Gene silencing of stearoyl-ACP desaturase enhances the stearic acid content in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. (December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: de Jaeger, L.; Springer, J.; Wolbert, E.J.H.; Martens, D.E.; Eggink, G.; Wijffels, R.H.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 245:Part B(2017)
• Page Start: 1616
• Page End: 1626
• Publication Date: 2017-12
• Subjects: Chlamydomonas reinhardtii -- RNA silencing -- Enhanced stearic acid; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.06.128
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Stearoyl-ACP desaturase is silenced by artificial microRNA in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Increased stearic acid content in triacylglycerol molecules in mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Temperature impacts the accumulation rate of stearic acid. Abstract: In this study, stearoyl-ACP desaturase (SAD), the enzyme that converts stearic acid into oleic acid, is silenced by artificial microRNA in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii . Two different constructs, which target different positions on the mRNA of stearoyl-ACP desaturase, were tested. The mRNA levels for SAD were reduced after the silencing construct was induced. In one of the strains, the reduction in SAD mRNA resulted in a doubling of the stearic acid content in triacylglycerol molecules, which shows that stearic acid production in microalgae is possible.