Article
Microbiology
Jinyu Cui, Tao Sun, Lei Chen, Weiwen Zhang
Summary: The salt tolerance of the cyanobacterium Syn2973 was successfully improved by introducing the glucosylglycerol (GG) biosynthetic pathway, overexpressing glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, and downregulating the gene rfbA. The growth of the engineered strain M-2522-GgpPS-drfbA was improved by 62% compared to the control strain M-pSI-pSII under 0.5M NaCl treatment at 60 hours. Comparative metabolomic analysis showed that more carbon flux was redirected from ADP-GLC to GG synthesis in the engineered strain, providing important engineering strategies for improving salt tolerance and GG production in Syn2973.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rajendran Velmurugan, Aran Incharoensakdi
Summary: There is a growing demand for biofuels worldwide, and cyanobacteria have unique characteristics that make them a promising candidate for biofuel production. Metabolic engineering and engineering of photosynthetic apparatus play crucial roles in developing economically feasible processes.
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nitesh Kumar Mund, Yisong Liu, Shaolin Chen
Summary: Biofuels, such as biodiesel and alcohols, can be produced efficiently by microalgae and cyanobacteria through metabolic engineering and synthetic biology approaches, offering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. These microorganisms have the ability to convert CO2 and water into carbon-rich lipids, making them superior to traditional oil-seed crops. Cyanobacteria, in particular, have established genetic backgrounds and tolerance to foreign genes, making them promising hosts for biofuel synthesis from CO2, light, and water.
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Riya Bongirwar, Pratyoosh Shukla
Summary: Recent advances in metabolic engineering have made cyanobacteria a promising option for sustainable production, thanks to their natural ability to produce metabolites. However, the source-sink balance in cyanobacteria needs to be optimized for enhanced photosynthetic efficiency. This review discusses approaches for achieving source-sink balance and engineering metabolic sinks in cyanobacteria, as well as the importance of understanding cyanobacterial strains for valuable metabolites.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Miyo Yamane, Takashi Osanai
Summary: This review presents the recent progress in the production of carboxylic acids through genetic and metabolic engineering in cyanobacteria.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Jiahui Sun, Xuejing Xu, Yannan Wu, Huili Sun, Guodong Luan, Xuefeng Lu
Summary: In this study, we engineered Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 to synthesize valencene, a valuable ingredient in the food and cosmetics industries. By introducing a heterologous valencene synthase and modifying the native MEP pathway, we obtained an efficient cyanobacterial cell factory that produced 154 mg/L valencene during a semi-continual cultivation with robust growth and production in non-sterilized conditions. We also achieved the production of other sesquiterpenes, showing promising potentials as a universal chassis.
GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY BIOENERGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eunice A. Ferreira, Catarina C. Pacheco, Joao S. Rodrigues, Filipe Pinto, Pedro Lamosa, David Fuente, Javier Urchueguia, Paula Tamagnini
Summary: This study successfully produced glycine betaine using the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 as a chassis, through the construction of synthetic devices in mutant strains.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ian S. Yunus, Josefine Anfelt, Emil Sporre, Rui Miao, Elton P. Hudson, Patrik R. Jones
Summary: This study successfully implemented the direct bioconversion of CO2 into a ready-to-use fuel and identified the combination of UndB and C12-specific thioesterases as the most optimal for achieving high productivity.
METABOLIC ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Tong Zhang, Pi Liu, Hongli Wei, Xinming Sun, Yan Zeng, Xuewen Zhang, Yi Cai, Mengfei Cui, Hongwu Ma, Weidong Liu, Yuanxia Sun, Jiangang Yang
Summary: This study discovered a glucosylglycerol phosphorylase enzyme from Marinobacter adhaerens that exhibited broad catalytic properties in glycosylation of polyols, particularly high carbon 1,2-diols, with excellent regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. The researchers also improved the thermostability and catalytic efficiency of the enzyme and developed an ATP-free multienzyme system for polyol glycosylation using inexpensive starch as a donor. This efficient synthetic platform has the potential to manufacture other valuable chiral 1,2-cis-glycosides.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eleni Theodosiou, Adrian Tuellinghoff, Jorg Toepel, Bruno Buehler
Summary: This review focuses on the development of efficient whole-cell biocatalysts and their connection with metabolic modules, cell growth, maintenance, and product formation. By redesigning and establishing metabolic modules, it is possible to maximize biosynthetic reactions and pathways, leading to high-yield, high-titer, and high-productivity industrial products.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ng. Kunjarani Chanu, Madan Kumar Mandal, Akanksha Srivastava, Neha Chaurasia
Summary: The study investigated the effects of pyrethroid insecticide alpha-cypermethrin on cyanobacteria Anabaena sp. NC-K1, revealing upregulation of various proteins involved in stress responses, photosynthesis, translation, and DNA repair. This proteomic modulation allowed Anabaena sp. NC-K1 to maintain cellular metabolism and homeostasis against pesticide stress.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Plant Sciences
Fatima Omari Alzahrani
