Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production
Microalgae have evolved a diverse carotenoid profile, enabling efficient light harvesting and photoprotection. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of genome editing in the green algal model species <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>, leading to significant modifications in c...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Federico Perozeni Margherita Angelini Matteo Ballottari Stefano Cazzaniga |
| author_facet | Federico Perozeni Margherita Angelini Matteo Ballottari Stefano Cazzaniga |
| author_sort | Federico Perozeni |
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| description | Microalgae have evolved a diverse carotenoid profile, enabling efficient light harvesting and photoprotection. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of genome editing in the green algal model species <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>, leading to significant modifications in carotenoid accumulation. By overexpressing a fully redesigned β-carotene ketolase (bkt), the metabolic pathway of <i>C. reinhardtii</i> was successfully redirected toward astaxanthin biosynthesis, a high-value ketocarotenoid with exceptional antioxidant properties, naturally found in only a few microalgal species. In this study, a tailor-made double knockout targeting lycopene ε-cyclase (LCYE) and zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) was introduced as a background for bkt expression to ensure higher substrate availability for bkt enzyme. The increased zeaxanthin availability resulted in a 2-fold increase in ketocarotenoid accumulation compared to the previously engineered bkt1 or bkt5 strain in the UVM4 background. Specifically, the best Δzl-<i>bkt</i>-expressing lines reached 2.84 mg/L under low light and 2.58 mg/L under high light, compared to 1.74 mg/L and 1.26 mg/L, respectively, in UVM4-<i>bkt</i> strains. These findings highlight the potential of rationally designed microalgal host strains, developed through genome editing, for biotechnological applications and high-value compound production. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-fa5c4c1b17d145bc88f80720dc2696372025-08-20T02:33:47ZengMDPI AGLife2075-17292025-05-0115581310.3390/life15050813Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin ProductionFederico Perozeni0Margherita Angelini1Matteo Ballottari2Stefano Cazzaniga3Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, 37134 Verona, ItalyMicroalgae have evolved a diverse carotenoid profile, enabling efficient light harvesting and photoprotection. Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of genome editing in the green algal model species <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>, leading to significant modifications in carotenoid accumulation. By overexpressing a fully redesigned β-carotene ketolase (bkt), the metabolic pathway of <i>C. reinhardtii</i> was successfully redirected toward astaxanthin biosynthesis, a high-value ketocarotenoid with exceptional antioxidant properties, naturally found in only a few microalgal species. In this study, a tailor-made double knockout targeting lycopene ε-cyclase (LCYE) and zeaxanthin epoxidase (ZEP) was introduced as a background for bkt expression to ensure higher substrate availability for bkt enzyme. The increased zeaxanthin availability resulted in a 2-fold increase in ketocarotenoid accumulation compared to the previously engineered bkt1 or bkt5 strain in the UVM4 background. Specifically, the best Δzl-<i>bkt</i>-expressing lines reached 2.84 mg/L under low light and 2.58 mg/L under high light, compared to 1.74 mg/L and 1.26 mg/L, respectively, in UVM4-<i>bkt</i> strains. These findings highlight the potential of rationally designed microalgal host strains, developed through genome editing, for biotechnological applications and high-value compound production.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/813astaxanthinmicroalgae<i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i>metabolic engineeringcarotenoids |
| spellingShingle | Federico Perozeni Margherita Angelini Matteo Ballottari Stefano Cazzaniga Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production Life astaxanthin microalgae <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> metabolic engineering carotenoids |
| title | Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production |
| title_full | Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production |
| title_fullStr | Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production |
| title_full_unstemmed | Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production |
| title_short | Engineered <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Strains for Enhanced Astaxanthin Production |
| title_sort | engineered i chlamydomonas reinhardtii i strains for enhanced astaxanthin production |
| topic | astaxanthin microalgae <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> metabolic engineering carotenoids |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-1729/15/5/813 |
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