Heterologous expression of formate dehydrogenase enables photoformatotrophy in the emerging model microalga, Picochlorum renovo

Dahlin, Lukas R.; Meyers, Alex W.; Stefani, Skylar W.; Webb, Ellsbeth G.; Wachter, Benton; Subramanian, Venkataramanan; Guarnieri, Michael T.

doi:10.3389/fbioe.2023.1162745

Title: Heterologous expression of formate dehydrogenase enables photoformatotrophy in the emerging model microalga, Picochlorum renovo

Journal Article · 29 August 2023 · Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fbioe.2023.1162745 · OSTI ID:1998632

Dahlin, Lukas R. ^[1]; Meyers, Alex W. ^[1]; Stefani, Skylar W. ^[1];

^[1]; Wachter, Benton ^[1]; Subramanian, Venkataramanan ^[1];

^[2]

National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Biosciences Center
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States). Biosciences Center; Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO (United States); Univ. of Colorado, Boulder, CO (United States)

Rising global greenhouse gas emissions and the impacts of resultant climate change necessitate development and deployment of carbon capture and conversion technologies. Amongst the myriad of bio-based conversion approaches under evaluation, a formate bio-economy has recently been proposed, wherein CO₂-derived formate serves as a substrate for concurrent carbon and energy delivery to microbial systems. To date, this approach has been explored in chemolithotrophic and heterotrophic organisms via native or engineered formatotrophy. However, utilization of this concept in phototrophic organisms has yet to be reported. Herein, we have taken the first steps to establish formate utilization in Picochlorum renovo, a recently characterized eukaryotic microalga with facile genetic tools and promising applied biotechnology traits. Plastidial heterologous expression of a formate dehydrogenase (FDH) enabled P. renovo growth on formate as a carbon and energy source. Further, FDH expression enhanced cultivation capacity on ambient CO₂, underscoring the potential for bypass of conventional CO₂ capture and concentration limitations. This work establishes a photoformatotrophic cultivation regime that leverages light energy-driven formate utilization. The resultant photosynthetic formate platform has widespread implications for applied phototrophic cultivation systems and the bio-economy at large.

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Research Organization:: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER); USDOE Laboratory Directed Research and Development (LDRD) Program; USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO); USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC36-08GO28308; FE0032186

OSTI ID:: 1998632

Report Number(s):: NREL/JA-2700-85197; MainId:85970; UUID:8414fff0-46fd-44a5-b9b7-dfa439869b95; MainAdminID:70237

Journal Information:: Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology, Vol. 11; ISSN 2296-4185

Publisher:: Frontiers Media S.A.Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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