Figure 1. Cultivation of the unicellular red alga C. merolae in the laboratory
Scientists find a “switch” to increase starch accumulation in algae
Results from a collaborative study by Tokyo Tech and Tohoku University, Japan, raise prospects for large-scale production of algae-derived starch, a valuable bioresource for biofuels and other renewable materials. Such bio-based products have the potential to replace fossil fuels and contribute to the development of sustainable systems and societies.
A “switch” controlling the level of starch content in algae has been discovered by a research team led by Sousuke Imamura at the Laboratory for Chemistry and Life Science, Institute of Innovative Research, Tokyo Tech.
Reported in The Plant Journal, the study focused on the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae pictured in Figure 1. The researchers demonstrated that starch content could be dramatically increased in C. merolae through inactivation of TOR (target of rapamycin), a protein kinase1 known to play an important role in cell growth.
They observed a notable increase in the level of starch 12 hours after inactivation of TOR through exposure to rapamycin, and this led to a remarkable ten-fold increase after 48 hours (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Algal starch accumulation through TOR inactivation
Compared with the control, inactivation of TOR resulted in an approximately ten-fold increase in starch content in C. merolae after 48 hours.
Importantly, the study details a mechanism underlying this profound increase in starch content. Using a method called liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the researchers examined subtle changes in the structure of more than 50 proteins that might be involved in “switching on” the process of starch accumulation. As a result, they pinpointed GLG1 as a key protein of interest. GLG1 acts in a similar way to glycogenin, an enzyme found in yeast and animal cells, which is known to be involved in the initiation of starch (or glycogen) synthesis.
The mechanism, summarized in Figure 3, will be of immense interest to a wide range of industries seeking to scale up biofuel and value-added biochemicals production.
Figure 3. Representation of the “switch” controlling starch accumulation
The phosphorylation status of GLG1, which is regulated by TOR signaling, determines the ON/OFF switch for starch accumulation in the cells. Starch is a good carbon resource for chemicals that are applied in a wide range of industries. (“P” denotes phosphorylation.)
For example, the findings could accelerate the production of environmentally friendly fuel additives, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and bioplastics2 that are now in high demand with the phasing out of single-use plastic bags and straws in many parts of the world.
Algae, compared with land plants, are very appealing due to their high photosynthetic productivity and relative ease of cultivation. Starch, triacylglycerols (TAGs) and other algal biomass constituents are increasingly viewed as a promising and powerful way to contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) outlined by the United Nations.
The research team notes that more studies using other algal species, as well as higher plants such as Arabidopsis thaliana, could yield further information about the fundamental molecular mechanisms behind starch accumulation. “This information will help to develop technologies to improve starch biosynthesis productivity and concomitantly improve sustainable biomass and bioenergy production,” Imamura says.
The Latest on: Biofuel
via Google News
The Latest on: Biofuel
- Aviation Biofuel Market Trends And Future Growth Projections By 2029on August 4, 2022 at 10:40 pm
Aviation Biofuel Market Growth in the aviation sector has contributed toward the expansion of the global aviation fuel market. POR ...
- Artificial Intelligence Speeds the Search for Stable Proteins Used in Drug Development, Biofuels and Food Productionon August 4, 2022 at 6:47 am
Stabilizing proteins is a challenge for those doing research in drug creation, biofuel production and plastic recycling. The conventional approach uses trial and error – estimating which chemical ...
- Alaska Airlines Finalizes Deal For 185 Million Gallons Of SAFon August 3, 2022 at 12:00 pm
Last year, the airline announced its commitment to achieving net zero by 2040, and established a five-part path to achieve this.
- Edible Oils Are Facing A Supply Crunchon August 3, 2022 at 11:17 am
Ukraine’s reduced exports of sunflower oil are creating an additional surge in demand for other edible oils Edible oil prices have hit record highs this year driven by strong demand. The ...
- Revamped biofuel tax credit system proposed in revamped reconciliation billon August 3, 2022 at 4:14 am
N.Y., and Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., brought new hope to the renewable fuel industry last week by resurrecting scrapped measures from last year’s Build Back Better Act into a scaled-back version of ...
- Biofuel maker ReadiFuels targets $80M fundraiseon August 1, 2022 at 8:28 am
ReadiFuels, a Florida-based biofuels maker, is targeting a $80.8 million fundraise, Axios has learned. Why it matters: Successful completion of the offering would be a boost for the lagging biofuels ...
- Biofuel Additives Market Intelligence Report Offers Key Futuristic Top Trends And Competitive Landscape By 2030on August 1, 2022 at 2:30 am
Report Ocean recently added a research report on the global Biofuel Additives Market. The report includes an extensive analysis of the market’s characteristics, COVID-19 impact, size and growth, ...
- Biofuel Lubricity Improvers Market Outlook On Rising Application, Revolutionary Trends & Potential Growthon July 29, 2022 at 4:06 am
Biofuel Lubricity Improvers Market research report has the most recent market information with which companies can get in depth analysis of Data Bridge Market Research industry and future trends.
- Algae Biofuel Market Size is projected to reach USD 15.39 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.76%: Straits Researchon July 26, 2022 at 10:08 am
New York, United States, July 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Algae fuel, also known as algal biofuel or algal oil, is a liquid fossil fuel substitute derived from algae. Algae fuels are an ...
via Bing News