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Metabolic pathways for lipid synthesis under nitrogen stress in Chlamydomonas and Nannochloropsis

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Abstract

Microalgae are currently being considered as a clean, sustainable and renewable energy source. Enzymes that catalyse the metabolic pathways for biofuel production are specific and require strict regulation and co-ordination. Thorough knowledge of these key enzymes along with their regulatory molecules is essential to enable rational metabolic engineering, to drive the metabolic flux towards the desired metabolites of importance. This paper reviews two key enzymes that play their role in production of bio-oil: DGAT (acyl–CoA:diacylglycerol acyltransferase) and PDAT (phospholipid:diacylglycerol acyltransferase). It also deals with the transcription factors that control the enzymes while cell undergoes a metabolic shift under stress. The paper also discusses the association of other enzymes and pathways that provide substrates and precursors for oil accumulation. Finally a futuristic solution has been proposed about a synthetic algal cell platform that would be committed towards biofuel synthesis.

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Abbreviations

ACC:

Acetyl-CoA carboxylase

ACP:

Acyl-carrier protein

LACS:

Long-chain acyl-CoA synthetase

ATP:CL:

ATP-dependent citrate lyase

CoA:

Coenzyme A

DGAT:

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase

FAS:

Fatty acid synthase

FAT:

Fatty acyl-ACP thioesterase

G3P:

Glycerate-3-phosphate

GPAT:

Glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase

KAS:

3-Ketoacyl-ACP synthase

LPAAT:

Lyso-phosphatidic acid acyltransferase

LPAT:

Lyso-phosphatidylcholine acyltransferase

PDC:

Pyruvate dehydrogenase complex

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Acknowledgments

Chiranjib Banerjee highly acknowledges the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India for providing financial support as well as a project grant from the INSPIRE Faculty award scheme (DST/INSPIRE Faculty Award/2014/LSPA-25). AB also acknowledges ISM Dhanbad for providing research fellowship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

    Avik Banerjee, Subodh K. Maiti & Chiranjib Banerjee

  2. Department of Petroleum Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, India

    Avik Banerjee & Chandan Guria

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  1. Avik Banerjee
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  2. Subodh K. Maiti
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  3. Chandan Guria
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Correspondence to Chiranjib Banerjee.

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Banerjee, A., Maiti, S.K., Guria, C. et al. Metabolic pathways for lipid synthesis under nitrogen stress in Chlamydomonas and Nannochloropsis . Biotechnol Lett 39, 1–11 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10529-016-2216-y

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