Biotech Updates

Transgenic Phaeodactylum tricornutum Possesses Increased Glycerol Production

July 23, 2014
http://www.biotechnologyforbiofuels.com/content/pdf/1754-6834-7-110.pdf

Glycerol-3-phosphate, a glycerol, is formed through a pathway initiated by glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH). Recently, this GPDH was found in the microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum, making it as a potential ideal material for biodiesel and bioactive compounds. Now, researchers led by Hong-Ye Li from the College of Life Science, Jinan University in China look into its potential use for commercial production of bioproducts.

GPDH gene was overexpressed in transgenic P. tricornutum. This resulted in an increase in glycerol concentration in the transgenics compared with the wild type. This suggests that overexpression of GPDH promoted the production of glycerol-3-phosphate. There was also an observed 60% increase in neutral lipid content.

GPDH had a significant impact on numerous metabolic processes in diatom cells, including the biosynthesis of glycerol and neutral lipids. These results suggest that metabolic engineering of these microalgae will benefit biofuel production.