Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway
Astaxanthin is a fascinating molecule with powerful antioxidant activity, synthesized exclusively by specific microorganisms and higher plants. To expand astaxanthin production, numerous studies have employed metabolic engineering to introduce and optimize astaxanthin biosynthetic pathways in microo...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Bioengineering |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/9/1073 |
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| author | Yousef Mohammed Ding Ye Mudan He Houpeng Wang Zuoyan Zhu Yonghua Sun |
| author_facet | Yousef Mohammed Ding Ye Mudan He Houpeng Wang Zuoyan Zhu Yonghua Sun |
| author_sort | Yousef Mohammed |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Astaxanthin is a fascinating molecule with powerful antioxidant activity, synthesized exclusively by specific microorganisms and higher plants. To expand astaxanthin production, numerous studies have employed metabolic engineering to introduce and optimize astaxanthin biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms and plant hosts. Here, we report the metabolic engineering of animal cells in vitro to biosynthesize astaxanthin. This was accomplished through a two-step study to introduce the entire astaxanthin pathway into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T). First, we introduced the astaxanthin biosynthesis sub-pathway (Ast subp) using several genes encoding β-carotene ketolase and β-carotene hydroxylase enzymes to synthesize astaxanthin directly from β-carotene. Next, we introduced a β-carotene biosynthesis sub-pathway (β-Car subp) with selected genes involved in Ast subp to synthesize astaxanthin from geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). As a result, we unprecedentedly enabled HEK293T cells to biosynthesize free astaxanthin from GGPP with a concentration of 41.86 µg/g dry weight (DW), which represented 66.19% of the total ketocarotenoids (63.24 µg/g DW). Through optimization steps using critical factors in the astaxanthin biosynthetic process, a remarkable 4.14-fold increase in total ketocarotenoids (262.10 µg/g DW) was achieved, with astaxanthin constituting over 88.82%. This pioneering study holds significant implications for transgenic animals, potentially revolutionizing the global demand for astaxanthin, particularly within the aquaculture sector. |
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| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:01:58Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Bioengineering |
| spelling | doaj.art-f1db8c16d49c42cd8f89d7e4ed552ebc2023-11-19T09:37:17ZengMDPI AGBioengineering2306-53542023-09-01109107310.3390/bioengineering10091073Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic PathwayYousef Mohammed0Ding Ye1Mudan He2Houpeng Wang3Zuoyan Zhu4Yonghua Sun5State Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Freshwater Ecology and Biotechnology, Key Laboratory of Breeding Biotechnology and Sustainable Aquaculture, Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, ChinaAstaxanthin is a fascinating molecule with powerful antioxidant activity, synthesized exclusively by specific microorganisms and higher plants. To expand astaxanthin production, numerous studies have employed metabolic engineering to introduce and optimize astaxanthin biosynthetic pathways in microorganisms and plant hosts. Here, we report the metabolic engineering of animal cells in vitro to biosynthesize astaxanthin. This was accomplished through a two-step study to introduce the entire astaxanthin pathway into human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293T). First, we introduced the astaxanthin biosynthesis sub-pathway (Ast subp) using several genes encoding β-carotene ketolase and β-carotene hydroxylase enzymes to synthesize astaxanthin directly from β-carotene. Next, we introduced a β-carotene biosynthesis sub-pathway (β-Car subp) with selected genes involved in Ast subp to synthesize astaxanthin from geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP). As a result, we unprecedentedly enabled HEK293T cells to biosynthesize free astaxanthin from GGPP with a concentration of 41.86 µg/g dry weight (DW), which represented 66.19% of the total ketocarotenoids (63.24 µg/g DW). Through optimization steps using critical factors in the astaxanthin biosynthetic process, a remarkable 4.14-fold increase in total ketocarotenoids (262.10 µg/g DW) was achieved, with astaxanthin constituting over 88.82%. This pioneering study holds significant implications for transgenic animals, potentially revolutionizing the global demand for astaxanthin, particularly within the aquaculture sector.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/9/1073astaxanthinmetabolic engineeringanimal cells in vitroketocarotenoidspathwaybiosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Yousef Mohammed Ding Ye Mudan He Houpeng Wang Zuoyan Zhu Yonghua Sun Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway Bioengineering astaxanthin metabolic engineering animal cells in vitro ketocarotenoids pathway biosynthesis |
| title | Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway |
| title_full | Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway |
| title_fullStr | Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway |
| title_full_unstemmed | Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway |
| title_short | Production of Astaxanthin by Animal Cells via Introduction of an Entire Astaxanthin Biosynthetic Pathway |
| title_sort | production of astaxanthin by animal cells via introduction of an entire astaxanthin biosynthetic pathway |
| topic | astaxanthin metabolic engineering animal cells in vitro ketocarotenoids pathway biosynthesis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/10/9/1073 |
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