Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin

Phycobiliprotein is an important co-pigment in photosynthesis, which is composed of the covalent combination of apoprotein and phycobilin. Biliverdin IXα and phycoerythrobilin are both important substances in the phycobiliprotein biosynthesis pathway. As an economic red seaweed, Neoporphyra haitanen...

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Main Authors: Shuang Li, Chang Lu, Xiaonan Zang, Delin Duan, Zhanru Shao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Series:Frontiers in Plant Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1640158/full
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author Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Chang Lu
Xiaonan Zang
Delin Duan
Delin Duan
Zhanru Shao
Zhanru Shao
author_facet Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Chang Lu
Xiaonan Zang
Delin Duan
Delin Duan
Zhanru Shao
Zhanru Shao
author_sort Shuang Li
collection DOAJ
description Phycobiliprotein is an important co-pigment in photosynthesis, which is composed of the covalent combination of apoprotein and phycobilin. Biliverdin IXα and phycoerythrobilin are both important substances in the phycobiliprotein biosynthesis pathway. As an economic red seaweed, Neoporphyra haitanensis has a high content of phycoerythrin. Therefore, in this study, we explored new enzyme resources for the heterologous biosynthesis of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin. Specifically, we identified and isolated the genes encoding NhHO1, NhPebA and NhPebB from N. haitanensis, which are integral components of its phycoerythrin biosynthetic pathway. Additionally, ApHO1 from Arthrospira platensis and PebS from Prochlorococcus phage P-SSM2 were selected for comparative analysis. The results showed that genes from N. haitanensis did not encode active enzymes, which might be ascribed to the absence of crucial motifs. However, the transformation of ApHO1 and PebS into Escherichia coli could lead to the synthesis of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin. This is the first report of sequence analysis and enzyme activity verification of phycoerythrin synthesis genes from N. haitanensis, providing a foundation for future explorations into its potential genetic resources. The successful production of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin lay a foundation for the environmentally friendly preparation of phycobiliprotein.
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publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
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spelling doaj-art-05ec741b7c074c8d8e6c637f3d583bf42025-08-20T02:48:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Plant Science1664-462X2025-07-011610.3389/fpls.2025.16401581640158Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilinShuang Li0Shuang Li1Shuang Li2Chang Lu3Xiaonan Zang4Delin Duan5Delin Duan6Zhanru Shao7Zhanru Shao8CAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaUniversity of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, ChinaYantai Key Laboratory of Characteristic Agricultural Bioresource Conservation & Germplasm Innovative Utilization, School of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Marine Genetics and Breeding (Ocean University of China), Ministry of Education, Qingdao, Shandong, ChinaCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaCAS and Shandong Province Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, ChinaLaboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao Marine Science and Technology Center, Qingdao, ChinaPhycobiliprotein is an important co-pigment in photosynthesis, which is composed of the covalent combination of apoprotein and phycobilin. Biliverdin IXα and phycoerythrobilin are both important substances in the phycobiliprotein biosynthesis pathway. As an economic red seaweed, Neoporphyra haitanensis has a high content of phycoerythrin. Therefore, in this study, we explored new enzyme resources for the heterologous biosynthesis of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin. Specifically, we identified and isolated the genes encoding NhHO1, NhPebA and NhPebB from N. haitanensis, which are integral components of its phycoerythrin biosynthetic pathway. Additionally, ApHO1 from Arthrospira platensis and PebS from Prochlorococcus phage P-SSM2 were selected for comparative analysis. The results showed that genes from N. haitanensis did not encode active enzymes, which might be ascribed to the absence of crucial motifs. However, the transformation of ApHO1 and PebS into Escherichia coli could lead to the synthesis of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin. This is the first report of sequence analysis and enzyme activity verification of phycoerythrin synthesis genes from N. haitanensis, providing a foundation for future explorations into its potential genetic resources. The successful production of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin lay a foundation for the environmentally friendly preparation of phycobiliprotein.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1640158/fullbiliverdinphycoerythrobilinheterologous expressionbiosynthesisneoporphyra haitanensis
spellingShingle Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Shuang Li
Chang Lu
Xiaonan Zang
Delin Duan
Delin Duan
Zhanru Shao
Zhanru Shao
Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
Frontiers in Plant Science
biliverdin
phycoerythrobilin
heterologous expression
biosynthesis
neoporphyra haitanensis
title Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
title_full Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
title_fullStr Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
title_full_unstemmed Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
title_short Systems metabolic engineering of Escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
title_sort systems metabolic engineering of escherichia coli for the bioproduction of biliverdin and phycoerythrobilin
topic biliverdin
phycoerythrobilin
heterologous expression
biosynthesis
neoporphyra haitanensis
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpls.2025.1640158/full
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