Pathways of lipid metabolism in marine algae, co-expression network, bottlenecks and candidate genes for enhanced production of EPA and DHA in species of Chromista

• Published in: Marine drugs 2013-11, Vol.11 (11), p.4662-4697
• Main Authors: Mühlroth, Alice, Li, Keshuai, Røkke, Gunvor, Winge, Per, Olsen, Yngvar, Hohmann-Marriott, Martin F, Vadstein, Olav, Bones, Atle M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: acyl-CoA synthetases; acyltransferases; Animals; desaturases; Docosahexaenoic Acids - genetics; Docosahexaenoic Acids - metabolism; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - genetics; Eicosapentaenoic Acid - metabolism; elongases; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - genetics; Fatty Acids, Omega-3 - metabolism; Gene Expression - genetics; Humans; Lipid Metabolism - genetics; long chain polyunsaturated fatty acid synthesis; metabolic engineering; Phaeodactylum tricornutum; Phaeophyceae - genetics; Phaeophyceae - metabolism; Review
• ISSN: 1660-3397; 1660-3397
• DOI: 10.3390/md11114662

The importance of n-3 long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) for human health has received more focus the last decades, and the global consumption of n-3 LC-PUFA has increased. Seafood, the natural n-3 LC-PUFA source, is harvested beyond a sustainable capacity, and it is therefore imperative to develop alternative n-3 LC-PUFA sources for both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, 20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6n-3). Genera of algae such as Nannochloropsis, Schizochytrium, Isochrysis and Phaedactylum within the kingdom Chromista have received attention due to their ability to produce n-3 LC-PUFAs. Knowledge of LC-PUFA synthesis and its regulation in algae at the molecular level is fragmentary and represents a bottleneck for attempts to enhance the n-3 LC-PUFA levels for industrial production. In the present review, Phaeodactylum tricornutum has been used to exemplify the synthesis and compartmentalization of n-3 LC-PUFAs. Based on recent transcriptome data a co-expression network of 106 genes involved in lipid metabolism has been created. Together with recent molecular biological and metabolic studies, a model pathway for n-3 LC-PUFA synthesis in P. tricornutum has been proposed, and is compared to industrialized species of Chromista. Limitations of the n-3 LC-PUFA synthesis by enzymes such as thioesterases, elongases, acyl-CoA synthetases and acyltransferases are discussed and metabolic bottlenecks are hypothesized such as the supply of the acetyl-CoA and NADPH. A future industrialization will depend on optimization of chemical compositions and increased biomass production, which can be achieved by exploitation of the physiological potential, by selective breeding and by genetic engineering.