Increased triacylglycerol production in microalgae
The application generally relates to bioproduction of molecules of interest in micro-organisms, more particularly in microalgae. In particular, the application relates to methods for increasing triacylglycerol production in micro-organisms, in particular in microalgae, using recombinant micro-organisms which have been genetically engineered to produce or overproduce nitric oxide (NO) and uses thereof.
1. A method for increasing the production of triacylglycerol (TAG) in a microalga, said method comprising:
culturing a recombinant microalga which has been transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a NOA protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or SEQ ID NO: 4 under conditions suitable for the production or overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) by said microalga, so as to enhance the production of said TAG.
2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said microalga has been transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a NOA protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.
3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein said NOA protein is the Phaeodactylum tricornutum NOA (PtNOA) protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said NOA protein is the Nannochloropsis gaditana NOA (NgNOA) protein having the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:4.
5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said microalga has been transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a NOA protein having an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 4.
6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microalga is a Chromalveolata.
7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the Chromalveolata is a Bacillariophyceae or a Eustigmatophyceae.
8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the Bacillariophyceae is Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the triacylglycerol content is increased in said recombinant microalga at least 150%, compared to a corresponding microalga wherein the NO production pathway was not modulated.
10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said culturing conditions are suitable for growth of the recombinant microalga, such that the production of the triacylglycerol (TAG) is concomitant with the growth of the recombinant microalga.