Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40022248›Full record

ArticleBiotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts2025

Engineering of the fast-growing cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 to synthesize astaxanthin.

Nico Betterle, Eliana Gasparotto, Elia Battagini, Edoardo Ceschi, Francesco Bellamoli, Peter J Nixon, Matteo Ballottari

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Biotechnology for biofuels and bioproducts, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Nico Betterle *Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
Eliana Gasparotto *Department of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
Elia BattaginiDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
Edoardo CeschiDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
Francesco BellamoliDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy.
Peter J NixonDepartment of Life Sciences, Sir Ernst Chain Building-Wolfson Laboratories, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ, UK.
Matteo BallottariDepartment of Biotechnology, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 15, 37134, Verona, Italy. matteo.ballottari@univr.it.

Funding

HORIZON EUROPE European Innovation Council 101099476
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAstaxanthin is a red pigment required by feed, nutraceutical, and cosmetic industries for its pigmentation and antioxidant properties. This carotenoid is one of the main high-value products that can nowadays be derived from microalgae cultivation, raising important industrial interest. However, state-of-the-art astaxanthin production is the cultivation of the green alga Haematococcus pluvialis (or lacustris), which faces high costs and low production yield. Hence, alternative and efficient sources for astaxanthin need to be developed, and novel biotechnological solutions must be found. The recently discovered cyanobacterium, Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 is a promising photosynthetic platform for the large-scale production of high-value products, but its potential has yet to be thoroughly tested.

resultsIn this study, the cyanobacterium Synechococcus sp. PCC 11901 was engineered for the first time to our knowledge to produce astaxanthin, a high-value ketocarotenoid, by expressing recombinant β-ketolase (bKT) and a β-hydroxylase enzymes (CtrZ). During photoautotrophic growth, the bKT-CtrZ transformed strain (called BC) accumulated astaxanthin to above 80% of the total carotenoid. Moreover, BC cells grew faster than wild-type (WT) cells in high light and continuous bubbling with CO

conclusionsThe astaxanthin volumetric productivity achieved, 10 mg/L/day, exceeds that previously reported for Haematococcus pluvialis, the standard microalgal species nowadays used at the industrial level for astaxanthin production, or for other microalgal strains engineered to produce ketocarotenoids. Overall, this work identifies a new route to produce astaxanthin on an industrial scale.

Indexed as

AntioxidantsCO2 consumptionCyanobacteriaKetocarotenoidsMetabolic engineeringMicroalgaePhotosynthesis

Identifiers

PMID40022248
PMCPMC11871721

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