Cited by 153Algal biology and biofuel productionLipid metabolism and biosynthesisMicrobial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction

Microalgae Synthesize Hydrocarbons from Long-Chain Fatty Acids via a Light-Dependent Pathway

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Sorigué, Damien, Légeret, Bertrand, Cuiné, Stéphan, Morales, Pablo, Mirabella, Boris, Guédeney, Geneviève, Li-Beisson, Yonghua, Jetter, Reinhard +2 more·2016·Plant Physiology

Abstract

Microalgae are considered a promising platform for the production of lipid-based biofuels. While oil accumulation pathways are intensively researched, the possible existence of a microalgal pathways converting fatty acids into alka(e)nes has received little attention. Here, we provide evidence that such a pathway occurs in several microalgal species from the green and the red lineages. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Chlorophyceae), a C17 alkene, n-heptadecene, was detected in the cell pellet and the headspace of liquid cultures. The Chlamydomonas alkene was identified as 7-heptadecene, an isomer likely formed by decarboxylation of cis-vaccenic acid. Accordingly, incubation of intact Chlamydomonas cells with per-deuterated D31-16:0 (palmitic) acid yielded D31-18:0 (stearic) acid, D29-18:1 (oleic and cis-vaccenic) acids, and D29-heptadecene. These findings showed that loss of the carboxyl group of a C18 monounsaturated fatty acid lead to heptadecene formation. Amount of 7-heptadecene varied with growth phase and temperature and was strictly dependent on light but was not affected by an inhibitor of photosystem II. Cell fractionation showed that approximately 80% of the alkene is localized in the chloroplast. Heptadecane, pentadecane, as well as 7- and 8-heptadecene were detected in Chlorella variabilis NC64A (Trebouxiophyceae) and several Nannochloropsis species (Eustigmatophyceae). In contrast, Ostreococcus tauri (Mamiellophyceae) and the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum produced C21 hexaene, without detectable C15-C19 hydrocarbons. Interestingly, no homologs of known hydrocarbon biosynthesis genes were found in the Nannochloropsis, Chlorella, or Chlamydomonas genomes. This work thus demonstrates that microalgae have the ability to convert C16 and C18 fatty acids into alka(e)nes by a new, light-dependent pathway.

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  • In Chlorella variabilis, nitrogen deprivation and long-chain alkenes/genome scale metabolic model targeting conversion of C16 to C18 fatty acid enhanced production of desirable fatty acids.

    “| 4 | Chlorella variabilis | 46.16 | Nitrogen deprivation and long-chain alkenes/Genome scale metabolic model | Converting C16 to C18 fatty acid | Genetic sequencing, lipid profiling | Endogenous promoters or heterologous expression constructs | Enhanced production of desirable fatty acids | Biofuel feedstock optimization | [92] |”

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  1. Kunst L, Samuels AL, Jetter R (2005) The plant cuticles: formation and structures of epidermal surfaces. In DJ Murphy ed, Plant Lipids: Biol- ogy, Utilisation and Manipulation. Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, UK, pp 270-302

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Authors
Sorigué, D., Légeret, B., Cuiné, S., Morales, P., Mirabella, B., Guédeney, G., Li-Beisson, Y., Jetter, R., Peltier, G., & Beisson, F.
Affiliations
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
Venue
Plant Physiology
Published
2016-06-10
Volume
171
Issue
4
Pages
2393-2405
ISSN
  • 0032-0889 (ISSN-L)
  • 1532-2548
OpenAlex
W2413804777
Cited by
153
References
61
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 17 · 2024: 20 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 18 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 7 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 2
FWCI
3.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PLANT PHYSIOLOGY (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
ANR (ANR-13- 25 JSV5-0005, ANR-11-IDEX-0001-02)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Algal biology and biofuel production
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Biochemistry › Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Microbial Metabolic Engineering and Bioproduction
Keywords
microalgae, hydrocarbon biosynthesis, long-chain fatty acids, olefin synthesis, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Nannochloropsis, Chlorella variabilis, Ostreococcus tauri, Phaeodactylum tricornutum, chloroplasts, microalgal biofuels, fatty acid isomerization
MeSH terms
Alkanes, Alkenes, Chlorella, Chloroplasts, Fatty Acids, Hydrocarbons, Light, Oleic Acids, Stearic Acids, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Diatoms, Biomass, Biosynthetic Pathways, Biofuels, Microalgae

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