Functional Expression of the Arachis hypogaea L. Acyl-ACP Thioesterases AhFatA and AhFatB Enhances Fatty Acid Production in Synechocystis sp. PCC6803

Gao Chen, Jun Chen, Qingfang He, Yan Zhang, Zhenying Peng, Zhongxue Fan, Fei Bian, Jinhui Yu and Song Qin
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Gao Chen: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Jun Chen: Key Laboratory of Coastal Biology and Biological Resources Utilization, Yantai Institute of Coastal Zone Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Yantai 264003, China
Qingfang He: Department of Biology, University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Little Rock, AR 72204, USA
Yan Zhang: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Zhenying Peng: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Zhongxue Fan: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Fei Bian: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Jinhui Yu: Biotechnology Research Center, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Ji’nan 250100, China
Song Qin: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China

Energies, 2017, vol. 10, issue 12, 1-12

Abstract: Palmitoleic acid (C16:1) and stearic acid (C18:0) are precursors of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are the focus of intensive global research due to their nutritional value, medicinal applications, and potential use as biofuel. Acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterases are intraplastidial enzymes that determine the types and amounts of fatty acids produced in plants and release fatty acids into the cytosol to be incorporated into glycerolipids. Based on amino acid sequence identity and substrate specificity, these enzymes are classified into two families, FatA and FatB . In this study, we cloned FatA and FatB thioesterases from Arachis hypogaea L. seeds and functionally expressed these genes, both individually and in tandem, in a blue-green alga Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. The heterologous expression of these genes in Synechocystis altered the fatty acid composition of lipids, resulting in a 29.5–31.6% increase in palmitoleic acid production and a 22.5–35.5% increase in stearic acid production. Moreover, the transgenic Synechocystis cells also showed significant increases in levels of oleic acid (C18:1, OA), linoleic acid (C18:2, LA), and ?-linolenic acid (C18:3n3, ALA). These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of algae can be significantly improved by the heterologous expression of exogenous genes. This study not only provides insight into fatty acid biosynthesis, but also lays the foundation for manipulating the fatty acid content of cyanobacteria.

Keywords: Fatty acids; gene expression; acyl-acyl carrier protein thioesterases; Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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