Summary: Previous studies on engineering osmoprotectant metabolic pathway genes have focused on the performance of transgenic plants under salt stress conditions rather than elucidating the underlying mechanism(s), which are still unclear. Genetic engineering has been used to improve salt tolerance in plants by introducing preferred genes or modifying the expression of existing genes responsible for salt stress response, but there is no clear mechanistic model to explain how osmoprotectant accumulation in transgenic plants confers salt tolerance.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yuki Kubo, Daichi Morimoto, Shuri Kato, Mai Shiroi, Kanta Ohara, Tokuhiro Higashine, Yuki Mori, Toru Yoshimi, Masato Takeuchi, Shigeki Sawayama
Summary: This study investigated the transcriptional profile of Aurantiochytrium limacinum under hypoosmotic stress and revealed its adaptive mechanisms. The results showed that A. limacinum downregulated genes related to polyketide synthesis and fatty acid synthase pathways, while upregulating beta-oxidation-related genes and antioxidant-related genes. Overall, A. limacinum utilizes fatty acids for energy and detoxifies reactive oxygen species (ROS) to survive under hypoosmotic conditions.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jorick Franceus, Zorica Ubiparip, Koen Beerens, Tom Desmet
Summary: 2-O-Glucosylglycerol is a substance accumulated by bacteria and plants in response to environmental stress, widely used in skin care products. In this study, a thermostable phosphorylase was engineered to improve its efficiency and stability for producing 2-O-Glucosylglycerol, resulting in a variant with increased catalytic efficiency, improved regioselectivity, and retained activity at elevated temperatures.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Belen Reig-Vano, Cristian Huck-Iriart, Silvia de la Flor, Anna Trojanowska, Bartosz Tylkowski, Marta Giamberini
Summary: Beads made from a mannuronate-rich alginate were prepared using different concentrations (0.5, 2, and 10 wt%) of XCl2 crosslinking agents (X = Ca, Cu, or Zn). The focus was on Zn due to its beneficial properties. The beads were characterized using various techniques and it was found that the crosslinking agent significantly affected the properties of the beads. Zn-based beads displayed a unique core-shell structure and had the highest Young modulus compared to the other beads. The results collectively suggested a bridging coordination for these systems.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Wei Du, S. Andreas Angermayr, Joeri A. Jongbloets, Douwe Molenaar, Herwig Bachmann, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Filipe Branco dos Santos
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Du, Joeri A. Jongbloets, Hugo Pineda Hernandez, Frank J. Bruggeman, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Filipe Branco dos Santos
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2016)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Roberta Carpine, Wei Du, Giuseppe Olivieri, Antonino Pollio, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Antonio Marzocchella, Filipe Branco dos Santos
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2017)
Article
Microbiology
Kuo Song, Martin Hagemann, Xiaoming Tan, Xuefeng Lu
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wei Du, Joeri A. Jongbloets, Coco van Boxtel, Hugo Pineda Hernandez, David Lips, Brett G. Oliver, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Filipe Branco dos Santos
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2018)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wenjing Lou, Xiaoming Tan, Kuo Song, Shanshan Zhang, Guodong Luan, Cheng Li, Xuefeng Lu
APPLIED AND ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2018)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Xiaoming Tan, Shengwei Hou, Kuo Song, Jens Georg, Stephan Klaehn, Xuefeng Lu, Wolfgang R. Hess
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2018)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Wei Du, Joeri A. Jongbloets, Max Guillaume, Bram van de Putte, Beatrice Battaglino, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Filipe Branco dos Santos
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2019)
Review
Microbiology
Li Wang, Liyuan Chen, Shihui Yang, Xiaoming Tan
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Wenyang Wu, Wei Du, Ruth Perez Gallego, Klaas J. Hellingwerf, Aniek D. van der Woude, Filipe Branco dos Santos
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2020)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Patricia Caicedo-Burbano, Tycho Smit, Hugo Pineda Hernandez, Wei Du, Filipe Branco dos Santos
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Liyuan Chen, Hai Liu, Li Wang, Xiaoming Tan, Shihui Yang
Summary: Six synthetic counter-selection markers (SCOMs) were developed for genetic modifications of S. elongatus UTEX2973, with one based on mazF successfully deleting specific genetic loci in the genome. These genetic tools will facilitate future research in molecular genetics and synthetic biology in S. elongatus UTEX2973.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peng Zhou, Li Wang, Hai Liu, Chunyan Li, Zhimin Li, Jinxiang Wang, Xiaoming Tan
Summary: CyanoOmicsDB is a database aiming to provide comprehensive functional information for cyanobacterial genes, with over 8 million entries from 928 genomes. It integrates transcriptional and translational profiles, gene function predictions, protein sequences, homologs, and more, offering researchers in this field a convenient way to access functional information on cyanobacterial genes. Compared to other existing databases, CyanoOmicsDB stands out for its extensive datasets and comprehensive functional information.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Beatrice Battaglino, Wei Du, Cristina Pagliano, Joeri A. Jongbloets, Angela Re, Guido Saracco, Filipe Branco dos Santos
Summary: Cyanobacteria, powered by sunlight, have the potential to convert atmospheric CO2 into valuable compounds while releasing O2, making them promising candidates for microbial cell factories. By utilizing growth-coupled metabolites and thermodynamically favored conversions, the scope of candidate compounds for production can be expanded, leading to increased stability and productivity of engineered strains.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zhi Zhu, Guodong Luan, Xiaoming Tan, Haocui Zhang, Xuefeng Lu
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2017)