The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis
Abstract The algal lipids-based biodiesel, albeit having advantages over plant oils, still remains high in the production cost. Co-production of value-added products with lipids has the potential to add benefits and is thus believed to be a promising strategy to improve the production economics of a...
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doaj-878a1c9f139d4f98822a15241c34e1532021-05-16T11:33:58ZengBMCBiotechnology for Biofuels1754-68342021-05-0114113710.1186/s13068-021-01969-zThe oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesisYu Zhang0Ying Ye1Fan Bai2Jin Liu3Laboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking UniversityLaboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking UniversityLaboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking UniversityLaboratory for Algae Biotechnology and Innovation, College of Engineering, Peking UniversityAbstract The algal lipids-based biodiesel, albeit having advantages over plant oils, still remains high in the production cost. Co-production of value-added products with lipids has the potential to add benefits and is thus believed to be a promising strategy to improve the production economics of algal biodiesel. Chromochloris zofingiensis, a unicellular green alga, has been considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its robust growth and ability of accumulating high levels of triacylglycerol under multiple trophic conditions. This alga is also able to synthesize high-value keto-carotenoids and has been cited as a candidate producer of astaxanthin, the strongest antioxidant found in nature. The concurrent accumulation of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin enables C. zofingiensis an ideal cell factory for integrated production of the two compounds and has potential to improve algae-based production economics. Furthermore, with the advent of chromosome-level whole genome sequence and genetic tools, C. zofingiensis becomes an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the production of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin by C. zofingiensis. We also update our understanding in the distinctive molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis, with an emphasis on triacylglycerol and astaxanthin biosynthesis and crosstalk between the two pathways. Furthermore, strategies for trait improvements are discussed regarding triacylglycerol and astaxanthin synthesis in C. zofingiensis.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-021-01969-zAbiotic stressAstaxanthinChromochloris zofingiensisMetabolic engineeringOmicsTriacylglycerol |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Yu Zhang Ying Ye Fan Bai Jin Liu |
spellingShingle |
Yu Zhang Ying Ye Fan Bai Jin Liu The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis Biotechnology for Biofuels Abiotic stress Astaxanthin Chromochloris zofingiensis Metabolic engineering Omics Triacylglycerol |
author_facet |
Yu Zhang Ying Ye Fan Bai Jin Liu |
author_sort |
Yu Zhang |
title |
The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
title_short |
The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
title_full |
The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
title_fullStr |
The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
title_full_unstemmed |
The oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga Chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
title_sort |
oleaginous astaxanthin-producing alga chromochloris zofingiensis: potential from production to an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis |
publisher |
BMC |
series |
Biotechnology for Biofuels |
issn |
1754-6834 |
publishDate |
2021-05-01 |
description |
Abstract The algal lipids-based biodiesel, albeit having advantages over plant oils, still remains high in the production cost. Co-production of value-added products with lipids has the potential to add benefits and is thus believed to be a promising strategy to improve the production economics of algal biodiesel. Chromochloris zofingiensis, a unicellular green alga, has been considered as a promising feedstock for biodiesel production because of its robust growth and ability of accumulating high levels of triacylglycerol under multiple trophic conditions. This alga is also able to synthesize high-value keto-carotenoids and has been cited as a candidate producer of astaxanthin, the strongest antioxidant found in nature. The concurrent accumulation of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin enables C. zofingiensis an ideal cell factory for integrated production of the two compounds and has potential to improve algae-based production economics. Furthermore, with the advent of chromosome-level whole genome sequence and genetic tools, C. zofingiensis becomes an emerging model for studying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis. In this review, we summarize recent progress on the production of triacylglycerol and astaxanthin by C. zofingiensis. We also update our understanding in the distinctive molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and carotenogenesis, with an emphasis on triacylglycerol and astaxanthin biosynthesis and crosstalk between the two pathways. Furthermore, strategies for trait improvements are discussed regarding triacylglycerol and astaxanthin synthesis in C. zofingiensis. |
topic |
Abiotic stress Astaxanthin Chromochloris zofingiensis Metabolic engineering Omics Triacylglycerol |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13068-021-01969-z |
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