In silico cloning and characterization of the glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) gene family in the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) catalyzes the conversion of dihydroxyacetone phosphate (DHAP) and NADH to glycerol-3-phosphate (G3P) and NAD(+). G3P is important as a precursor for glycerol and glycerolipid synthesis in microalgae. A GPDH enzyme has been previously purified from the green microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, however, no genes coding for GPDH have been characterized before. In this study, we report the in silico characterization of three putative GPDH genes from C. reinhardtii: CrGPDH1, CrGPDH2, and CrGPDH3. These sequences showed a significant similarity to characterized GPDH genes from the microalgae Dunaliella salina and Dunaliella viridis. The prediction of the three-dimensional structure of the proteins showed the characteristic fold topology of GPDH enzymes. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis showed that the three CrGPDHs share the same clade with characterized GPDHs from Dunaliella suggesting a common evolutionary origin and a similar catalytic function. In addition, the K(a)/K(s) ratios of these sequences suggested that they are under purifying selection. Moreover, the expression analysis showed a constitutive expression of CrGPDH1, while CrGPDH2 and CrGPDH3 were induced in response to osmotic stress, suggesting a possible role for these two sequences in the synthesis of glycerol as a compatible solute in osmoregulation, and perhaps also in lipid synthesis in C. reinhardtii. This study has provided a foundation for further biochemical and genetic studies of the GPDH family in this model microalga, and also opportunities to assess the potential of these genes to enhance the synthesis of TAGs for biodiesel production.

The green microalga Chlorella saccharophila as a suitable source of oil for biodiesel production.

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of the green microalga Chlorella saccharophila as a source of oil for biodiesel production. We evaluated for the first time, the effect of salinity and/or nitrogen depletion (ND) on cell growth, lipid accumulation and lipid profile in this microalga. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) identified for C. saccharophila in this study consisted of C-16:0, C-18:0, C-18:1 cis, and C-18:1 trans. Among these, C-18:1 (indicator of biodiesel quality) was the main FAME found, representing approximately 76 and 80% of total FAME under normal and ND growing conditions, respectively. Under a normal growing condition this microalga showed 154.63 mg l(-1) d(-1), 63.33 mg l(-1) d(-1), and 103.73 mg l(-1) of biomass productivity, lipid productivity, and FAME yield, respectively. The higher biomass productivity (159.58 mg l(-1) d(-1)), lipid productivity (99.33 mg l(-1) d(-1)), and FAME yield (315.53 mg l(-1)) were obtained under the ND treatment. In comparison to other related studies, our results suggest that C. saccharophila can be considered as a suitable source of oil for biodiesel production.

An iterated sequence in the genome of Banana bunchy top virus is essential for efficient replication.

Banana bunchy top virus (BBTV) has a multi-component genome of circular, single-stranded DNA. BBTV replicates via a rolling-circle mechanism, probably involving sequence-specific interaction of the replication initiation protein (Rep) with iterated sequences (iterons) within the viral genome. Three putative iterons (designated F1, F2 and R), with the sequence GGGAC, have been identified in the intergenic region of each BBTV component. To investigate their role in replication, each of the iterons was mutated, singularly and in tandem, in a BBTV DNA-N 1.1mer and the ability of these molecules to be replicated by the BBTV 'master' Rep was evaluated in banana cells using transient biolistic assays. All iteron mutants were replicated less efficiently than the native DNA-N. Mutation of the F1 and R iterons caused a 42 and 62 % reduction in DNA-N replication, respectively, whereas mutation of the F2 and combined F1F2 iteron virtually abolished DNA-N replication.