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Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 March 2024) | Viewed by 9321

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Assunta Saide

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Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
Interests: marine biotechnology; cellular biology; characterization of natural compounds; compound mechanism of action; cell cycle analysis; cell death; search bioactive molecules from microalgae; anti-cancer; anti-oxidant; anti-inflammatory
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Chiara Lauritano

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Guest Editor

Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Naples, Italy
Interests: marine organisms, microalgae, transcriptomics, enzymes, bioactivity screening, genome-mining
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue is the continuation of our previous Special Issue “Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes”.

Microalgae are photosynthetic unicellular organisms that can be massively cultivated under controlled conditions in photobioreactors with relatively small quantities of micro- and macro-nutrients. Microalgae have been shown to be excellent sources of several bioactive molecules such as lipids, carbohydrates, vitamins, pigments, and a series of other compounds. Several studies have shown that microalgal raw extracts, fractions, and pure compounds have biological activities, such as anticancer, anti-microbial, anti-epilepsy, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities. Microalgae are adapted to live in both marine and freshwater environments, as well as in extreme conditions. This capability results in a huge diversity of species, which can produce very different interesting natural products with industrial and pharmaceutical interest. Recent technologies have allowed us to sequence genomes, metagenomes, transcriptomes, metatranscriptomes, proteomes, and metabolomes of several microalgal species or pool of species, in silico identifying gene clusters involved in the synthesis of potentially bioactive compounds and helping in the discovery of new drugs from microalgae. These advances in -omics technologies applied to microalgae have allowed the identification of target enzymes, their heterologous expression, and functional characterization. In addition, microalgae are a source of novel enzymes with industrial applications (e.g., lipids and biofuel production, healthcare, and bioremediation) and the modification of enzyme-coding sequences involved in lipid and carotenoid production has resulted in promising results. In this Special Issue on “Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0”, we would like to encourage submissions of recent original research and reviews in the field, highlighting microalgal bioactivities and potential development of new molecules and enzymes for biotechnological and industrial applications, such as pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, and cosmeceutical sectors.

Dr. Assunta Saide
Dr. Chiara Lauritano
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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Keywords

microalgae
bioactive molecules
gene expression
drug discovery
molecular mechanism
gene mining
enzymes
industrial applications

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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36 pages, 7651 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Bioengineering of the Marine Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum with Cannabis Genes Enables the Production of the Cannabinoid Precursor, Olivetolic Acid

by Fatima Awwad, Elisa Ines Fantino, Marianne Héneault, Aracely Maribel Diaz-Garza, Natacha Merindol, Alexandre Custeau, Sarah-Eve Gélinas, Fatma Meddeb-Mouelhi, Jessica Li, Jean-François Lemay, Bogumil J. Karas and Isabel Desgagne-Penix

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(23), 16624; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242316624 - 22 Nov 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2402

Abstract

The increasing demand for novel natural compounds has prompted the exploration of innovative approaches in bioengineering. This study investigates the bioengineering potential of the marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum through the introduction of cannabis genes, specifically, tetraketide synthase (TKS), and olivetolic acid cyclase (OAC), for the production of the cannabinoid precursor, olivetolic acid (OA). P. tricornutum is a promising biotechnological platform due to its fast growth rate, amenability to genetic manipulation, and ability to produce valuable compounds. Through genetic engineering techniques, we successfully integrated the cannabis genes TKS and OAC into the diatom. P. tricornutum transconjugants expressing these genes showed the production of the recombinant TKS and OAC enzymes, detected via Western blot analysis, and the production of cannabinoids precursor (OA) detected using the HPLC/UV spectrum when compared to the wild-type strain. Quantitative analysis revealed significant olivetolic acid accumulation (0.6–2.6 mg/L), demonstrating the successful integration and functionality of the heterologous genes. Furthermore, the introduction of TKS and OAC genes led to the synthesis of novel molecules, potentially expanding the repertoire of bioactive compounds accessible through diatom-based biotechnology. This study demonstrates the successful bioengineering of P. tricornutum with cannabis genes, enabling the production of OA as a precursor for cannabinoid production and the synthesis of novel molecules with potential pharmaceutical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0)

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24 pages, 3906 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Palmelloid Formation and Cell Aggregation Are Essential Mechanisms for High Light Tolerance in a Natural Strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

by Nittaya Suwannachuen, Kantinan Leetanasaksakul, Sittiruk Roytrakul, Narumon Phaonakrop, Siriwan Thaisakun, Peerapat Roongsattham, Chatchawan Jantasuriyarat, Nuttha Sanevas and Anchalee Sirikhachornkit

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(9), 8374; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24098374 - 06 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1910

