Bionic 3D printed corals

Corals have evolved as optimized photon augmentation systems, leading to space-efficient microalgal growth and outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies. Light attenuation due to algal self-shading is a key limiting factor for the upscaling of microalgal cultivation. Coral-inspired light management systems could overcome this limitation and facilitate scalable bioenergy and bioproduct generation. Here, we develop 3D printed bionic corals capable of growing microalgae with high spatial cell densities of up to 109 cells mL−1. The hybrid photosynthetic biomaterials are produced with a 3D bioprinting platform which mimics morphological features of living coral tissue and the underlying skeleton with micron resolution, including their optical and mechanical properties. The programmable synthetic microenvironment thus allows for replicating both structural and functional traits of the coral-algal symbiosis. Our work defines a class of bionic materials that is capable of interacting with living organisms and can be exploited for applied coral reef research and photobioreactor design. © 2020, Crown

Bionic 3D printed corals

Funder: European Union Horizon 2020 schemeAbstract: Corals have evolved as optimized photon augmentation systems, leading to space-efficient microalgal growth and outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies. Light attenuation due to algal self-shading is a key limiting factor for the upscaling of microalgal cultivation. Coral-inspired light management systems could overcome this limitation and facilitate scalable bioenergy and bioproduct generation. Here, we develop 3D printed bionic corals capable of growing microalgae with high spatial cell densities of up to 109 cells mL−1. The hybrid photosynthetic biomaterials are produced with a 3D bioprinting platform which mimics morphological features of living coral tissue and the underlying skeleton with micron resolution, including their optical and mechanical properties. The programmable synthetic microenvironment thus allows for replicating both structural and functional traits of the coral-algal symbiosis. Our work defines a class of bionic materials that is capable of interacting with living organisms and can be exploited for applied coral reef research and photobioreactor design

Bionic 3D printed corals

Funder: European Union Horizon 2020 schemeAbstract: Corals have evolved as optimized photon augmentation systems, leading to space-efficient microalgal growth and outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies. Light attenuation due to algal self-shading is a key limiting factor for the upscaling of microalgal cultivation. Coral-inspired light management systems could overcome this limitation and facilitate scalable bioenergy and bioproduct generation. Here, we develop 3D printed bionic corals capable of growing microalgae with high spatial cell densities of up to 109 cells mL−1. The hybrid photosynthetic biomaterials are produced with a 3D bioprinting platform which mimics morphological features of living coral tissue and the underlying skeleton with micron resolution, including their optical and mechanical properties. The programmable synthetic microenvironment thus allows for replicating both structural and functional traits of the coral-algal symbiosis. Our work defines a class of bionic materials that is capable of interacting with living organisms and can be exploited for applied coral reef research and photobioreactor design

Carotenoid biosynthesis and productivity in diatoms

Due to their versatility and modest cultivation requirements, microalgae are a promising potential source of sustainable fuel, chemicals, and food. At present, microalgal production at scale is not economically viable. A major hurdle to productivity is the inefficient use of light energy by dense microalgal cultures. Due to extensive photopigmentation, microalgae closest to the light source absorb more light than they can use, and wastefully dissipate the rest. As a result, light penetrance into the culture is steeply attenuated. Reducing light-harvesting or dissipation capacity of microalgal cells is a promising solution to uneven light distribution in mass cultures. Most efforts to do so have focused on chlorophytes, with some successes. Diatoms are a class of microalgae that is very promising in terms of productivity and has evolved light harvesting and photoprotective strategies that differ substantially from those utilized by chlorophytes. This dissertation explores the notion of improving diatom productivity through manipulating their light-harvesting and dissipation capabilities. Because microalgal performance in production conditions can differ substantially from what is observed in the laboratory, the responses of a wild-type production candidate diatom to simulated outdoor conditions are examined in Chapter 1. Substantial diel changes in hypothetical product yields were observed and discussed in terms of what variables need to be optimized to maximize productivity. Main light-harvesting and photoprotective carotenoid-derived photopigments were found to respond differently to chloroplast division and changes in irradiance, suggesting differential regulation. Chapter 2 examined carotenoid biosynthesis in diatoms, because diatom carotenoids play major light-harvesting and photoprotective roles. Targets for genetic manipulation were identified, transgenic lines with two distinct altered photopigmentation phenotypes were generated, and a model for how diatom carotenoid biosynthesis may be differentially regulated in response to chloroplast division and irradiance increase was developed. Chapter 3 focused on examining photosynthetic performance, growth, and productivity of two transgenic strains created in Chapter 2 and identified a strategy that may substantially improve diatom productivity. Overall, the dissertation substantially advances the understanding of diatom carotenoid biosynthesis, identifies strategies for improving light utilization efficiency in diatom cultures, and contributes to the understanding of practices to maximize the productivity of commercial microalgal cultivation

Bionic 3D printed corals.

