Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes

Squalene, a natural lipid of the terpenoid family, is well-recognized for its roles in regulating cholesterol metabolism, preventing tumor development, and improving immunity. For large-scale squalene production, the unicellular marine protists—thraustochytrids—have shown great potential. However, t...

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Main Authors: Aiqing Zhang, Yaodong He, Biswarup Sen, Weijun Wang, Xin Wang, Guangyi Wang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2022-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.900252/full
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author Aiqing Zhang
Yaodong He
Biswarup Sen
Weijun Wang
Xin Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
author_facet Aiqing Zhang
Yaodong He
Biswarup Sen
Weijun Wang
Xin Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
author_sort Aiqing Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Squalene, a natural lipid of the terpenoid family, is well-recognized for its roles in regulating cholesterol metabolism, preventing tumor development, and improving immunity. For large-scale squalene production, the unicellular marine protists—thraustochytrids—have shown great potential. However, the growth of thraustochytrids is known to be affected by salt stress, which can eventually influence the squalene content. Here, we study the effects of an optimal concentration of NaCl on the squalene content and transcriptome of Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185. Under the optimal culture conditions (glucose, 30 g/L; yeast extract, 2.5 g/L; and NaCl, 5 g/L; 28°C), the strain yielded 67.7 mg squalene/g cell dry weight, which was significantly greater than that (5.37 mg/g) under the unoptimized conditions. NaCl was determined as the most significant (R = 135.24) factor for squalene production among glucose, yeast extract, and NaCl. Further comparative transcriptomics between the ATCC 26185 culture with and without NaCl addition revealed that NaCl (5 g/L) influences the expression of certain key metabolic genes, namely, IDI, FAS-a, FAS-b, ALDH3, GS, and NDUFS4. The differential expression of these genes possibly influenced the acetyl-CoA and glutamate metabolism and resulted in an increased squalene production. Through the integration of bioprocess technology and transcriptomics, this report provides the first evidence of the possible mechanisms underscoring increased squalene production by NaCl.
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spelling doaj.art-da650bd5c78548ada54643860316e00a2022-12-22T00:44:02ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2022-05-011310.3389/fmicb.2022.900252900252Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic GenesAiqing Zhang0Yaodong He1Biswarup Sen2Weijun Wang3Xin Wang4Guangyi Wang5Guangyi Wang6Guangyi Wang7Center for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaCenter for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaCenter for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaCenter for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Microbiology, Miami University, Oxford, OH, United StatesCenter for Marine Environmental Ecology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaCenter for Biosafety Research and Strategy, Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaKey Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering (Ministry of Education), Tianjin University, Tianjin, ChinaSqualene, a natural lipid of the terpenoid family, is well-recognized for its roles in regulating cholesterol metabolism, preventing tumor development, and improving immunity. For large-scale squalene production, the unicellular marine protists—thraustochytrids—have shown great potential. However, the growth of thraustochytrids is known to be affected by salt stress, which can eventually influence the squalene content. Here, we study the effects of an optimal concentration of NaCl on the squalene content and transcriptome of Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185. Under the optimal culture conditions (glucose, 30 g/L; yeast extract, 2.5 g/L; and NaCl, 5 g/L; 28°C), the strain yielded 67.7 mg squalene/g cell dry weight, which was significantly greater than that (5.37 mg/g) under the unoptimized conditions. NaCl was determined as the most significant (R = 135.24) factor for squalene production among glucose, yeast extract, and NaCl. Further comparative transcriptomics between the ATCC 26185 culture with and without NaCl addition revealed that NaCl (5 g/L) influences the expression of certain key metabolic genes, namely, IDI, FAS-a, FAS-b, ALDH3, GS, and NDUFS4. The differential expression of these genes possibly influenced the acetyl-CoA and glutamate metabolism and resulted in an increased squalene production. Through the integration of bioprocess technology and transcriptomics, this report provides the first evidence of the possible mechanisms underscoring increased squalene production by NaCl.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.900252/fullthraustochytridsNaClsqualenemetabolismtranscriptomeoptimization
spellingShingle Aiqing Zhang
Yaodong He
Biswarup Sen
Weijun Wang
Xin Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
Guangyi Wang
Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
Frontiers in Microbiology
thraustochytrids
NaCl
squalene
metabolism
transcriptome
optimization
title Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
title_full Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
title_fullStr Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
title_full_unstemmed Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
title_short Optimal NaCl Medium Enhances Squalene Accumulation in Thraustochytrium sp. ATCC 26185 and Influences the Expression Levels of Key Metabolic Genes
title_sort optimal nacl medium enhances squalene accumulation in thraustochytrium sp atcc 26185 and influences the expression levels of key metabolic genes
topic thraustochytrids
NaCl
squalene
metabolism
transcriptome
optimization
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.900252/full
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