Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Fu-Wen Kuo, Yu-Chia Chang, Hsing-Hui Li
Summary: Researchers at the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium discovered that while propagating corals, the octocoral Sinularia flexibilis released a black pigment that stained the operator's hands black. The depth of the black pigment staining increased with longer contact between the coral and the skin.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ginga Shimakawa, Ayaka Kohara, Chikahiro Miyake
Summary: Light-enhanced respiration (LER) occurs in both eukaryotic algae and photosynthetic prokaryote cyanobacteria, with similar physiological characteristics. However, LER in cyanobacteria is uncoupled from photosynthetic electron transport. It is primarily driven by substrates produced during photosynthetic CO2 assimilation and has significant physiological implications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Silvere Vialet-Chabrand, Jack S. A. Matthews, Tracy Lawson
Summary: This study found that different species have significant differences in blue light-induced stomatal responses, with increased stomatal conductance reducing photosynthetic limitation but increasing water loss. Additionally, the synergistic effect of blue light and respiration plays an important role in driving rapid stomatal movements, especially when photosynthesis is limited.
Article
Fisheries
Xiurong Chen, Yingying Yang, Quanling Lu, Xiaoli Sun, Shanshan Wang, Qiuyue Li, Xiao Wei, Yuan Wang
Summary: Cultivation of Chlorella vulgaris in sludge extract diluted with BG11 medium can achieve both sludge reduction and microalgae cultivation. In the early culture stages, heterotrophy dominates the process in the group with a high proportion of sludge extract, with organic matter being the main factor affecting biomass production.
AQUACULTURE INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Forestry
K. Y. Crous, A. W. Cheesman, K. Middleby, E. I. E. Rogers, A. Wujeska-Klause, A. Y. M. Bouet, D. S. Ellsworth, M. J. Liddell, L. A. Cernusak, C. V. M. Barton
Summary: As global climate warms, increasing leaf temperatures have a significant impact on tree physiology and the interaction between leaf and air temperatures in forests. By warming leaves in two mature evergreen forests, researchers found that higher leaf temperatures lead to reduced stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis, potentially weakening the land carbon sink in tropical and temperate forests.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Han-Yu Wu, Qing-Qing Zou, Wen-Tao Ji, Ying-Wei Wang, Wang-Feng Zhang, Chuang-Dao Jiang
Summary: Maize leaves have a compact structure with low porosity, which restricts lateral CO2 diffusion. However, by increasing the Delta CO2 between adjacent regions, lateral diffusion can be achieved. This study demonstrates that enlarging the Delta CO2 inside maize leaves supports photosynthesis in adjacent regions, especially under fluctuating light conditions.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Takako Ogawa, Kenta Suzuki, Kintake Sonoike
Summary: This study demonstrates the significant impact of NADPH redox state on chlorophyll fluorescence induction in cyanobacteria. The interaction between photosynthesis and respiration through NADPH provides a simple method for monitoring chlorophyll fluorescence induction in cyanobacteria.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhi-Wen Wu, Zhi-Xuan Wang, Yuan-Qiang Guo, Sheng-An Tang, Dan-Qing Feng
Summary: A new compound (1) and several other compounds (2-10) were isolated from the soft coral Sinularia flexibilis, as well as three diterpenoids (11-13) from the gorgonian Muricella sp. These compounds showed significant antifouling activity against the larval settlement of the bryozoan Bugula neritina. The analysis of structure-activity relationships revealed that the presence of a hydroxy group at C-13 in compound 4 reduced its antifouling activity.
JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinlu Hu, Dan Wang, Ning Zhang, Kaixin Tang, Yueqiu Bai, Yanqiu Tian, Yan Li, Xin Zhang
Summary: The study found that the growth of Microcystis aeruginosa, a bloom-forming cyanobacterium, was initially inhibited by perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, the inhibition gradually decreased and stabilized over time. The self-adaptive mechanisms of the microalgae to PFOA exposure included antioxidant pathways, energy transfer and distribution of photosystems, and repair of specific complexes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Plant Sciences
John N. Ferguson, Alison C. Tidy, Erik H. Murchie, Zoe A. Wilson
Summary: Heat stress affects crop productivity through impaired carbon metabolism and reproductive development. Understanding the integration of these processes and their contribution to yield maintenance is crucial for developing climate-resilient crops. Recent studies on source-sink dynamics, non-foliar photosynthesis, and net carbon gain provide key insights into improving reproductive development and crop productivity under heat stress.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Limnology
Alexis Lucas Norbert Guislain, Jan Koehler
Summary: This study found that different mixing depths have an impact on the production and photosynthesis of phytoplankton. Mixing phytoplankton better utilize short periods of surface illumination, while the growth capability of plants in Lake TaiHu is affected by light fluctuations. Photosynthesis and respiration are more tightly connected under fluctuating light.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Davide L. Patono, Leandro Eloi Alcatrao, Emilio Dicembrini, Giorgio Ivaldi, Davide Ricauda Aimonino, Claudio Lovisolo
Summary: To measure gas exchange at the whole plant level, researchers designed prototypes of gas-exchange systems and tested them for shoot and rootzone analyses in plants of different sizes. They optimized the choice of cuvette material to ensure isolation between shoot and rootzone compartments and accurately measured the airflow.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claire L. Ross, Andrew Warnes, Steeve Comeau, Christopher E. Cornwall, Michael V. W. Cuttler, Melissa Naugle, Malcolm T. McCulloch, Verena Schoepf
Summary: Ocean warming is causing significant changes in coral reefs, particularly in the growth of branching corals. This study investigates the impacts of temperature and light on coral physiology and calcification mechanisms, revealing the interactive and context-specific effects. Realistic multi-variate dynamic experiments are essential in predicting coral calcification response to ocean warming.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biology
Lyubov Yudina, Ekaterina Sukhova, Maxim Mudrilov, Vladimir Nerush, Anna Pecherina, Alexandr A. Smirnov, Alexey S. Dorokhov, Narek O. Chilingaryan, Vladimir Vodeneev, Vladimir Sukhov
Summary: This study analyzed the influence of two variants of LED illumination on physiological processes and growth characteristics in lettuce. The results showed that red light illumination contributed to lettuce growth, while blue light illumination led to stress changes. These findings are important for improving lettuce cultivation efficiency.
Article
Ecology
Lucy Rowland, Antonio C. L. da Costa, Rafael S. Oliveira, Paulo R. L. Bittencourt, Andre L. Giles, Ingrid Coughlin, Patricia da Britto Costa, David Bartholomew, Tomas F. Domingues, Raquel C. Miatto, Leandro Ferreira, Steel S. Vasconcelos, Joao A. S. Junior, Alex A. R. Oliveira, Maurizio Mencuccini, Patrick Meir
Summary: This study investigated how tropical trees acclimate to long-term drought stress by measuring various parameters such as photosynthetic capacity and NSC storage. The results showed that surviving trees after drought treatment exhibited altered strategies for carbon storage and use, with changes mainly observed in trees with canopies exposed to high radiation. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding the impact of full-canopy light environment on long-term responses to drought stress in tropical forests.
FUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Robin Barten, Rocca Chin-On, Jeroen de Vree, Ellen van Beersum, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa, Marcel Janssen
Summary: This study presents the growth parameters of three industrially relevant microalgae species. The growth rates, photosynthetic efficiency, and biomass yield on light were determined through dedicated experiments. The results show that these growth parameters are accurate and can be used for model calibration.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Robin Barten, Teun Peeters, Sofia Navalho, Louis Fontowicz, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria Barbosa
Summary: By performing adaptive laboratory evolution, the study successfully increased the thermotolerant capability of microalgae at higher temperatures, and the evolved clones exhibited similar growth characteristics to the wild-type strain at lower temperatures, with a 46% increase in cell volume.
BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christian Sudfeld, Ana Pozo-Rodriguez, Sara A. Manjavacas Diez, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa, Sarah D'Adamo
Summary: This study reports a novel gene expression system discovered in the oleaginous microalga Nannochloropsis, utilizing the highly efficient transcriptional activity of RNA polymerase I and an internal ribosome entry site for translation. By identifying the nucleolus as a genomic safe harbor for Pol I transcription and constructing transformant strains, consistently strong transgene expression was achieved, providing a powerful tool for genetic and metabolic engineering of microalgae and potential significant contributions to microalgal research.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Fengzheng Gao, Iago Teles Dominguez Cabanelas, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa
Summary: The study successfully developed a winter strain of Tisochrysis lutea with high productivity at lower temperatures, maintaining similar biomass, fucoxanthin, and DHA productivities as at 30 degrees C. The winter strain showed a stable phenotype after one year of cultivation, expanding the outdoor production seasons for this species.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Catalina A. Suarez Ruiz, Oriol Cabau-Peinado, Corjan van den Berg, Rene H. Wijffels, Michel H. M. Eppink
Summary: This study successfully investigated the fractionation of lipids from other microalgal components using polymers and IL solutions in aqueous two-phase systems, showing potential applications for multiproduct microalgal biorefineries. The research also demonstrated that by combining polypropylene glycol 400 solution with subsequent ATPS, most of the microalgae biomolecules could be fractionated.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Fabian Abiusi, Pedro Monino Fernandez, Stefano Canziani, Marcel Janssen, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria Barbosa
Summary: G. sulphuraria is a polyextremophilic microalga that can thrive in multiple extreme environments. Mixotrophy can enhance biomass productivity and concentration.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Fabian Abiusi, Egbert Trompetter, Antonino Pollio, Rene H. Wijffels, Marcel Janssen
Summary: This study investigated six microalgal strains capable of growing at low pH conditions and compared their biomass productivity with other commercially relevant microalgae. The results showed that five strains had autotrophic biomass productivities comparable to other microalgae, indicating their potential for large-scale autotrophic biomass production under acidic conditions. Additionally, two strains demonstrated the ability to grow mixotrophically and heterotrophically.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Marta Sa, Narcis Ferrer-Ledo, Fengzheng Gao, Carlo G. Bertinetto, Jeroen Jansen, Joao G. Crespo, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria Barbosa, Claudia F. Galinha
Summary: Microalgae industrial production is seen as an alternative solution for producing nutraceuticals, cosmetics, biofertilizers, and biopolymers. While technological advances have increased the competitiveness of the industry, online monitoring and real-time process control still need further development, with fluorescence spectroscopy being the most promising method for monitoring.
MICROBIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Chunzhe Lu, Nina Leitner, Rene H. Wijffels, Vitor A. P. Martins dos Santos, Ruud A. Weusthuis
Summary: This study developed a biocatalyst for the production of mcl-diols from n-alkanes under mild conditions. The engineered strain P. putida KT2440, with overexpression of Est12, can efficiently hydrolyze esterified diols, enabling the production of mcl-diols.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Markus Schulze, Yadhu Kumar, Merle Rattay, Julia Niemann, Rene H. Wijffels, Dirk E. Martens
Summary: Process intensification is gaining popularity in the mammalian biomanufacturing industry as a result of the increasing demand for biotherapeutics. This study established a CHO cell process and investigated the impact of butyric acid supplementation on the production process. The findings showed that butyric acid supplementation led to higher cellular productivities and had minimal effects on product quality attributes. Additionally, detailed transcriptomic analysis revealed potential mechanisms for gene engineering optimization.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Biochemical Research Methods
Marcel Janssen, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa
Summary: Microalgae have high protein expression levels and can be produced in contained cultivation systems with low water requirements. Although the current production scale is small, techno economic analysis has shown good potential for scale-up and cost reduction. Microalgal protein has a suitable amino acid composition for food and feed requirements, and high quality can be guaranteed through novel biomass pre-treatment steps.
CURRENT OPINION IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Robin Barten, Michelle Kleisman, Giulia D'Ermo, Harm Nijveen, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa
Summary: High temperatures negatively affect cell physiology and reduce growth and productivity in photobioreactors. Supra-optimal temperature causes cell cycle arrest and changes in metabolic activity. It also affects the composition of fatty acids and pigments in microalgae. Gene expression related to photosynthesis, carbon fixation, and metabolism is downregulated, while genes related to proteasome, autophagy, and endocytosis are upregulated.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Christian Sudfeld, Aamna Kiyani, Hortense Buckens, Michal Hubacek, Rene H. Wijffels, Maria J. Barbosa, Sarah D'Adamo
Summary: Medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are compounds of commercial interest with applications in various industries. This study successfully transferred an enzyme from Cuphea palustris to Nannochloropsis oceanica microalgae to accumulate MCFAs.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria J. Barbosa, Marcel Janssen, Christian Sudfeld, Sarah D'Adamo, Rene H. Wijffels
Summary: The urge for food security and sustainability has driven the development of microalgal biotechnology. Microalgae, as microorganisms, have the potential to be a valuable resource for food, feed, energy, and chemicals. With faster growth and higher productivity than plant crops, microalgae have the advantage of not requiring agricultural land and having efficient fertilizer uptake. They are also seen as a replacement for soy protein, fish oil, and palm oil, and can be utilized in industrial biotechnology for various purposes.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Lukas M. Trebuch, Jasper Sohier, Sido Altenburg, Ben O. Oyserman, Mario Pronk, Marcel Janssen, Louise E. M. Vet, Rene H. Wijffels, Tania V. Fernandes
Summary: Photogranules are a new wastewater treatment technology that uses solar energy for low-energy water treatment and shows potential for nutrient recovery. In this study, polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) were introduced to photogranules, resulting in increased phosphorus removal. The addition of a 12-hour anaerobic phase during nighttime did not negatively affect the PAOs and phototrophs but decreased nitrogen removal and biomass productivity.