Article
Engineering, Environmental
Vera Slaveykova, Sanghamitra Majumdar, Nicole Regier, Weiwei Li, Arturo A. Keller
Summary: Metabolomics was used to study the response of green alga to sublethal concentrations of inorganic mercury and monomethylmercury. The alga adjusted its metabolism by increasing levels of various metabolites involved in different pathways after exposure to low concentrations of mercury compounds. Exposure to inorganic mercury resulted in more pronounced metabolic perturbations in comparison to monomethylmercury, while most metabolic disturbances were common between the two treatments.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Shengyi Yao, Xupeng Cao, Yingchen Wang, Dingyi Li, Wangyin Wang, Riyuan Chen, Can Li
Summary: Mimicking the natural carbon-concentration mechanism, exogenous formate was introduced into a model photosynthetic organism, leading to an improvement in overall photosynthesis. With the use of different strategies, tolerance to formate was increased to over 40 mM, resulting in enhanced growth and photosynthesis activity.
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zihui Huang, Liangliang Shen, Wenda Wang, Zhiyuan Mao, Xiaohan Yi, Tingyun Kuang, Jian-Ren Shen, Xing Zhang, Guangye Han
Summary: Photosystems I and II undergo state transitions to balance light energy distribution and optimize photosynthesis, with the cryo-EM structure of a PSI-LHCI-LHCII supercomplex from C. reinhardtii revealing subunit organization and energy transfer pathways.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xiaosong Gu, Li Cao, Xiaoying Wu, Yanhua Li, Qiang Hu, Danxiang Han
Summary: This study identified galactosyl hydrolases (CrGH) in lipid bodies of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and found that deficiency of CrGH led to an increase in MGDG and DGDG content and a decrease in TAG content under high light stress conditions. The up-regulation of CrGH under high light stress suggests its involvement in the conversion of photosynthetic membranes to TAGs, revealing a new paradigm for lipid metabolism in microalgae.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Vivien Hotter, David Zopf, Hak Joong Kim, Anja Silge, Michael Schmitt, Prasad Aiyar, Johanna Fleck, Christian Matthaus, Julian Hniopek, Qing Yan, Joyce Loper, Severin Sasso, Christian Hertweck, Jurgen Popp, Maria Mittag
Summary: The interaction between algae and bacteria involves a complex molecular strategy, with bacteria using protegencin and orfamide A to disrupt the visual system and behavior of algae. This study highlights the multifaceted ways in which microorganisms can impact the growth and development of algae in nature.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ivan Liakh, Darya Harshkova, Pavel Hrouzek, Katerina Bisova, Anna Aksmann, Bartosz Wielgomas
Summary: The use of unicellular algae for removing xenobiotics from wastewaters is a rapidly developing field in environmental protection. Efficient phycoremediation requires biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation. However, the potential toxicity of biotransformation products and the resistance of analyzed algae strains to the mixture of compounds need to be considered. In this study, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii showed promise in removing diclofenac, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, through biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biotransformation processes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Michelle Kammel, Robert Gary Sawers
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of FocA on intracellular and extracellular formate levels by altering FocA levels, mutating the chromosomal focA gene, or introducing additional copies of focA. The results showed that the expression of the native focA-pflB operon ensures relatively constant intracellular formate levels during exponential phase growth, and enhancing focA expression leads to higher formate excretion from the cell. Furthermore, chromosomal focA mutations that altered formate concentration inside the cell caused a negative fermentative growth phenotype, indicating the role of FocA in regulating intracellular formate levels.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Emma O. Fuentes-Ramirez, Miriam Vazquez-Acevedo, Alfredo Cabrera-Orefice, Sergio Guerrero-Castillo, Diego Gonzalez-Halphen
Summary: This study provides a morphological and proteomic characterization of the colorless alga Polytomella parva, identifying several plastid proteins involved in various metabolic pathways. The results contribute to a better understanding of the metabolism and biological activities of this unicellular, free-living alga.
MICROBIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Darya Harshkova, Ivan Liakh, Vitali Bialevich, Kamila Ondrejmiskova, Anna Aksmann, Katerina Bisova
Summary: The study aimed to verify the hypothesis that diclofenac affects cell cycle progression in green algae. The research demonstrated that diclofenac delays cell division in the algae, resulting in a decrease in the number of daughter cells produced.
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
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
E. Hounslow, C. A. Evans, J. Pandhal, T. Sydney, N. Couto, T. K. Pham, D. James Gilmour, P. C. Wright
Summary: Physiological and proteomic changes between two green alga strains, C. reinhardtii and C. nivalis, under salinity stress were characterized. Results showed that C. nivalis accumulated more carbohydrates and fatty acids under salt stress compared to C. reinhardtii. The differences in protein abundance provided insights into the mechanism by which salt stress promotes fatty acid accumulation in C. nivalis.
BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Ulrich Kueck, Olga Schmitt
Summary: This article reviews RNA trans-splicing process in eukaryotes, focusing on trans-splicing of discontinuous group II introns in lower eukaryotes and plants' chloroplasts and mitochondria. It also discusses the origin of intronic sequences and the evolutionary relationship between chloroplast ribonucleoprotein complexes and the nuclear spliceosome.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Florencia Torresi, Fernanda M. Rodriguez, Diego F. Gomez-Casati, Mariana Martin
Summary: Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK) plays a gluconeogenic role in green algae by catalyzing the reversible reaction of oxaloacetate (OAA) decarboxylation and phosphorylation to generate phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) and CO2. Two PEPCK isoforms, ChlrePEPCK1 and ChlrePEPCK2, were identified in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and both enzymes were cloned, purified, and characterized. ChlrePEPCK1 exhibits higher decarboxylase activity than ChlrePEPCK2. ChlrePEPCK1 is hexameric and its activity is regulated by citrate, phenylalanine, and malate, while ChlrePEPCK2 is monomeric and regulated by citrate, phenylalanine, and glutamine. The presence of these two isoforms suggests a mechanism for finely regulating the biological activity of PEPCKs, possibly through alternative splicing or regulated proteolysis of the gene/enzyme.
