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Report

Teaser, summary, work performed and final results

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - MONSTAA (Metabolism of Novel Strains of Arctic Algae)

Teaser

Summary

As the worldâ€™s population continues to grow and natural resources diminish, it is vital to secure more sustainable sources of food and energy whilst reducing our impacts on the environment (1). To meet increased demand, agricultural production systems must become more efficient, and recycling waste materials is a priority for the modern bio-based economy. Alternative sources of plant-based nutrition may contribute significantly to future diets (2).

Microalgae, single-celled photosynthetic organisms, are a promising source of food and feed ingredients (3). In optimal conditions, algae are capable of faster growth rates than terrestrial crop plants, can make use of waste or saline water supplies, and can be produced on non-arable land. Importantly, many microalgae produce the vitamins, essential fatty acids and essential amino acids that mammals (including humans) and fish are not able to synthesize and must get from their diets. Industrial microalgae cultivation offers promising solutions to global food, climate and energy issues, but producing algal biomass at scale with low environmental impacts still faces several challenges. Recent studies have highlighted key bottlenecks in the large-scale implementation of microalgae technologies, including the amount of energy that must be invested in cultivation, and the need to improve growth rates and product yields, especially in cooler regions of the world such as Northern Europe.

In nature, there are a great diversity of microalgae species with features including the ability to grow in extreme environments, produce valuable fatty acids, natural pigments or novel hydrocarbons (oils). Microalgae are especially an excellent source of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids including eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6n-3). These very long-chain fatty acids are of special interest because they are vital components in the diets of humans and farmed fish, yet they are often sourced from unsustainable marine capture fisheries. To turn new, wild strains of algae into useful single-cell factories requires deep understanding of their behavior and metabolism, for the rational design and improvement of cultivation practices.

The overall objective of the project is to investigate unique strains of algae that offer improved yields of oil and omega-3 fatty acids, using novel (non-model) strains from coldwater habitats. The project leverages recent developments in state-of-the-art genome sequencing methods and applies this technology to unexplored species of algae.

References
(1) FAO (2017). The future of food and agriculture â€“ Trends and challenges. Rome. ISSN 2522-722X
(2) Parodi, A. et al (2018). The potential of future foods for sustainable and healthy diets. Nature Sustainability 1.12: 782.
(3) Vigani, M. et al (2015). Food and feed products from micro-algae: Market opportunities and challenges for the EU. Trends in Food Science & Technology 42.1: 81-92.

Work performed

During this initial phase of the project I conducted my research at the international partner university, Colorado School of Mines (CSM, Golden, Colorado USA). Working in the Posewitz laboratory (https://chemistry.mines.edu/project/posewitz-matthew/), I have used cutting-edge DNA sequencing methods to successfully assemble the nuclear, chloroplast and mitochondrial genomes of two novel cold-water microalgae. CSM has an international reputation for outstanding research on microalgae molecular biotechnology, providing excellent support for the project.

The chosen algae strains produce novel lipids and large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. One species is a cold-water extremophile (a psychrophile) that offers exceptional growth in very low temperatures. Together, the genomes of these species will provide brand-new insights into lipid metabolism and cold adaptation in new lineages of microalgae. I have also sequenced the transcriptomes (the expressed genes) of both strains. This information is being used to aid the interpretation of gene structures and the regulation of metabolic pathways encoded in the genome. We expect new insights into how these microbes regulate the synthesis of lipids and fatty acids.

To test hypotheses, new cultivation tools consisting of laboratory-scale experimental bioreactors have been developed within this project. These devices help to study the metabolism, growth and product synthesis of the chosen algae under carefully defined conditions.

Final results

Future food supplies must not only increase in volume but provide the correct range of nutrients. Microalgae are uniquely positioned to provide specialized oils, proteins and vitamins that are essential components in the diets of humans and animals. By investigating new species, this project is uncovering the molecular and physiological mechanisms that allow algae to synthesize a diverse range of valuable metabolites. In a world where society must collectively reduce its environmental burdens and its consumption of materials, these tiny organisms could play a component part of a healthy and more sustainable food production system.