Studies on the mechanisms for biosynthesis of useful hydrocarbons by a green microalga based on data from EST analyses.

• Project/Area Number: 21380130
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Fisheries chemistry
• 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, 准教授 (00224014)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): MATSUNAGA Shigeki 東京大学, 大学院・農学生命科学研究科, 教授 (60183951)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): KUZUYAMA Tomohisa 東京大学, 生物生産工学研究センター, 准教授 (30280952)
• Project Period (FY): 2009 – 2011
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2011)
• Budget Amount: ¥17,810,000 (Direct Cost: ¥13,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥4,110,000); Fiscal Year 2011: ¥3,770,000 (Direct Cost: ¥2,900,000、Indirect Cost: ¥870,000); Fiscal Year 2010: ¥4,030,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,100,000、Indirect Cost: ¥930,000); Fiscal Year 2009: ¥10,010,000 (Direct Cost: ¥7,700,000、Indirect Cost: ¥2,310,000)
• Keywords: 微細藻類 / 生合成 / トリテルペン / 炭化水素 / 代替石油生産 / Botryococcus braunii / イソプレノイド / スクアレン / プレスクアレン二リン酸 / Botryococcene / メチルエリスリトールリン酸 / プレスクアレンニリン酸 / (E)-4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-eneyl 1-diphosphate reductase

Research Abstract

A microalga Botryococcus braunii produces large amounts of triterpene hydrocarbons, botryococcenes and methylsqualenes that are specific to the species. Those hydrocarbons are thought to be attractive as an alternative of petroleum. In this study, genes expressed in the alga were analyzed and some genes coding for new enzymes concerned with biosyntheses and metabolism of the hydrocarbons were identified. The mechanism for hydrocarbon production by the alga was found to be quite unique.

