Generation of random mutants to improve light-use efficiency of Nannochloropsis gaditana cultures for biofuel production

Biotechnology for Biofuels

Tomas Morosinotto¹  Alessandro Alboresi¹  Andrea Meneghesso¹  Anna Segalla¹  Alessandra Bellan²  Giorgio Perin¹ 

[1]Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Padova, Via U. Bassi 58/B, Padua, 35121, Italy

[2]Centro studi di economia e tecnica dell’energia Giorgio Levi Cases, Università di Padova, Padua, Italy

关键词: Algae;    Biodiesel;    Insertional mutagenesis;    EMS;    Mutants;    Nannochloropsis;    Photosynthesis;   

Others  :  1227715
DOI  :  10.1186/s13068-015-0337-5

 received in 2015-05-29, accepted in 2015-09-09,  发布年份 2015

【 摘 要 】

Background

The productivity of an algal culture depends on how efficiently it converts sunlight into biomass and lipids. Wild-type algae in their natural environment evolved to compete for light energy and maximize individual cell growth; however, in a photobioreactor, global productivity should be maximized. Improving light use efficiency is one of the primary aims of algae biotechnological research, and genetic engineering can play a major role in attaining this goal.

Results

In this work, we generated a collection of Nannochloropsis gaditana mutant strains and screened them for alterations in the photosynthetic apparatus. The selected mutant strains exhibited diverse phenotypes, some of which are potentially beneficial under the specific artificial conditions of a photobioreactor. Particular attention was given to strains showing reduced cellular pigment contents, and further characterization revealed that some of the selected strains exhibited improved photosynthetic activity; in at least one case, this trait corresponded to improved biomass productivity in lab-scale cultures.

Conclusions

This work demonstrates that genetic modification of N. gaditana has the potential to generate strains with improved biomass productivity when cultivated under the artificial conditions of a photobioreactor.

【 授权许可】

   
2015 Perin et al.

【 图 表 】

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