Co-overexpression of native phospholipid-biosynthetic genes plsX and plsC enhances lipid production in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 10;8(1):13510. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31789-5.

Abstract

The overexpression of native plsX and plsC genes involving in fatty acid/phospholipid synthesis first timely-reported the significantly enhanced lipid contents in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Growth rate, intracellular pigment contents including chlorophyll a and carotenoids, and oxygen evolution rate of all overexpressing (OX) strains were normally similar as wild type. For fatty acid compositions, saturated fatty acid, in particular palmitic acid (16:0) was dominantly increased in OX strains whereas slight increases of unsaturated fatty acids were observed, specifically linoleic acid (18:2) and alpha-linolenic acid (18:3). The plsC/plsX-overexpressing (OX + XC) strain produced high lipid content of about 24.3%w/dcw under normal condition and was further enhanced up to 39.1%w/dcw by acetate induction. This OX + XC engineered strain was capable of decreasing phaA transcript level which related to poly-3-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis under acetate treatment. Moreover, the expression level of gene transcripts revealed that the plsX- and plsC/plsX-overexpression strains had also increased accA transcript amounts which involved in the irreversible carboxylation of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA. Altogether, these overexpressing strains significantly augmented higher lipid contents when compared to wild type by partly overcoming the limitation of lipid production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / genetics*
  • 1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase / metabolism
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics*
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Fatty Acids / biosynthesis*
  • Hydroxybutyrates / metabolism
  • Lipid Metabolism / genetics
  • Metabolic Engineering / methods*
  • Phospholipids / biosynthesis
  • Polyesters / metabolism
  • Renewable Energy
  • Synechocystis / genetics
  • Synechocystis / metabolism*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Fatty Acids
  • Hydroxybutyrates
  • Phospholipids
  • Polyesters
  • plsX protein, bacteria
  • poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate
  • 1-Acylglycerol-3-Phosphate O-Acyltransferase