This study investigated the evolution and diversity of CCTs in the green lineage and provided insights into the association between the biochemical and structural properties of the enzyme and its function. The findings expanded our understanding of the importance of CCT at the genome-wide level.
Article
Plant Sciences
Song Zou, Yuanchen Lu, Haiyan Ma, Yanhua Li, Guanqun Chen, Danxiang Han, Qiang Hu
Summary: This study demonstrated the biochemical and biological functions of CrGPATer in green algae, as well as its potential as a genetic engineering target in functional lipid manufacturing.
Article
Plant Sciences
Stacy D. Singer, Madeline Lehmann, Zixuan Zhang, Udaya Subedi, Kimberley Burton Hughes, Nathaniel Z. -L. Lim, Rodrigo Ortega Polo, Guanqun Chen, Surya Acharya, Abdelali Hannoufa, Tao Huan
Summary: In this study, comprehensive evaluations of the physiological, transcriptomic, and metabolomic responses of alfalfa to salt stress were conducted. It was found that alfalfa exhibited significant growth and photosynthetic reductions under salinity treatment. A total of 1233 differentially expressed genes and 60 differentially accumulated metabolites were identified, suggesting the involvement of important factors such as cell membranes and walls, cuticular waxes, osmoprotectants, antioxidant metabolic pathways, ion transporters, protective proteins, and transcription factors in alfalfa's salinity response process.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshiko Okamura, Ryo Shimizu, Yoriko Tominaga, Sachiko Maki, Tsunehiro Aki, Yukihiko Matsumura, Yutaka Nakashimada
Summary: Microorganisms in a polluted environment can biomineralize heavy metals, including forming minerals with compositions similar to semiconductors. In this study, bacteria were screened to produce lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles with semiconductor properties. The resulting nanoparticles exhibited crystallinity and were characterized using various techniques. The biogenic PbS nanoparticles showed ultrafine crystalline structures and demonstrated semiconductor quantum dot behavior.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Chemistry, Applied
Kenshi Watanabe, Miho Nishijima, Shinzo Mayuzumi, Tsunehiro Aki
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN OIL CHEMISTS SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Kenshi Watanabe, Miho Nishijima, Shinzo Mayuzumi, Tsunehiro Aki
Summary: Thraustochytrid, Aurantiochytrium sp., is a microorganism that produces various useful substances. Lignocellulosic biomass can be used as a feedstock to extract these substances using steam explosion. However, the by-products of steam explosion inhibit the growth and lipid production of Aurantiochytrium sp. This study found that certain by-products were particularly inhibitory, but treating the biomass to reduce the concentration of a major inhibitory component could alleviate the inhibition.
JOURNAL OF OLEO SCIENCE
(2022)
