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Production of ω3 fatty acids in marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c via genetic engineering

  • Biotechnological products and process engineering
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Abstract

Omega-3 fatty acids (ω3 FAs) have attracted attention because they have various health benefits for humans. Fish oils are currently major sources of ω3 FAs, but a sustainable supply of ω3 FAs based on fish oils is problematic because of the increasing demand. In this study, the production potential of a genetically engineered marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c, was examined as an alternative source of ω3 FAs. A change in fatty acid composition of this cyanobacterium was successfully induced by the expression of a heterologous Δ6-desaturase, and the transformants synthesized stearidonic acid, which the wild type cannot produce. As a result of optimization of culture conditions, maximal contents of stearidonic acid and total ω3 FAs reached 12.2 ± 2.4 and 118.1 ± 3.5 mg/g, respectively. The maximal ω3 FA productivity was 4.6 ± 0.7 mg/(L⋅day). These are the highest values of the contents of stearidonic acid and ω3 FAs in genetically engineered cyanobacteria reported thus far. Therefore, genetically engineered Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c may be a promising sustainable source of ω3 fatty acids.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Biotechnology and Life Science, Institute of Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 2-24-16, Naka-cho, Koganei, Tokyo, 184-8588, Japan

    Tomoko Yoshino, Natsumi Kakunaka, Yue Liang, Yasuhito Ito, Yoshiaki Maeda, Tadashi Matsunaga & Tsuyoshi Tanaka

  2. Department of Advanced Science and Engineering, Graduate School of Advanced Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan

    Tatsuhiro Nomaguchi

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  1. Tomoko Yoshino
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  2. Natsumi Kakunaka
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  3. Yue Liang
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  4. Yasuhito Ito
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  5. Yoshiaki Maeda
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  6. Tatsuhiro Nomaguchi
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  7. Tadashi Matsunaga
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  8. Tsuyoshi Tanaka
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Correspondence to Tsuyoshi Tanaka.

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Yoshino, T., Kakunaka, N., Liang, Y. et al. Production of ω3 fatty acids in marine cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. strain NKBG 15041c via genetic engineering. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 101, 6899–6905 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8407-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-017-8407-1

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