Microorganisms with broadened light absorption capability and increased photosynthetic activity
View Patent ↗Photosynthetic microorganisms with broadened light absorption capability and increased photosynthetic activity are described. Broadened light absorption is achieved by modifying the microorganism to utilize non-native bilins. Increased photosynthetic activity results from the broadened light absorption and can also result from a decrease in self-shading. The microorganisms include Cyanobacteria, including modified Cyanobacteria.
1. A modified Cyanobacterium comprising: (i) insertion of one or more exogenous nucleotide sequences encoding PebA, PebB, RpcG and CpeS and (ii) deletion of an endogenous nucleotide sequence encoding CpcE, the modified Cyanobacterium having increased photosynthetic activity as compared to a Cyanobacterium of the same species without the modification.
2. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the PebA comprises SEQ ID NO: 2.
3. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the PebB comprises SEQ ID NO: 3.
4. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the PebA is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4, the PebB is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5, or PebA and PebB encoded by a sequence including SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 9.
5. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the RpcG comprises SEQ ID NO: 1, or is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7.
6. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the CpeS comprises SEQ ID NO: 64 or SEQ ID NO: 65, or is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:69 or SEQ ID NO:70.
7. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the deleted endogenous nucleotide sequence encoding CpcE comprises SEQ ID NO: 10.
8. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 7 wherein deleted SEQ ID NO: 10 is replaced with a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 70.
9. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 wherein the modified Cyanobacterium is selected from Synechococcus elongatus, Arthrospira maxima, Arthrospira platensis , and Cyanobacterium aponinum.
10. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 with increased photosynthetic activity as compared to a Cyanobacterium of the same species without the modification wherein the modification results in utilization of a functioning non-native PEB.
11. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 10 wherein the modification results in:
(a) expression of a PebA protein and a PebB protein;
(b) expression of an RpcG protein and
a CpeS protein;
(c) expression of a CpeS protein; or
(d) down regulation of an endogenous nucleotide sequence encoding CpcE.
12. The modified Cyanobacterium of claim 1 that naturally produces phycocyanobilin (PCB) wherein the Cyanobacteria is modified to produce functioning non-native PEB and functioning non-native PUB and wherein the Cyanobacterium produces phycocyanin with a red pigment and phycocyanin with a purple pigment.
13. A method to increase photosynthetic activity in a Cyanobacteria comprising (i) inserting one or more exogenous nucleotide sequences encoding PebA, PebB, RpcG, and CpeS and (ii) deletion of an endogenous nucleotide sequence encoding CpcE wherein the Cyanobacteria has increased photosynthetic activity as compared to a Cyanobacterium of the same species without the modification.
14. The method of claim 13 wherein the PebA is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 4, the PebB is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 5, or PebA and PebB encoded by a sequence including SEQ ID NO: 6 or SEQ ID NO: 9.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein the RpcG is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein the CpeS is encoded by a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 70.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein the endogenous nucleotide sequence encoding CpcE comprises SEQ ID NO: 10.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein deleted SEQ ID NO: 10 is replaced with a sequence comprising SEQ ID NO: 7, SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 11, SEQ ID NO: 59, SEQ ID NO: 60, SEQ ID NO: 69 or SEQ ID NO: 70.
19. The method of claim 13 wherein the modified Cyanobacteria is selected from Synechococcus elongatus, Arthrospira maxima, Arthrospira platensis , and Cyanobacterium aponinum.
20. The method of claim 13 wherein the increased photosynthetic activity results from a broadening of the Cyanobacterium 's light absorption capabilities and/or a decrease in self-shading.