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Title: Impacts of genetically engineered alterations in carbon sink pathways on photosynthetic performance

Journal Article · · Algal Research
 [1];  [1];  [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [1]
  1. Oklahoma State Univ., Stillwater, OK (United States)
  2. National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Biosciences Center
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Genetic engineering of photosynthetic organisms typically redirects native metabolism towards desirable products, which thereby represent new metabolic sinks. There is limited information on how these modifications impact the evolved mechanisms of photosynthetic energy metabolism and cellular growth. Two engineered strains of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 with altered carbon sink capacity were assayed for their photosynthetic and CO2 concentrating mechanism properties in conditions of high and low inorganic carbon (Ci) availability. In the ΔglgC mutant, glycogen cannot be synthesized and a carbon sink pathway has been effectively removed. The JU547 strain has been engineered by integration of the Pseudomonas syringae ethylene forming enzyme and provides a new sink. When cultured under high carbon conditions, ΔglgC displayed diminished photochemical efficiency, a more reduced NADPH pool, delayed initiation of the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, and impairment of linear and cyclic electron flows. It also exhibited a large decrease in photochemical quenching indicative of the accumulation of QA-, normally associated with a reduced PQ pool, but appears instead to be the result of an undefined dissipative mechanism to spill excess energy. In the case of carbon sink integration, JU547 displayed slightly more oxidized PQ and NADPH pools and increased rates of cyclic electron flow and an enhanced demand for inorganic carbon as suggested by increase in the expression of the bicarbonate transporter, SbtA. Overall, the results highlight the importance of the native regulatory network of autotrophic metabolism in governing photosynthetic performance and provide cogent examples of both predicable and difficult to predict phenotypic consequences upon installation of new pathways in autotrophs.

Research Organization:
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Sustainable Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES)
Grant/Contract Number:
AC36-08GO28308; FG02-08ER15968; FWP ERWER0A
OSTI ID:
1330802
Alternate ID(s):
OSTI ID: 1396394
Report Number(s):
NREL/JA-2700-66083
Journal Information:
Algal Research, Vol. 20, Issue C; ISSN 2211-9264
Publisher:
ElsevierCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 14 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

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Cited By (3)

Membrane-Inlet Mass Spectrometry Enables a Quantitative Understanding of Inorganic Carbon Uptake Flux and Carbon Concentrating Mechanisms in Metabolically Engineered Cyanobacteria journal June 2019
Lethality caused by ADP-glucose accumulation is suppressed by salt-induced carbon flux redirection in cyanobacteria journal December 2019
Recent advances in synthetic biology of cyanobacteria journal May 2018

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Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
chlorophyll fluorescence
cyclic electron flow
ethylene
glycogen
homeostasis
metabolic sink
NADPH
photosystem
plastoquinone