Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae
Abstract
Several members of the green algae possess the ability to produce lipids and/or high value compounds in significant quantities. While for several of these green algal species induction of increased lipid production has been shown, and cultivation of species for high value molecules occurs at production scale, the molecular mechanisms governing over-accumulation of molecules synthesized from isoprenoid precursors, carotenoids, for example, have received far less attention. Here, we present a calculation of the required ATP equivalencies per carbon atom and reducing power equivalencies as NADH/NADPH (NAD(P)H) per carbon atom for the isoprenoid molecules ..beta..-carotene (C40), astaxanthin (C40), and squalene (C30). We compared energetic requirements of carbohydrates, triacylglycerol, and isoprenoid molecules under a gradient of conditions of cellular stress. Our calculations revealed slightly less ATP and NAD(P)H equivalency per carbon atom between triacylglycerol and the three isoprenoid molecules. Based on our results, we propose that the driving force for differences in accumulation patterns of carotenoids vs. triacylglycerols in algal cells under stress is largely dependent on the presence and regulation of bypass mechanisms at metabolic junction bottlenecks, like pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), within particular species. We provide a discussion of several molecular mechanisms that may influence carbon partitioning within different groups ofmore »
- Authors:
-
- City Univ. (CUNY), NY (United States)
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- National Renewable Energy Lab. (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1427343
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1694265
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/JA-5100-71139
Journal ID: ISSN 2211-9264
- Grant/Contract Number:
- AC36-08GO28308; SC0012556
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Algal Research
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 31; Journal Issue: C; Journal ID: ISSN 2211-9264
- Publisher:
- Elsevier
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 09 BIOMASS FUELS; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; green algae; energetics; lipid production
Citation Formats
McKie-Krisberg, Zaid M., Laurens, Lieve M. L., Huang, Andy, and Polle, Jurgen E. W. Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae. United States: N. p., 2018.
Web. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2018.01.018.
McKie-Krisberg, Zaid M., Laurens, Lieve M. L., Huang, Andy, & Polle, Jurgen E. W. Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae. United States. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2018.01.018.
McKie-Krisberg, Zaid M., Laurens, Lieve M. L., Huang, Andy, and Polle, Jurgen E. W. Wed .
"Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae". United States. doi:10.1016/j.algal.2018.01.018. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1427343.
@article{osti_1427343,
title = {Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae},
author = {McKie-Krisberg, Zaid M. and Laurens, Lieve M. L. and Huang, Andy and Polle, Jurgen E. W.},
abstractNote = {Several members of the green algae possess the ability to produce lipids and/or high value compounds in significant quantities. While for several of these green algal species induction of increased lipid production has been shown, and cultivation of species for high value molecules occurs at production scale, the molecular mechanisms governing over-accumulation of molecules synthesized from isoprenoid precursors, carotenoids, for example, have received far less attention. Here, we present a calculation of the required ATP equivalencies per carbon atom and reducing power equivalencies as NADH/NADPH (NAD(P)H) per carbon atom for the isoprenoid molecules ..beta..-carotene (C40), astaxanthin (C40), and squalene (C30). We compared energetic requirements of carbohydrates, triacylglycerol, and isoprenoid molecules under a gradient of conditions of cellular stress. Our calculations revealed slightly less ATP and NAD(P)H equivalency per carbon atom between triacylglycerol and the three isoprenoid molecules. Based on our results, we propose that the driving force for differences in accumulation patterns of carotenoids vs. triacylglycerols in algal cells under stress is largely dependent on the presence and regulation of bypass mechanisms at metabolic junction bottlenecks, like pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH), within particular species. We provide a discussion of several molecular mechanisms that may influence carbon partitioning within different groups of green algae, including metabolic inhibition through accumulation of specific substrates related to ATP and reducing equivalent production (NAD(P)H) as well as cellular compartmentalization. This work contributes to the ongoing discussion of cellular homeostatic regulation during stress, as well as the potential mechanisms driving long-term carbon storage as it relates to energy and redox states within the algal cell.},
doi = {10.1016/j.algal.2018.01.018},
journal = {Algal Research},
number = C,
volume = 31,
place = {United States},
year = {2018},
month = {2}
}
Web of Science
Figures / Tables:

Works referenced in this record:
Comparative energetics of carbon storage molecules in green algae
journal, April 2018
- McKie-Krisberg, Zaid M.; Laurens, Lieve M. L.; Huang, Andy
- Algal Research, Vol. 31
Occurrence, biosynthesis and function of isoprenoid quinones
journal, September 2010
- Nowicka, Beatrycze; Kruk, Jerzy
- Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Bioenergetics, Vol. 1797, Issue 9
Works referencing / citing this record:
Reconstruction and analysis of a carbon-core metabolic network for Dunaliella salina
journal, January 2020
- Fachet, Melanie; Witte, Carina; Flassig, Robert J.
- BMC Bioinformatics, Vol. 21, Issue 1
Figures / Tables found in this record: