Understanding genomic underpinnings of high-biomass productivity phenotypes in industrially relevant microalgae
EMSL Project ID
50944
Abstract
Directed evolution and targeted trait selection remain among the most powerful and successful tools available for attaining the process improvements necessary to enable commercial success in many biotechnology sectors. Our team is using "solar-simulating" bioreactors to select strains evolved for improved growth rates, improved tolerances to high levels of salt, light, pH and oxidative stress to develop robust and efficient algal biotechnological chassis with enhanced biomass yields. Indeed, we have observed 30-50% enhanced growth for prokaryotic and eukaryotic algae as the result of applying high light and oxygen stress selective pressures. What is missing from our current project is an understanding of the nature of the cell adaptation beyond the simple observation of enhancing algal growth rate, biomass productivity and stress-resistance. Harnessing the full advantage of directed evolution requires a deeper understanding of the genomic and molecular biology mechanisms behind the cell adaptation and improvement of its biotechnology traits. In order to achieve these ambitious goals we will take advantage of cutting edge research facilities and expertise available at the Joint Genome Institute (JGI) and the Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory (EMSL) to apply deep-sequencing (genome, transcriptome, proteome, methylome) in conjunction with comparative genomics approaches to probe organismal evolution, and to identify genomic alterations that enable increased biomass yields and adaptations for growth in laboratory photobioreactors and in outdoor open-pond systems. In addition, we will use the advance microscopy, metabolomics and lipidomics techniques to reveal the effects on adaptation on algal phenotype and quality of the produced biomass as precursor for biofuel. Finally, in collaboration with Global Algae Innovations (GAI), we look into the stability of the evolved traits under outdoor algal farm conditions using their advanced open pond cultivation system. Importantly, we will apply this approach to two microalgal production strains, Nitzschia sp. GAI-229 and Cyanobacterium sp. HL-69. Despite the widespread use, and proven track record of directed evolution in other biological systems, this tool has seen only limited utilization in the algal biofuels sector. This is primarily due to the lack of a pipeline for directed evolution approach, methodology for an evolved strains assessment and complete understanding of the adaptation mechanisms and their stability. We aim to use the JGI and EMSL facilities to address these issues and to transform the laboratory technique for algal adaptation into a powerful directed evolution tool available for algal biotechnology and biofuel community leading to technological and commercially-impactful outcomes including production of commercially competitive algal biofuels.
Project Details
Project type
FICUS Research
Start Date
2019-10-01
End Date
2021-12-31
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members
Related Publications
Bohutskyi P., R.S. McClure, E.A. Hill, W.C. Nelson, W.B. Chrisler, J. Nunez, and R.S. Renslow, et al. 2019. "Metabolic effects of vitamin B12 on physiology, stress resistance, growth rate and biomass productivity of Cyanobacterium stanieri planktonic and biofilm cultures." Algal Research 42. PNNL-SA-136164. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2019.101580