Arabidopsis phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase 1 involved in phosphatidylglycerol biosynthesis and photosynthetic function.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is an indispensable lipid constituent of photosynthetic membranes, whose function is essential in photosynthetic activity. In higher plants, the biological function of the last step of PG biosynthesis remains elusive because an enzyme catalyzing this reaction step, namely phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase (PGPP), has been a missing piece in the entire glycerolipid metabolic map. Here, we report the identification and characterization of AtPGPP1 encoding a PGPP in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Isolation and characterization of a mutant defective in triacylglycerol accumulation in nitrogen-starved Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Triacylglycerol (TAG), a major source of biodiesel production, accumulates in nitrogen-starved Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. However, the metabolic pathway of starch-to-TAG conversion remains elusive because an enzyme that affects the starch degradation is unknown. Here, we isolated a new class of mutant bgal1, which expressed an overaccumulation of starch granules and defective photosynthetic growth.

In vivo Reconstitution of Algal Triacylglycerol Production in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The current fascination with algal biofuel production stems from a high lipid biosynthetic capacity and little conflict with land plant cultivation. However, the mechanisms which enable algae to accumulate massive oil remain elusive. An enzyme for triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, CrDGTT2, can produce a large amount of TAG when expressed in yeast or higher plants, suggesting a unique ability of CrDGTT2 to enhance oil production in a heterologous system.

Functional Specificity of Cardiolipin Synthase Revealed by the Identification of a Cardiolipin Synthase CrCLS1 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL) are two essential classes of phospholipid in plants and algae. Phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase (PGPS) and cardiolipin synthase (CLS) involved in the biosynthesis of PG and CL belong to CDP-alcohol phosphotransferase and share overall amino acid sequence homology. However, it remains elusive whether PGPS and CLS are functionally distinct in vivo.

Characterization of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is an indispensable phospholipid class with photosynthetic function in plants and cyanobacteria. However, its biosynthesis in eukaryotic green microalgae is poorly studied. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of two homologs (CrPGP1 and CrPGP2) of phosphatidylglycerophosphate synthase (PGPS), the rate-limiting enzyme in PG biosynthesis, in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Isolation and characterization of a phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase1, PGPP1, in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is the exclusive phospholipid synthesized in chloroplasts and plays important roles in photosynthesis. However, phosphatidylglycerophosphate phosphatase (PGPP), which catalyzes the final step of PG biosynthesis, is a missing piece in photosynthetic eukaryotes. Here, we isolated a previously uncharacterized haloacid dehalogenase-like phosphatase, designated CrPGPP1, as a putative PGPP in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Functional study of diacylglycerol acyltransferase type 2 family in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

Algal triacylglycerol biosynthesis is of increasing interest for potential biodiesel production. A model microalga, Chlamydomonas, has multiple isoforms of diacylglycerol acyltransferase type 2 (DGTT) catalyzing the final step of triacylglycerol biosynthesis; however, the functions of the isoforms are poorly understood. Here, we performed heterologous complementation assay of Chlamydomonas DGTT1 to 4 in a yeast mutant defective in triacylglycerol biosynthesis.