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Metabolic flux distribution for γ-linolenic acid synthetic pathways inSpirulina platensis

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Abstract

Spirulina produces γ-linolenic acid (GLA), an important pharmaceutical substance, in a relatively low level compared with fungi and plants, prompting more research to improve its GLA yield. In this study, metabolic flux analysis was applied to determine the cellular metabolic flux distributions in the GLA synthetic pathways of twoSpirulina strains, wild type BP and a high-GLA producing mutant Z19/2. Simplified pathways involving the GLA synthesis ofS. platensis formulated comprise of photosynthesis, gluconeogenesis, the pentose phosphate pathway, the anaplerotic pathway, the tricarboxylic cycle, the GLA synthesis pathway, and the biomass synthesis pathway. A stoichiometric model reflecting these pathways contains 17 intermediates and 22 reactions. Three fluxes—the bicarbonate (C-source) uptake rate, the specific growth rate, and the GLA synthesis rate—were measured and the remaining fluxes were calculated using linear optimization. The calculation showed that the flux through the reaction converting acetyl-CoA into malonyl-CoA in the mutant strain was nearly three times higher than that in the wild-type strain. This finding implies that this reaction is rate controlling. This suggestion was supported by experiments, in which the stimulating factors for this reaction (NADPH and MgCl2) were added into the culture medium, resulting in an increased GLA-synthesis rate in the wild type strain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology, 10140, Bangkok, Thailand

    Asawin Meechai, Siriluk Pongakarakun & Sakarindr Bhumiratana

  2. National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), 12120, Pathumthani, Thailand

    Patcharaporn Deshnium & Sakarindr Bhumiratana

  3. Division of Biotechnology, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkuntein campus, 10150, Bangkok, Thailand

    Supapon Cheevadhanarak

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  1. Asawin Meechai
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  2. Siriluk Pongakarakun
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  4. Supapon Cheevadhanarak
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  5. Sakarindr Bhumiratana
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Correspondence to Asawin Meechai.

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Meechai, A., Pongakarakun, S., Deshnium, P. et al. Metabolic flux distribution for γ-linolenic acid synthetic pathways inSpirulina platensis . Biotechnol. Bioprocess Eng. 9, 506–513 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02933494

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02933494

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