Genetic modification and evaluation of plant hormones in beta-carotene production by Dunaliella salina in continuous cultivation process

• Grant number: 22/07002-8
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: December 01, 2022
• End date: November 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Technology
• Principal Investigator: João Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho
• Grantee: João Carlos Monteiro de Carvalho
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas (FCF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Jarlei Fiamoncini ; João Vitor Dutra Molino ; Lívia Seno Ferreira Camargo ; Stephen Mayfield
• Associated scholarship(s): 24/17597-4 - Development and characterization of mango popsicles enriched with beta-carotene using the microalgae Dunaliella salina, BP.IC

Abstract

Microalgae and cyanobacteria arouse technological and industrial interest, as they produce components with high added value, being used entirely in the form of extracts, or purified compounds, in food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations, among others. Dunaliella salina is an important carotenoid-producing microalgae, particularly of ²-carotene. Obtaining biomass with higher content of carotenoids reduces the cost of production, as there is a need to process a smaller amount of biomass to obtain pigments. This microalgae is promising in the field of genetic engineering. Therefore, the objective of this project is to increase ²-carotene production in D. salina by overexpression of gene encoding the phytoene synthase enzyme into chloroplast DNA, as well as knocking out the genes encoding the ²-carotene hydroxylase e lycopene e-cyclase enzymes into chloroplast DNA through the CRISPR/CAS9 technique; finally, use the continuous process as a tool for a better understanding of the production of carotenoids in wild and genetically modified cells as well as to evaluate the stability of the modified microalgae. In addition, employ the continuous process to evaluate plant hormones as possible activators of carotenogenesis in both wild and genetically modified cells. Using genetic engineering techniques and continuous process of cultivation, it is expected to obtain the best conditions for production of ²-carotene by genetically modified D. salina. (AU)