Recombinant Algae Cryptochrome Modification for Lipid Productivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current algal strains used for biofuel production have limitations in lipid and biomass productivity, hindering the development of economically viable, carbon-neutral energy sources.
Innovation Solution
A recombinant photosynthetic organism is genetically modified by deleting, disrupting, or inactivating a cryptochrome/photolyase FAD-binding domain, resulting in significantly higher biomass and lipid productivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wild type algal strains are used, then the organism can be cultivated with standard cultivation protocols, but the lipid productivity and biomass productivity are insufficient for economically viable biofuel production
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the cryptochrome/photolyase FAD-binding domain gene to alter the algal organism's physiological parameters. This genetic modification changes the organism's response to light and nitrogen stress, resulting in enhanced lipid accumulation and biomass productivity without requiring complex cultivation protocols. The parameter change occurs at the molecular level (gene modification) which propagates to phenotypic changes (increased productivity).
2Quantity of substance
If nitrogen deficient media is used to increase lipid productivity, then lipid content increases, but overall biomass productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent resolves this contradiction by changing the physiological parameters of the algal organism through genetic modification of the cryptochrome/photolyase FAD-binding domain. The modified organism maintains enhanced lipid content while exhibiting improved biomass productivity under nitrogen-deficient conditions, unlike wild type strains where lipid accumulation comes at the cost of reduced growth rate. This parameter change allows simultaneous optimization of both lipid content and biomass productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies dynamics by enabling the algal organism to dynamically respond to nitrogen stress conditions. The modified cryptochrome/photolyase FAD-binding domain allows the organism to dynamically adjust its metabolic state, transitioning efficiently between growth mode and lipid accumulation mode in response to environmental nitrogen availability. This dynamic response enables the organism to maintain high productivity while accumulating lipids under nitrogen-deficient conditions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The modified organism exhibits at least 35% higher biomass productivity and 25% higher lipid productivity compared to control organisms, enhancing the potential for efficient biofuel production under nitrogen-deficient conditions.
Implementation Method 1
Since algae use energy from sunlight to combine water and carbon dioxide to produce biomass
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a recombinant photosynthetic organism that has been genetically modified in a gene encoding a protein kinase-like protein. The recombinant organism exhibits higher biomass productivity and higher lipid productivity versus a corresponding control algal organism not having the genetic modification. The recombinant organism is therefore useful in applications requiring biomass and/or lipid productivity, e.g., in the production of biofuels or other lipidic matter. Methods of using the organism and biomass containing or produced by the organism are also provided.