Ecological Engineering Helps Maximize Function in Algal Oil Production

Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Sara L JackrelBradley J Cardinale

Abstract

Algal biofuels have the potential to curb the emissions of greenhouse gases from fossil fuels, but current growing methods fail to produce fuels that meet the multiple standards necessary for economical industrial use. For example, algae grown as monocultures for biofuel production have not simultaneously and economically achieved high yields of the high-quality lipid-rich biomass desired for the industrial-scale production of bio-oil. Decades of study in the field of ecology have demonstrated that simultaneous increases in multiple functions, such as the quantity and quality of biomass, can occur in natural ecosystems by increasing biological diversity. Here, we show that species consortia of algae can improve the production of bio-oil, which benefits from both a high biomass yield and a high quality of biomass rich in fatty acids. We explain the underlying causes of increased quantity and quality of algal biomass among species consortia by showing that, relative to monocultures, species consortia can differentially regulate lipid metabolism genes while growing to higher levels of biomass, in part due to a greater utilization of nutrient resources. We identify multiple genes involved in lipid biosynthesis that are frequently u...Continue Reading

References

Mar 13, 1999·The Plant Journal : for Cell and Molecular Biology·J ToddJ G Jaworski
Dec 16, 2000·The EMBO Journal·E Lopez-HuertasA Baker
Dec 21, 2000·Journal of Microbiological Methods·T LewisT A McMeekin
Nov 4, 2005·Nature·Martin T CroftAlison G Smith
Jul 7, 2007·Science·Anthony R Ives, Stephen R Carpenter
Oct 22, 2008·Journal of Lipid Research·Hideo ShindouTakao Shimizu
Oct 7, 2009·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Shady A AminCarl J Carrano
Dec 22, 2009·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Val H SmithSharon A Billings
May 20, 2011·Nucleic Acids Research·Robert D FinnSean R Eddy
Jun 29, 2011·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Chijun LiChristian R H Raetz
Mar 6, 2012·Nature Methods·Ben Langmead, Steven L Salzberg
Jun 9, 2012·Nature·Bradley J CardinaleShahid Naeem
Jan 8, 2013·Trends in Plant Science·Owen DuncanJames Whelan
Sep 11, 2013·Ecology Letters·Jonathan B ShurinVal H Smith
Dec 9, 2014·Harmful Algae·Endymion D CooperCharles F Delwiche
Mar 3, 2015·Industrial Biotechnology·Elena KazamiaAlison G Smith
Apr 25, 2015·Nature Communications·Jonathan S LefcheckJ Emmett Duffy
Dec 8, 2016·Bioresource Technology·Casey M GodwinBradley J Cardinale
Dec 10, 2016·Environmental Science & Technology·Anita NarwaniBradley J Cardinale

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Jan 23, 2020·MBio·Sara L JackrelVincent J Denef
May 11, 2021·Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology·Lina MattssonCatherine Legrand

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Biofuels (ASM)

Biofuels are produced through contemporary processes from biomass rather than geological processes involved in fossil fuel formation. Examples include biodiesel, green diesel, biogas, etc. Discover the latest research on biofuels in this feed.