Department of Chemistry and Geochemistry, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, USA.
Bioengineered. 2013 Jan-Feb;4(1):37-43. doi: 10.4161/bioe.21880. Epub 2012 Aug 24.
Nannochloropsis species have emerged as leading phototrophic microorganisms for the production of biofuels. Several isolates produce large quantities of triacylglycerols, grow rapidly, and can be cultivated at industrial scales. Recently, the mitochondrial, plastid and nuclear genomes of Nannochloropsis gaditana were sequenced. Genomic interrogation revealed several key features that likely facilitate the oleaginous phenotype observed in Nannochloropsis, including an over-representation of genes involved in lipid biosynthesis. Here we present additional analyses on gene orientation, vitamin B12 requiring enzymes, the acetyl-CoA metabolic node, and codon usage in N. gaditana. Nuclear genome transformation methods are established with exogenous DNA integration occurring via either random incorporation or by homologous recombination, making Nannochloropsis amenable to both forward and reverse genetic engineering. Completion of a draft genomic sequence, establishment of transformation techniques, and robust outdoor growth properties have positioned Nannochloropsis as a new model alga with significant potential for further development into an integrated photons-to-fuel production platform.
微拟球藻属已成为生产生物燃料的主要光养微生物。有几个分离株能够大量生产三酰基甘油，生长迅速，并且可以在工业规模上进行培养。最近，对栅藻的线粒体、质体和核基因组进行了测序。基因组分析揭示了几个可能促进栅藻中观察到的油性表型的关键特征，包括参与脂质生物合成的基因的过度表达。在这里，我们对基因取向、维生素 B12 必需酶、乙酰辅酶 A 代谢节点和栅藻中的密码子使用进行了额外的分析。已经建立了核基因组转化方法，通过随机整合或同源重组发生外源 DNA 整合，使微拟球藻能够进行正向和反向遗传工程。基因组草图序列的完成、转化技术的建立以及稳健的户外生长特性使微拟球藻成为一种新的模式藻类，具有很大的潜力进一步发展成为一个集成的光子到燃料生产平台。