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Functional identification of triterpene methyltransferases from Botryococcus braunii Race B (2012)
  • Author(s): T. D. Niehaus、S. Kinison、S. Okada、Y.-S. Yeo、S. A. Bell、P. Cui、T. P. Devarenne、J. Chappell
  • Journal Title: J. Biol. Chem. Volume: 287 Issue: 11 Pages: 8163-8173
  • DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m111.316059
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] The single cellular green microalga Botryococcus braunii, race B possesses three distinct 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate synthases (2012)
  • Author(s): D. Matsushima、H. Jenke-Kodama、Y. Sato、Y. Fukunaga、K. Sumimoto、T. Kuzuyama、S. Matsunaga、S. Okada
  • Journal Title: Plant Sci. Volume: 185-186 Pages: 309-320
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2012.01.002
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Identification of unique mechanisms for triterpene biosynthesis in Botryococcus braunii (2011)
  • Author(s): T. D. Niehaus、S. Okada、T. P. Devarenne、D. S. Watt、V. Sviripa、J. Chappell
  • Journal Title: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA Volume: 108 Pages: 12260-12265
  • URL: http://www.pnas.org/cgi/doi/10.1073/pnas.1106222108
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Journal Article] Identification of unique mechanisms for triterpene biosynthesis in Botryococcus braunii (2011)
  • Author(s): Tom D.Niehaus
  • Journal Title: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA Volume: 108 Issue: 30 Pages: 12260-12265
  • DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1106222108
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] Identification of unique mechanisms for triterpene biosynthesis in Botryococcus braunii (2011)
  • Author(s): T. D. Niehaus、S. Okada、T. P. Devarenne、D. S. Watt、V. Sviripa、J. Chappell
  • Organizer: TERPNET2011
  • Place of Presentation: Kalmar、Sweden
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-24
• [Presentation] Cloning and characterization of 1-deoxy-D-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase from the B race of a green microalga Botryococcus braunii (2011)
  • Author(s): K. Fujisawa、H. Jenke-Kodama、T. Kurokawa、Y. Fukunaga、S. Matsunaga、S. Okada
  • Organizer: TERPNET2011
  • Place of Presentation: Kalmar、Sweden
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-24
• [Presentation] Identification of unique mechanisms for triterpene biosynthesis in Botryococcus braunii (2011)
  • Author(s): Tom D.Niehaus
  • Organizer: TERPNET 2011
  • Place of Presentation: Linnaeus大学、Kalmar, Sweden
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-24
• [Presentation] Elucidation of novel triterpene pathways in Botryococcus and engineering plants for high-value oil production (2011)
  • Author(s): T. D. Niehaus、S. Okada、S. Wu、T. P. Devarenne、D. S. Watt、V. Sviripa、J. Chappell
  • Organizer: TERPNET2011
  • Place of Presentation: Kalmar、Sweden
  • Year and Date: 2011-05-23
• [Presentation] 微細緑藻Botryococcus brauniiのトリテルペン生合成関連遺伝子の発現解析 (2011)
  • Author(s): 福永有佑、岡田茂、松永茂樹、T. Niehaus、J. Chappell
  • Organizer: 平成23年度日本水産学会春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 東京
  • Year and Date: 2011-03-30
• [Presentation] ユーグレナ研究会 (2010)
  • Author(s): 岡田茂
  • Organizer: 微細Bortyococcus brauniiの炭化水素生産に関する研究の現状と展望
  • Place of Presentation: 東京大学農学部
  • Year and Date: 2010-11-13
• [Presentation] 誰がために油は溜まる-微細藻類Botryococcus brauniiの炭化水素生合成メカニズムの解明- (2010)
  • Author(s): 岡田茂・J.Oe ChaPPell
  • Organizer: 第62回日本生物工学会大会
  • Place of Presentation: ワールドコンベンションセンターサミットフェニックス・シーガイア・リゾート
  • Year and Date: 2010-10-29
• [Presentation] 微細藻Botryococous braunij-B品種の4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase遺伝子の機能・発現解析 (2010)
  • Author(s): 住本惟光・岡田茂・松永茂樹
  • Organizer: 平成22年度日本水産学会春季大会
  • Place of Presentation: 日本大学生物資源科学部
  • Year and Date: 2010-03-29
• [Presentation] Molecular exploration of C34 botryococcene production in Botryococcus braunii (2009)
  • Author(s): T. Weiss、P. Cui、S. Okada、J. Chappell、T. P. Devarenne
  • Organizer: TERPNET2009
  • Place of Presentation: Tokyo、Japan
  • Year and Date: 2009-05-27
• [Presentation] Elucidation of the linear triterpene biosynthetic pathways in Botryococcus braunii (2009)
  • Author(s): T. Niehaus、S. Kinison、S. Okada、T. P. Devarenne、J. Chappell
  • Organizer: TERPNET2009
  • Place of Presentation: Tokyo、Japan
  • Year and Date: 2009-05-27
• [Presentation] Characterization of 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase from the green microalga Botryococcus braunii, race B (2009)
  • Author(s): K. Sumimoto、S. Okada、S. Matsunaga
  • Organizer: TERPNET2009
  • Place of Presentation: Tokyo、Japan
  • Year and Date: 2009-05-26
• [Book] マリンバイオテクノロジーの新潮流「第4章1.バイオエネルギー」 (2011)
  • Author(s): 岡田茂
  • Publisher: シーエムシー出版
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] New Botryococcus braunii triterpene synthase, useful for producing high levels of triterpene hydrocarbons (2011)
  • Inventor(s): J. Chappell、S. Okada、T. Niehaus、T. Devarenne
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: J. Chappell、S. Okada、T. Niehaus、T. Devarenne
  • Filing Date: 2011-12-01
  • Overseas
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] New Botryococcus braunii triterpene synthase, useful for producing high levels of triterpene hydrocarbons (2011)
  • Inventor(s): Niehaus, Okada, Devarenne, Chappell
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: Niehaus, Okada, Devarenne, Chappell
  • Filing Date: 2011-07-19
  • Overseas
• [Patent(Industrial Property Rights)] Novel polypeptide isolated from Botryococcus braunii, useful for producing triterpenes including botryococcene and squalene (2009)
  • Inventor(s): J. Chappell、T. Devarenne、T. Niehaus、S. Okada
  • Industrial Property Rights Holder: University of Kentucky Research Foundation
  • Filing Date: 2009-08-11
  • Overseas