Extending the biosynthetic repertoires of cyanobacteria and chloroplasts

Summary Chloroplasts in plants and algae and photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria are emerging hosts for sustainable production of valuable biochemicals, using only inorganic nutrients, water, CO2 and light as inputs. In the past decade, many bioengineering efforts have focused on met...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Plant journal : for cell and molecular biology 2016-07, Vol.87 (1), p.87-102
Main Authors: Nielsen, Agnieszka Zygadlo, Mellor, Silas Busck, Vavitsas, Konstantinos, Wlodarczyk, Artur Jacek, Gnanasekaran, Thiyagarajan, Perestrello Ramos H de Jesus, Maria, King, Brian Christopher, Bakowski, Kamil, Jensen, Poul Erik
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algae
Biosynthesis
Botany
Carbon - metabolism
carbon assimilation
Carbon Dioxide - metabolism
Chloroplasts
Chloroplasts - metabolism
Cyanobacteria
Cyanobacteria - metabolism
Cyanobacteria - physiology
Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism
cytochromes P450
Diterpenes - metabolism
diterpenoids
Metabolic Engineering - methods
Metabolism
metabolites
Photosynthesis - physiology
photosynthetic efficiency
Synthetic biology
Synthetic Biology - methods
synthetic biology toolbox
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Summary:Summary Chloroplasts in plants and algae and photosynthetic microorganisms such as cyanobacteria are emerging hosts for sustainable production of valuable biochemicals, using only inorganic nutrients, water, CO2 and light as inputs. In the past decade, many bioengineering efforts have focused on metabolic engineering and synthetic biology in the chloroplast or in cyanobacteria for the production of fuels, chemicals and complex, high‐value bioactive molecules. Biosynthesis of all these compounds can be performed in photosynthetic organelles/organisms by heterologous expression of the appropriate pathways, but this requires optimization of carbon flux and reducing power, and a thorough understanding of regulatory pathways. Secretion or storage of the compounds produced can be exploited for the isolation or confinement of the desired compounds. In this review, we explore the use of chloroplasts and cyanobacteria as biosynthetic compartments and hosts, and we estimate the levels of production to be expected from photosynthetic hosts in light of the fraction of electrons and carbon that can potentially be diverted from photosynthesis. The supply of reducing power, in the form of electrons derived from the photosynthetic light reactions, appears to be non‐limiting, but redirection of the fixed carbon via precursor molecules presents a challenge. We also discuss the available synthetic biology tools and the need to expand the molecular toolbox to facilitate cellular reprogramming for increased production yields in both cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. Significance Statement Chloroplasts and cyanobacteria are increasingly popular chassis for metabolic engineering using synthetic biology. Photosynthetic reducing power, i.e. reduced ferredoxin, can be used to drive redox‐dependent reactions and to redirect carbon precursors into new products, ranging from high‐value pharmaceuticals to platform chemicals and fuels.
ISSN:0960-7412
1365-313X
DOI:10.1111/tpj.13173