Article
Microbiology
Zhao Peng, Gai Liu, Kaiyao Huang
Summary: Research shows that compared to a model organism from the same genus, snow algae exhibit higher growth rates and photosynthetic efficiency in cold environments, indicating better cold tolerance. Snow algae adapt to rapid temperature decrease by efficiently regulating transcription of specific genes to optimize resource assimilation and metabolic pathways. Additionally, horizontally transferred genes critical for cold adaptation in other psychrophiles are also identified in snow algae.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Beverly Fu, Azadeh Nazemi, Benjamin J. Levin, Zhongyue Yang, Heather J. Kulik, Emily P. Balskus
Summary: This study investigates the enzymatic transformation mechanism of a gut microbial enzyme, which generates small molecules that have an impact on host physiology. The researchers characterize this mechanism and find that it differs from previously proposed hypotheses. Elucidating the mechanism of this enzyme enhances our understanding of radical enzymes and disease-associated metabolism.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Patricia Rodriguez-Macia, Leonie Kertess, Jan Burnik, James A. Birrell, Eckhard Hofmann, Wolfgang Lubitz, Thomas Happe, Olaf Ruediger
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Stefan Mebs, Jifu Duan, Florian Wittkamp, Sven T. Stripp, Thomas Happe, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Martin Winkler, Michael Haumann
INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Julian Esselborn, Leonie Kertess, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Eckhard Hofmann, Thomas Happe
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2019)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Moritz Senger, Viktor Eichmann, Konstantin Laun, Jifu Duan, Florian Wittkamp, Guenther Knoer, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Thomas Happe, Martin Winkler, Joachim Heberle, Sven Timo Stripp
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2019)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dennis Huwald, Sabrina Duda, Raphael Gasper, Vincent Olieric, Eckhard Hofmann, Anja Hemschemeier
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Christian Lorent, Sagie Katz, Jifu Duan, Catharina Julia Kulka, Giorgio Caserta, Christian Teutloff, Shanika Yadav, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Martin Winkler, Thomas Happe, Marius Horch, Ingo Zebger
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Oliver Lampret, Jifu Duan, Eckhard Hofmann, Martin Winkler, Fraser A. Armstrong, Thomas Happe
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Stefanie Bohmer, Christina Marx, Alvaro Gomez-Baraibar, Marc M. Nowaczyk, Dirk Tischler, Anja Hemschemeier, Thomas Happe
ALGAL RESEARCH-BIOMASS BIOFUELS AND BIOPRODUCTS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stefanie Boehmer, Christina Marx, Reimund Goss, Matthias Gilbert, Severin Sasso, Thomas Happe, Anja Hemschemeier
Summary: The CrOYE3 enzyme in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii can convert N-methylmaleimide (NMI) under photosynthesis and plays a significant role in protecting against photooxidative stress.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rieke Haas, Vera Engelbrecht, Oliver Lampret, Shanika Yadav, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Silke Leimkuehler, Thomas Happe
Summary: The active site of [FeFe]-hydrogenases contains a cubane [4Fe4S]-cluster and a unique diiron cluster with biologically unusual CO and CN ligands. The biogenesis of the diiron site, termed [2FeH], requires the involvement of maturation proteins HydE, HydF, and HydG. However, our study suggests that the proposed binding mechanism and the presence of a [4Fe-4S]-cluster in HydF are not involved in the binding or transfer of [2Fe(P)].
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Melanie Heghmanns, Andreas Rutz, Yury Kutin, Vera Engelbrecht, Martin Winkler, Thomas Happe, Muege Kasanmascheff
Summary: In this study, the active center of CbA5H, the H-cluster, was characterized using multifrequency continuous wave and pulsed electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. It was found that under oxidizing conditions, an additional radical species dominates the spectra. The generation of this radical signal depends on the presence of an intact H-cluster and a complete proton transfer pathway.
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Simone Morra, Jifu Duan, Martin Winkler, Philip A. Ash, Thomas Happe, Kylie A. Vincent
Summary: By maintaining individual crystals of [FeFe]-hydrogenase under electrochemical control and probing them via Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) microspectroscopy, it is possible to precisely tune the redox potential and reveal variations in the distribution of redox states at the active site. This approach offers high sensitivity and precise redox control, facilitating the detection and characterisation of low abundance species and new redox intermediates within a narrow window of conditions.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Konstantin Laun, Iuliia Baranova, Jifu Duan, Leonie Kertess, Florian Wittkamp, Ulf-Peter Apfel, Thomas Happe, Moritz Senger, Sven T. Stripp
Summary: [FeFe]-hydrogenases are excellent H-2 evolution catalysts with active site cofactor comprising a [4Fe-4S] cluster linked to a diiron site with carbon monoxide and cyanide ligands. Proton transfer pathways and pH differences affect the stabilization of electrons at different cofactor states, influencing the hydrogen turnover process.
DALTON TRANSACTIONS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ellen M. Adams, Oliver Lampret, Benedikt Koenig, Thomas Happe, Martina Havenith
PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY CHEMICAL PHYSICS
(2020)