Microalgae as bioreactors for bioplastic production

Hempel, Franziska; Bozarth, Andrew; Lindenkamp, Nicole; Klingl, Andreas; Zauner, Stefan; Linne, Uwe; Steinbüchel, Alexander; Maier, Uwe G.

doi:10.1186/1475-2859-10-81

Cited by 217 publications

(126 citation statements)

References 28 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

122

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The potential of Synechocystis as a model for PHA genetic engineering was demonstrated by the inactivation of PHA synthase through the disruption of phaE-C Syn cluster using a PCR-based gene disruption method. 23 This study allowed the identification and characterization of other genes involved in the PHA synthesis. Considering that Synechocystis harbours from six to ten copies of its genome, the latter method permits the replacement of all the genome target genes, increasing the possibility to genetically manipulate this organism, also if the mechanism of total replacement is still unknown.…”

Section: Recombinant Cyanobacteria For Pha Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photo-autotrophic Production of Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) in Cyanobacteria

Drosg¹,

Fritz²,

Gattermayr³

et al. 2015

Chem.Biochem.Eng.Q.

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In the last two decades, poly(hydroxyalkanoates) (PHA) were solely produced using heterotrophic bacteria in aerobic cultivation. With respect to the great potential (500 Mt yr -1 ) of raw industrial CO 2 streams and even greater potential of flue gases, the focus on photo-autotrophic biotechnological processes is increasing steadily. Primarily, PHA-gene transfer from heterotrophic bacteria into algae and plant cells was attempted, with the intention to combine the known biosynthesis pathway with autotrophic cultivation. The natural occurrence of PHA in cyanobacteria is known at least since 1966. However, cyanobacteria were never considered for commercial production because the PHA amount based on cell mass and based on volumetric productivity is generally very low. Therefore, strain improvements were suggested, either by gene amplification or by suppression of biochemical pathways competing for the cell's acetate pool. In the late 1990s, the success of genetic modification was confirmed experimentally, elevating the cyanobacteria cell's PHA content. With additional optimization, PHB amounts up to 50 % w/w of biomass dry matter or up to about 2.4 g L -1 bioreactor volume could be produced within 11 days. Considering the land use for agriculture and the competition for plant biomass between food, feed, fuel and energy production, the binding of CO 2 in a biotechnological process using photo-autotrophic microorganisms may become a promising option.

show abstract

Section: Recombinant Cyanobacteria For Pha Productionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Photo-autotrophic Production of Poly(hydroxyalkanoates) in Cyanobacteria

Drosg¹,

Fritz²,

Gattermayr³

et al. 2015

Chem.Biochem.Eng.Q.

100

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Lipid content in algae can be as high as 50% (dry-weight) with higher percentages of total dry weight (~60%) found as protein and starch [11]. These fractions of microalgae can be used to produce biodiesel [20,52], bioethanol [22,23], biohydrogen [53,54], bioplastics [55], and other products, while simultaneously contributing to CO 2 mitigation [56,57]. Still, it is the lipid fraction that has been the major focus for biodiesel production and renewable jet fuel.…”

Section: Relevance Of Individual Algal Cellular Components For Biofuementioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Environmental Factors and Nutrient Availability on the Biochemical Composition of Algae for Biofuels Production: A Review

2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Due to significant lipid and carbohydrate production as well as other useful properties such as high production of useful biomolecular substrates (e.g., lipids) and the ability to grow using non-potable water sources, algae are being explored as a potential high-yield feedstock for biofuels production. In both natural and engineered systems, algae can be exposed to a variety of environmental conditions that affect growth rate and cellular composition. With respect to the latter, the amount of carbon fixed in lipids and carbohydrates (e.g., starch) is highly influenced by environmental factors and nutrient availability. Understanding synergistic interactions between multiple environmental variables and nutritional factors is required to develop sustainable high productivity bioalgae systems, which are essential for commercial biofuel production. This article reviews the effects of environmental factors (i.e., temperature, light and pH) and nutrient availability (e.g., carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and trace metals) as well as cross-interactions on the biochemical composition of algae with a special focus on carbon fixation and partitioning of carbon from a biofuels perspective.

show abstract

“…The heterologous expression of PHA bacterial operons in microalgae, e.g. the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum [14], is an attempt to overcome the chemical supplementation but with difficulties in genetic manipulations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%