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Strategies to explore the potential of cyanobacteria for the production of essential amino acids

Cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae are the only prokaryotic organisms, which perform oxygenic photosynthesis like plants. They can be cultivated easily in freshwater as well as in marine water.

Many cyanobacteria grow very fast and in contrast to eukaryotic algae some are able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. Large scale cultivation of cyanobacteria is already established in order to produce vitamins and essential fatty acids as dietary supplements for use in fish nutrition.  

The aim of this collaborative project is to explore the potential of cyanobacteria for the production of food components. Cyanobacteria synthesize the storage compound cyanophycin, a water-insoluble polymer consisting of the amino acids aspartate and arginine. Pure arginine, which is an important dietary supplement can be gained from cyanophycin.

In this project we will identify cyanobacteria with high cyanophycin accumulation and grow them in photobioreactors to optimize production rates. Stress factors and production limitations will be identified by microarray and physiological analyses. In addition, we will establish protocols for contamination control of microalgal photobioreactors using molecular methods.

Our project is transdisciplinary, integrating biochemical, molecular and microbiological know-how with biotechnological expertise in cultivating algae.

 

Collaborations:


 

Clemens Posten, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Karl Forchhammer, University of Tübingen

Wolfgang Hess, University of Freiburg


Financed by Bioeconomy Baden Württemberg

 

Publications:



Trautmann A, Watzer B, Wilde A, Forchhammer K, Posten C. (2016) Effect of phosphate availability on cyanophycin accumulation in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 and the production strain BW86. Algal Research 20, 189-196.

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