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Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a recombinant marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp.

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Lipids

Abstract

The eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) synthesis gene cluster from an EPA-producing bacterium, Shewanella sp. SCRC-2738, was cloned into a broad-host range vector, pJRD215, and then introduced into a marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. NKBG15041c, by conjugation. The transconjugant cyanobacteria produced 3.7±0.2% (2.24±0.13 mg/L) EPA (n-3) and 2.5 ±0.2% (1.49±0.06 mg/L) eicosatetraenoic acid (n-3) of the total fatty acids when the cells were cultured at 23°C at a light intensity of 1,000–1,500 Lux. The EPA and eico-satetraenoic acid contents of the cells were increased to 4.6±0.6% (3.86±1.11 mg/L) and 4.7±0.3% (3.86±0.82 mg/L), and 7.5±0.3% (1.76±0.10 mg/L) and 5.1±0.2% (1.19±0.06 mg/L) when they were cultured at low temperature (18°C) and at lower light intensity (40 Lux), respectively.

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Abbreviations

EPA:

eicosapentaenoic acid

GLC:

gas-liquid chromatography

GC-MS:

gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

ORF:

open reading frame

PUFA:

polyunsaturated fatty acid

TLC:

thin-layer chromatography

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Correspondence to Reiko Yu.

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Yu, R., Yamada, A., Watanabe, K. et al. Production of eicosapentaenoic acid by a recombinant marine cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp.. Lipids 35, 1061–1064 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-0619-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-000-0619-6

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