Studies on biosynthesis of linear hydrocarbons by microalgae from the viewpoint of biofuel productions

• Project/Area Number: 15H04547
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Aquatic life science
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Okada Shigeru 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 准教授 (00224014)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 松永 茂樹 東京大学, 大学院農学生命科学研究科(農学部), 教授 (60183951)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2017)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,680,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,600,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,080,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥2,470,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥570,000); Fiscal Year 2016: ¥2,340,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,800,000、Indirect Cost: ¥540,000); Fiscal Year 2015: ¥12,870,000 (Direct Cost: ¥9,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,970,000)
• Keywords: 微細藻類 / バイオ燃料 / 直鎖アルカン / 直鎖アルケン / 脂肪酸 / 生合成酵素 / 炭化水素 / Botryococcus braunii / photodecarboxylase / n-アルケン / n-アルカン / バイオエネルギー / アルケン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Microalgae such as green algae or diatoms are known to produce small amounts of linear hydrocarbons derived from fatty acids. The microalga, Botryococcus braunii also accumulates large amounts of unique linear alkenes that have a terminal double in their molecules. In this study, identification of genes concerned with biosynthesis of linear hydrocarbons in microalgae was tried. Genes coding for fatty acid photodecarboxylase (FAP), a new enzyme recently discovered from green microalgae were also expressed in B. braunii. FAP proteins of B. braunii could produce linear hydrocarbons from fatty acids such as palmitic acid or oleic acid.

Research Products

• [Int'l Joint Research] Texas A&M University(米国)