Algal Genes Encoding Enzymes for Photosynthesis and Hydrocarbon Biosynthesis as Candidates for Genetic Engineering

Abstract

In order to increase the biomass of photosynthetic organisms, upregulation of net CO 2 fixation in daytime appears to be a promising approach. This can be attained by improving the turnover of chloroplast enzymes such as ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) or fructose bisphosphate phosphatase (FBPase). In a previous report, the genes for the large and small subunits of cyanobacterial Rubisco were coexpressed in tobacco with either with cyanobacterial chaperone for Rubisco or the carboxysomal CO 2 concentrating mechanism (CCM) gene. This resulted in the generation of faster carboxylation of Rubisco and a similar gene expression approach may be adopted into algal hosts in the future. Expression of the cyanobacterial FBPase gene with protein targeting to the chloroplast in Euglena gracilis was reported to increase the wax ester content effectively. Though stable transformation of the oil producing alga Botryococcus braunii race B, is yet to be achieved, genes for key regulatory enzymes in 2-C-methyl-D-erythritol-4-phosphate (MEP) pathway, such as 1-deoxy-Dxylulose 5-phosphate synthase (DXS) or 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase (HDR), might be possible targets for genetic modification in this alga. Challenging problems in the transformation of the microalgae, including C. reinhardtii, or those of the macroalgae are discussed herein for the design of transformation aiming at higher yield of biofuel production.

Metabolomics Reveals the Impact of Overexpression of Cytosolic Fructose-1,6-Bisphosphatase on Photosynthesis and Growth in Nannochloropsis gaditana

“…Genetic engineering, an effective method for adaptive breeding, is extensively used, and N. gaditana , with its straightforward genome and the public availability of its genomic information online, has become a prime candidate [ 45 ]. Therefore, the precise genetic alteration of essential transcription factors, enzymes, and protein subunits that play roles in photorespiration and the Calvin cycle in N. gaditana offers a hopeful strategy for surpassing the photosynthetic constraints of this species [ 46 ].…”

Worldwide Research Trends on Microalgae and Recent Work in Cytologia

“…However, Matsunaga (2018) published a focus paper titled Planimal cells: Artificial photosynthetic animal cells inspired by endosymbiosis and photosynthetic animals that sets out microalgae as the most fascinating autotrophic organisms for creating planimal cells. Uchida et al (2018) wrote a review titled Algal genes encoding enzymes for photosynthesis and hydrocarbon biosynthesis as candidates for genetic engineering. This review focused on Botryococcus braunii and is the first mention of this species in Cytologia.…”

A Photosynthetic Animal: A Sacoglossan Sea Slug that Steals Chloroplasts

“…Research on algae has rapidly diversified into various fields, including cell biology (Mine et al 2018, Takano et al 2018, Miyamura et al 2019, Kuroiwa et al 2020, Yoshida et al 2020, molecular biology (Uchida et al 2018, Ota et al 2019, Miyagishima and Fujiwara 2020, and biotechnology (Hayashi et al 2018). Recent products derived from algae include bioethanol and so-called functional foods (Hosokawa and Kawano 2020).…”