Corals have evolved as optimized photon augmentation systems, leading to space-efficient microalgal growth and outstanding photosynthetic quantum efficiencies. Light attenuation due to algal self-shading is a key limiting factor for the upscaling of microalgal cultivation. Coral-inspired light management systems could overcome this limitation and facilitate scalable bioenergy and bioproduct generation. Here, we develop 3D printed bionic corals capable of growing microalgae with high spatial cell densities of up to 109 cells mL-1. The hybrid photosynthetic biomaterials are produced with a 3D bioprinting platform which mimics morphological features of living coral tissue and the underlying skeleton with micron resolution, including their optical and mechanical properties. The programmable synthetic microenvironment thus allows for replicating both structural and functional traits of the coral-algal symbiosis. Our work defines a class of bionic materials that is capable of interacting with living organisms and can be exploited for applied coral reef research and photobioreactor design

Quantitative Proteomics Analysis of the Effects of Ionizing Radiation in Wild Type and p53K317R Knock-in Mouse Thymocytes*S⃞

The tumor suppressor protein p53 is a sequence-specific transcription factor that has crucial roles in apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, and DNA repair. Following exposure to a variety of stresses, p53 becomes post-translationally modified with concomitant increases in activity and stability. To better understand the role of acetylation of Lys-317 in mouse p53, the effect of ionizing radiation (IR) on the thymocytes of p53K317R knock-in mice was studied at the global level. Using cleavable ICAT quantitative mass spectrometry, the effect of IR on protein levels in either the wild type or p53K317R thymocytes was determined. We found 102 proteins to be significantly affected by IR in the wild type thymocytes, including several whose expression has been shown to be directly regulated by p53. When the effects of IR in the wild type and p53K317R samples were compared, 46 proteins were found to be differently affected (p < 0.05). The p53K317R mutation has widespread effects on specific protein levels following IR, including the levels of proteins involved in apoptosis, transcription, and translation. Pathway analysis of the differently regulated proteins suggests an increase in p53 activity in the p53K317R thymocytes as well as a decrease in tumor necrosis factor α signaling. These results suggest that acetylation of Lys-317 modulates the functions of p53 and influences the cross-talk between the DNA damage response and other signaling pathways

Genome and methylome of the oleaginous diatom Cyclotella cryptica reveal genetic flexibility toward a high lipid phenotype.

BackgroundImprovement in the performance of eukaryotic microalgae for biofuel and bioproduct production is largely dependent on characterization of metabolic mechanisms within the cell. The marine diatom Cyclotella cryptica, which was originally identified in the Aquatic Species Program, is a promising strain of microalgae for large-scale production of biofuel and bioproducts, such as omega-3 fatty acids.ResultsWe sequenced the nuclear genome and methylome of this oleaginous diatom to identify the genetic traits that enable substantial accumulation of triacylglycerol. The genome is comprised of highly methylated repetitive sequence, which does not significantly change under silicon starved lipid induction, and data further suggests the primary role of DNA methylation is to suppress DNA transposition. Annotation of pivotal glycolytic, lipid metabolism, and carbohydrate degradation processes reveal an expanded enzyme repertoire&nbsp;in&nbsp;C. cryptica that would allow for an increased metabolic capacity toward triacylglycerol production. Identification of previously unidentified genes, including those involved in carbon transport and chitin metabolism, provide potential targets for genetic manipulation of carbon flux to further increase its lipid phenotype. New genetic tools were developed, bringing this organism on a par with other microalgae in terms of genetic manipulation and characterization approaches.ConclusionsFunctional annotation and detailed cross-species comparison of key carbon rich processes in C. cryptica highlights the importance of enzymatic subcellular compartmentation for regulation of carbon flux, which is often overlooked in photosynthetic microeukaryotes. The availability of the genome sequence, as well as advanced genetic manipulation tools enable further development of this organism for deployment in large-scale production systems

Comparative Law and Economics - Opportunities and Dangers of Interdisciplinary Transplants

Additional file 4. Triose phosphate transporters, accession numbers for sequences used in Fig. 9 and Additional file 1: Figure S2