Determining how metabolic regulation can improve biofuel and bioproduct accumulation
EMSL Project ID
60214
Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms are promising sustainable sources of biofuels and bioproducts to help meet growing global needs. Microalgae utilize solar energy, consume CO2, can be cultivated on non-arable land and grow quickly. Under-investigated algae can provide biological insights to enable bioengineering approaches to reroute metabolism toward bioproducts for energy, food, or pharmaceuticals. The unicellular green algae Chromochloris zofingiensis and Auxenochlorella protothecoides have strong economic potential because they are amongst the highest producers of triacylglycerols (TAG), the preferred precursor for biofuels. Moreover, the high accumulation of TAG can be paired with amassing large amounts of commercially valuable carotenoids. In this project, we will define key molecular pathways, metabolites, and regulatory factors involved in carbon utilization and thereby, allow redirection of carbon flux towards TAG/ carotenoid production. Our strategy using targeted and untargeted approaches will determine carbon flow through critical proteins and metabolites as well as identify novel proteins, metabolites and pathways involved in efficient conversion of carbon to TAG/ carotenoids. We will reveal conserved roles and crosstalk of master regulators of energy signaling by comparing these evolutionarily distant algae. Understanding of these complex processes in cellular and energy metabolism and storage can be used to accelerate sustainable production of biofuels and bioproducts.
Project Details
Project type
Exploratory Research
Start Date
2021-12-01
End Date
2023-07-14
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Co-Investigator(s)
Team Members