Abstract

Photosynthetic organisms, such as higher plants and algae, require light to survive. However, an excessive amount of light can be harmful due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which cause cell damage and, if it is not effectively regulated, cell death. The study of plants’ responses to light can aid in the development of methods to improve plants’ growth and productivity. Due to the multicellular nature of plants, there may be variations in the results based on plant age and tissue type. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green alga, has also been used as a model organism to study photosynthesis and photoprotection. Nonetheless, the majority of the research has been conducted with strains that have been consistently utilized in laboratories and originated from the same source. Despite the availability of many field isolates of this species, very few studies have compared the light responses of field isolates. This study examined the responses of two field isolates of Chlamydomonas to high light stress. The light-tolerant strain, CC-4414, managed reactive oxygen species (ROS) slightly better than the sensitive strain, CC-2344, did. The proteomic data of cells subjected to high light revealed cellular modifications of the light-tolerant strain toward membrane proteins. The morphology of cells under light stress revealed that this strain utilized the formation of palmelloid structures and cell aggregation to shield cells from excessive light. As indicated by proteome data, morphological modifications occur simultaneously with the increase in protein degradation and autophagy. By protecting cells from stress, cells are able to continue to upregulate ROS management mechanisms and prevent cell death. This is the first report of palmelloid formation in Chlamydomonas under high light stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0)

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16 pages, 4955 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Haslea ostrearia Pigment Marennine Affects Key Actors of Neuroinflammation and Decreases Cell Migration in Murine Neuroglial Cell Model

by Sarah Méresse, Hélène Gateau, Tessa Tirnan, Vanessa Larrigaldie, Nathalie Casse, Pamela Pasetto, Jean-Luc Mouget, Stéphane Mortaud and Mostefa Fodil

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(6), 5388; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24065388 - 11 Mar 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1424

Abstract

Haslea ostrearia, a cosmopolitan marine pennate diatom, produces a characteristic blue pigment called marennine that causes the greening of filter-feeding organisms, such as oysters. Previous studies evidenced various biological activities of purified marennine extract, such as antibacterial, antioxidant and antiproliferative effects. These effects could be beneficial to human health. However, the specific biological activity of marennine remains to be characterized, especially regarding primary cultures of mammals. In the present study, we aimed to determine in vitro the effects of a purified extract of marennine on neuroinflammatory and cell migratory processes. These effects were assessed at non-cytotoxic concentrations of 10 and 50μg/mL on primary cultures of neuroglial cells. Marennine strongly interacts with neuroinflammatory processes in the immunocompetent cells of the central nervous system, represented by astrocytes and microglial cells. An anti-migratory activity based on a neurospheres migration assay has also been observed. These results encourage further study of Haslea blue pigment effects, particularly the identification of molecular and cellular targets affected by marennine, and strengthen previous studies suggesting that marennine has bioactivities which could be beneficial for human health applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0)

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17 pages, 3611 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Non-functional γ-Aminobutyric Acid Shunt Pathway in Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 Enhances δ-Aminolevulinic Acid Accumulation under Modified Nutrient Conditions

by Simab Kanwal and Wanchai De-Eknamkul

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(2), 1213; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24021213 - 07 Jan 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2012

Abstract

To redirect carbon flux from the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) shunt to the δ-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) biosynthetic pathway, we disrupted the GABA shunt route of the model cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 by inactivating Gdc, the gene-encoding glutamate decarboxylase. The generated ΔGdc strain exhibited lower intracellular GABA and higher ALA levels than the wild-type (WT) one. The ΔGdc strain’s ALA levels were ~2.8 times higher than those of the WT one when grown with levulinic acid (LA), a competitive inhibitor of porphobilinogen synthase. Abiotic stress conditions including salinity induced by 10 mM NaCl and cold at 4 °C increased the ALA levels in ΔGdc up to ~2.5 and 5 ng g⁻¹ cell DW, respectively. The highest ALA production in the ΔGdc cyanobacteria grown in BG11 medium was triggered by glucose induction, followed by glutamate supplementation with 60 mM of LA, thereby resulting in ~360 ng g⁻¹ cell DW of ALA, that is >300-fold higher ALA accumulation than that observed in ΔGdc cyanobacteria grown in normal medium. Increased levels of the gdhA (involved in the interconversion of α-ketoglutarate to glutamate) and the hemA (a major regulatory target of the ALA biosynthetic pathway) transcripts occurred in ΔGdc cyanobacteria grown under modified growth conditions. Our study provides critical insight into the facilitation of ALA production in cyanobacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0)

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Review

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33 pages, 1180 KiB

Open AccessReview

Lutein Production and Extraction from Microalgae: Recent Insights and Bioactive Potential

by Eleonora Montuori, Serena Lima, Arima Marchese, Francesca Scargiali and Chiara Lauritano

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(5), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25052892 - 01 Mar 2024

Viewed by 910

Abstract

Microalgae have been reported to be excellent producers of bioactive molecules. Lutein is a pigment reported to have various beneficial effects for humans, and especially for eye well-being. In the current review, we summarize various methods that have been developed to optimize its extraction and bioactivities reported for human health. Several protective effects have been reported for lutein, including antioxidant, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardioprotective activity. This review also reports attempts to increase lutein production by microalgae by changing culturing parameters or by using pilot-scale systems. Genetic engineering lutein production is also discussed. Considering the increasing aging of the worldwide population will create an increased need for lutein, a viable economic and eco-sustainable method to produce lutein is needed to face this market demand. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgal Molecules and Enzymes 2.0)

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