Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zijian Xie, Jiaxin He, Shuting Peng, Xiaoyun Zhang, Weibao Kong
Summary: Protein-based drugs are the fastest-growing category in the pharmaceutical industry, but their development has been hindered by low yields and high production costs. Eukaryotic microalgae offer advantages as a novel platform for protein-based drug production. This review highlights their potential, advantages, and disadvantages, and summarizes the characteristics of gene expression, translation, and post-translational modifications in eukaryotic microalgae. Additionally, it introduces practical and research advances in using eukaryotic microalgae for producing protein-based drugs.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Eric Poliner, Andrea W. U. Busch, Linsey Newton, Young Uk Kim, Rachel Clark, Sofia C. Gonzalez-Martinez, Byeong-Ryool Jeong, Beronda L. Montgomery, Eva M. Farre
Summary: The study found that blue light induces the expression of fatty acid desaturase genes in stramenopile microalgae, promoting the synthesis of EPA. The promoters of blue light-induced genes are enriched with E-box-like motifs. Aureochromes, a specific protein in stramenopiles, act as blue light-regulated transcription factors by sensing blue light.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Jin-peng Sun, Xue-hong Wei, Xiao-mei Cong, Wen-hua Zhang, Le-Xin Qiu, Xiao-nan Zang
Summary: In this study, a model for astaxanthin production similar to H. pluvialis was constructed in C. reinhardtii by combining carotenoid metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. It was found that lipids contribute to the synthesis of astaxanthin by regulating carbon flow, and the expression of the MECR gene related to long-chain fatty acid synthesis further increases the astaxanthin content.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Quan Wang, Jieyi Zhuang, Shuai Ni, Haolin Luo, Kaijie Zheng, Xinyi Li, Chengxiang Lan, Di Zhao, Yongsheng Bai, Bin Jia, Zhangli Hu
Summary: This study identified that overexpression of CrePAPS in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii promotes protein translation and enhances protein accumulation, providing a novel direction for using this alga as a platform for recombinant protein expression.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Julian Wichmann, Annibel Eggert, Liam D. H. Elbourne, Ian T. Paulsen, Kyle J. Lauersen, Olaf Kruse
Summary: In this study, the accessibility of different isoprenoid precursor pools for sesquiterpenoid production in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was investigated. It was found that both the cytoplasm and chloroplast can be utilized for the generation of sesquiterpenoids. Targeting the fusion protein to the chloroplast and increasing gene dosage significantly improved sesquiterpene production. In addition, potential prenyl unit transporters were proposed based on bioinformatic analyses, which could enhance the capabilities of sesquiterpenoid production.
MICROBIAL CELL FACTORIES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ashish K. Maurya, Piali Sengupta
Summary: The paper introduces a novel cilia regulator called XBX-4, which modulates the CCRK and MAK kinase pathway in C. elegans. Mutations associated with Joubert syndrome in the XBX-4 DUF3719 domain also result in cilia elongation.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jia-Yi Lin, I-Son Ng
Summary: This study used genetic engineering to enhance the growth, lipid and lutein production of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. CRISPRi was applied to down-regulate the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC1) gene, resulting in increased carbon flux towards lipid synthesis. The engineered strain PGi showed the highest biomass, lipid and lutein production at 35°C.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Jia-Yi Lin, Sefli Sri Wahyu Effendi, I-Son Ng
Summary: This study explores the use of genetic modification to enhance CO2 capture and utilization in microalgae for increased biomass and product production. The results show that genetically modified C. reinhardtii can achieve maximum biomass, lutein, and lipid production under autotrophic conditions in a photo-bioreactor with 5% CO2, with improved CO2 assimilation rates.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tomokazu Kurita, Masako Iwai, Keishi Moroi, Kumiko Okazaki, Seiji Nomura, Fumihiko Saito, Shinichiro Maeda, Akihide Takami, Atsushi Sakamoto, Hiroyuki Ohta, Tetsushi Sakuma, Takashi Yamamoto
Summary: Algal lipids, produced through photosynthesis and carbon dioxide assimilation, are expected to be the basis for sustainable fuels. However, the use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in outdoor culture is restricted. Recent research has discovered that plasmids containing yeast centromere and autonomous replication sequence can behave as episomes in Nannochloropsis species. This study aims to develop a genome editing system that allows the removal of expression vectors after introducing mutations, thereby creating mutated Nannochloropsis without any transgenes.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yasin Torres-Tiji, Francis J. Fields, Yanping Yang, Vanessa Heredia, Svein Jarle Horn, Saumya R. Keremane, Moonsoo M. Jin, Stephen P. Mayfield
Summary: Microalgae have been recognized as an alternative platform for producing high-quality biomass and bioproducts. This study examines the potential of the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to produce a complex human recombinant protein in a high-density heterotrophic culture. The results show that C. reinhardtii is a viable option for producing complex recombinant proteins at high concentrations.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ramazan Cakmak, Ugur Uzuner
Summary: Klotho protein plays versatile roles in human body associated with longevity and well-being, while deficiency of alpha-Klotho in the circulatory system is related to various disorders. Recent studies have shown the importance of soluble Klotho in cognitive development, oxidative stress, and other conditions. This research reports successful production of mouse alpha-KL protein in model microalga and validates its anticancer effect.
CHEMISTRY & BIODIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Alexander Einhaus, Thomas Baier, Marian Rosenstengel, Robert A. Freudenberg, Olaf Kruse
Summary: By evaluating expression elements and promoter engineering strategies, this study has improved the application of synthetic biology in microalgae, taking a significant step towards establishing C. reinhardtii as a sustainable green cell-factory, and demonstrating the potential for sustainable light-driven production of valuable bioproducts.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robert A. Freudenberg, Luisa Wittemeier, Alexander Einhaus, Thomas Baier, Olaf Kruse
Summary: This study systematically investigated the native putrescine metabolism in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and successfully achieved CO2-based bio-production of putrescine. The study provides important insights into the putrescine biosynthesis pathway and offers a promising approach for sustainable biotechnology.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Alexander Einhaus, Jasmin Steube, Robert Ansgar Freudenberg, Jonas Barczyk, Thomas Baier, Olaf Kruse
Summary: In this study, innovative synthetic biology and efficient metabolic engineering strategies were combined to redirect metabolic flux through the MEP pathway in the green microalgae, C. reinhardtii, for efficient heterologous diterpenoid synthesis. Engineering of key enzymes and overexpression of fusion proteins successfully increased the production of high-value diterpenoids. Through fully photoautotrophic high cell density cultivations, significant amounts of sclareol, a high-value diterpenoid, were produced, demonstrating the potential of green microalgae as a powerful phototrophic cell factory for industrial biotechnology.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mei-Li Zhao, Xiang-Yu Li, Cheng-Xiang Lan, Zi-Ling Yuan, Jia-Lin Zhao, Ying Huang, Zhang-Li Hu, Bin Jia
Summary: A synthetic pathway for ginsenosides was established in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by introducing genes from Panax ginseng, resulting in high production of dammarenediol-II. Strategies such as gene loading and culture optimizing were employed to enhance productivity. This study provides a good platform for the further production of ginsenosides in microalgae.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)