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Genetic Modification of Mucor circinelloides for Canthaxanthin Production by Heterologous Expression of β-Carotene Ketolase Gene

Summary

This research developed a more efficient way to produce canthaxanthin, a natural red-orange pigment with health benefits, using genetically modified fungi. The scientists modified a common fungus to produce record levels of this valuable compound, which has applications in food coloring, cosmetics, and medicine. Impacts on everyday life: – Could lead to more affordable and natural food colorings – May improve the availability of natural antioxidant supplements – Could reduce reliance on synthetic additives in cosmetics and foods – May help make fish farming more sustainable through natural feed additives – Could provide new options for natural pharmaceutical ingredients

Background

Canthaxanthin is a valuable reddish-orange xanthophyll with strong antioxidant activity and higher bioavailability than carotenes. It is primarily used in food, cosmetics, aquaculture, and pharmaceutical industries. The growing market demand for natural canthaxanthin has prompted research into genetic engineering of heterologous hosts for its production. Mucor circinelloides, a dimorphic fungus that produces β-carotene as its major carotenoid, is considered a model organism for carotenogenic studies.

Objective

To develop a canthaxanthin-producing strain of M. circinelloides by integrating the codon-optimized β-carotene ketolase gene (bkt) from Haematococcus pluvialis into the genome of the fungus under control of the strong promoter zrt1.

Results

The genetically engineered strain produced a significant amount of canthaxanthin (576 ± 28 μg/g), the highest amount reported in Mucor to date. The cell dry weight reached over 9.0 g/L after 96 hours. The mRNA expression level of bkt in the overexpressing strain increased by 5.3-, 4.1-, and 3-folds at 24, 48, and 72 hours respectively compared to the control strain.

Conclusion

The study successfully developed a canthaxanthin-producing M. circinelloides strain through genetic modification, achieving the highest reported canthaxanthin production in Mucor. This provides a foundation for further improving biotechnological production of canthaxanthin and suggests a useful approach for constructing more valuable carotenoids like astaxanthin.
  • Published in:Frontiers in Nutrition,
  • Study Type:Genetic Engineering Study,
  • Source: 10.3389/fnut.2021.756218
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