Use of De Novo Transcriptome Libraries to Characterize a Novel Oleaginous Marine Chlorella Species during the Accumulation of Triacylglycerols

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0147527
• Publication Date: 2016-02-03T18:49:25Z
• Authors: Cresten B. Mansfeldt; Lubna V. Richter; Beth A. Ahner; William P. Cochlan; Ruth E. Richardson
• Keywords: 0301 basic medicine; Science; Q; R; Computational Biology; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Chlorella; Lipid Metabolism; Biosynthetic Pathways; 03 medical and health sciences; Gene Expression Regulation; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S; Medicine; Transcriptome; Phylogeny; Triglycerides; Research Article

Marine chlorophytes of the genus Chlorella are unicellular algae capable accumulating a high proportion cellular lipids that can be used for biodiesel production. In this study, we examined broad physiological capabilities subtropical strain (C596) sp. "SAG-211-18" including its heterotrophic growth and tolerance to low salt. We found alga replicates more slowly at diluted salt concentrations grow on wide range carbon substrates in dark. then sequenced RNA C596 elucidate key metabolic genes investigate transcriptomic response organism when transitioning from nutrient-replete nutrient-deficient condition neutral accumulate. Specific transcripts encoding enzymes involved both starch lipid biosynthesis, among others, were up-regulated as cultures transitioned into lipid-accumulating state whereas photosynthesis-related down-regulated. Transcripts two enzymes—a galactoglycerolipid lipase diacylglyceride acyltransferase—were also monitored by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays. The results these assays confirmed transcriptome-sequencing data. present study will assist greater understanding, effective application, efficient design Chlorella-based biofuel production systems.