CRISPR/Cas9 disruption of glucan synthase in Nannochloropsis gaditana attenuates accumulation of β-1,3-glucose oligomers

Nannochloropsis species have garnered significant interest for biofuel production due to their ability to accumulate high levels of triacylglycerols (TAGs), especially following nitrogen-starvation. Furthermore, the first response to nutrient starvation is the synthesis of chrysolaminarin, a soluble...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAlgal research (Amsterdam) Vol. 58
Main Authors Vogler, Brian W., Ashford, Amy, Posewitz, Matthew C.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States Elsevier 30.06.2021
Subjects
BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Carbohydrate
CRISPR/Cas9
Glucan synthase
Nannochloropsis
Transglycosylase
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Summary:Nannochloropsis species have garnered significant interest for biofuel production due to their ability to accumulate high levels of triacylglycerols (TAGs), especially following nitrogen-starvation. Furthermore, the first response to nutrient starvation is the synthesis of chrysolaminarin, a soluble β-1,3-glucan with β-1,6-branching. We employ CRISPR/Cas9 to knock out two key enzymes responsible for the synthesis of this oligosaccharide: a beta-glucan synthase (BGS) gene putatively responsible for the glucose β-1,3-linkages, and a transglycosylase (TGS) which putatively catalyzes β-1,6-branching. Analysis of the biomass from the generated mutants confirmed an ~5-fold decrease in the accumulation of soluble carbohydrate following nitrogen starvation, without an observed growth defect in a diel light-cycling regime compared to CRISPR-expressing controls.
Bibliography:USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
USDOE
EE0007089
ISSN:2211-9264
2211-9264