Reconstruction of the lipid metabolism for the microalga Monoraphidium neglectum from its genome sequence reveals characteristics suitable for biofuel production

Microalgae are gaining importance as sustainable production hosts in the fields of biotechnology and bioenergy. A robust biomass accumulating strain of the genus Monoraphidium (SAG 48.87) was investigated in this work as a potential feedstock for biofuel production. The genome was sequenced, annotat...

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Published in:BMC genomics 2013-12, Vol.14 (1), p.926-926, Article 926
Main Authors: Bogen, Christian, Al-Dilaimi, Arwa, Albersmeier, Andreas, Wichmann, Julian, Grundmann, Michael, Rupp, Oliver, Lauersen, Kyle J, Blifernez-Klassen, Olga, Kalinowski, Jörn, Goesmann, Alexander, Mussgnug, Jan H, Kruse, Olaf
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Analysis
Biofuels
Biomass
Biotechnology
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Chlorophyta - enzymology
Chlorophyta - genetics
DNA sequencing
Fatty acids
Fatty Acids - biosynthesis
Genes
Genome, Chloroplast
Genome, Mitochondrial
Genome, Plant
Genomics
Health aspects
Lipid Metabolism
Lipids
Metabolic Networks and Pathways
Metabolism
Microalgae - enzymology
Microalgae - genetics
Monoraphidium
Nannochloropsis gaditana
Nucleotide sequence
Nucleotide sequencing
Phototrophic Processes
Triglycerides
Triglycerides - biosynthesis
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Summary:Microalgae are gaining importance as sustainable production hosts in the fields of biotechnology and bioenergy. A robust biomass accumulating strain of the genus Monoraphidium (SAG 48.87) was investigated in this work as a potential feedstock for biofuel production. The genome was sequenced, annotated, and key enzymes for triacylglycerol formation were elucidated. Monoraphidium neglectum was identified as an oleaginous species with favourable growth characteristics as well as a high potential for crude oil production, based on neutral lipid contents of approximately 21% (dry weight) under nitrogen starvation, composed of predominantly C18:1 and C16:0 fatty acids. Further characterization revealed growth in a relatively wide pH range and salt concentrations of up to 1.0% NaCl, in which the cells exhibited larger structures. This first full genome sequencing of a member of the Selenastraceae revealed a diploid, approximately 68 Mbp genome with a G + C content of 64.7%. The circular chloroplast genome was assembled to a 135,362 bp single contig, containing 67 protein-coding genes. The assembly of the mitochondrial genome resulted in two contigs with an approximate total size of 94 kb, the largest known mitochondrial genome within algae. 16,761 protein-coding genes were assigned to the nuclear genome. Comparison of gene sets with respect to functional categories revealed a higher gene number assigned to the category "carbohydrate metabolic process" and in "fatty acid biosynthetic process" in M. neglectum when compared to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nannochloropsis gaditana, indicating a higher metabolic diversity for applications in carbohydrate conversions of biotechnological relevance. The genome of M. neglectum, as well as the metabolic reconstruction of crucial lipid pathways, provides new insights into the diversity of the lipid metabolism in microalgae. The results of this work provide a platform to encourage the development of this strain for biotechnological applications and production concepts.
ISSN:1471-2164
1471-2164
DOI:10.1186/1471-2164-14-926