Biotechnology Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (11): 190-200.doi: 10.13560/j.cnki.biotech.bull.1985.2025-0809

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Mining and Analysis of Proteins Associated with Neoxanthin Biosynthesis in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

LIANG Ying-yi(), ZHAO An-su, WANG Rui-xi, SHEN Tian-hong, MA Xin-rong, WANG Min, LUO Jian-mei()   

  1. Laboratory of Bio-based Fiber Materials, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology (Tianjin University of Science and Technology), Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Lab of Industrial Microbiology, Tianjin Engineering Research Center of Microbial Metabolism and Fermentation Process Control, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Tianjin 300457
  • Received:2025-07-26 Online:2025-11-26 Published:2025-12-09
  • Contact: LUO Jian-mei E-mail:908289174@qq.com;luojianmei@tust.edu.cn

Abstract:

Objective Neoxanthin is a lipid-soluble carotenoid widely found in green plants. It serves not only as an essential pigment in photosynthesis but also presents various important physiological functions, such as antioxidant activity. Thus, analyzing the influences of culture conditions and associated proteins on neoxanthin synthesis is critical for enhancing its production. Method Using the model microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii as object, the effects of different culture conditions, including nitrogen deficiency, sulfur deficiency, and light intensity, on neoxanthin synthesis were examined. Through the integrated analysis of bioinformatics, RNA interference (RNAi), transcriptional level, and HPLC quantification, proteins associated with neoxanthin synthesis in C. reinhardtii were mined. Result Compared to normal conditions, the increase in light intensity from 3 000 lx to 4 000 lx promoted neoxanthin content in C. reinhardtii by 16.1%, while nitrogen deficiency and sulfur deficiency reduced the amount by 37.2% and 42.6%, respectively. Among three putative DUF4281 domain-containing proteins, the knockdown of nxs2 and nxs3 enhanced neoxanthin content by 17.4% and 33.7%, respectively, whereas the interference with nxs1 showed no significant effect. Further analysis revealed that under 4 000 lx light intensity and sulfur-deficient conditions, the transcript level of nxs3 decreased by 30.4% and increased by 34.0%, respectively. These changes correlated well with the increased neoxanthin content under 4 000 lx and the decreased content under sulfur deficiency. Conclusion 4 000 lx light conditions are more conducive to neoxanthin synthesis than 3000 lx, while nitrogen deficiency and sulfur deficiency yield inhibition effects. In addition, nxs2 and nxs3 negatively regulate neoxanthin synthesis in C. reinhardtii, whereas nxs1 has no significant effect.

Key words: neoxanthin, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, culture conditions, associated proteins, RNA interference (RNAi), transcriptional level