Enhanced biomass and oxidative stress tolerance of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 overexpressing the DHAR gene from Brassica juncea.

OBJECTIVES: To improve the oxidative stress tolerance, biomass yield, and ascorbate/dehydroascorbate (AsA/DHA) ratio of Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 in the presence of H2 O2 , by heterologous expression of the dehydroascorbate reductase (DHAR) gene from Brassica juncea (BrDHAR).

RESULTS: Under H2 O2 stress, overexpression of BrDHAR in the transgenic strain (BrD) of S. elongatus greatly increased the AsA/DHA ratio. As part of the AsA recycling system, the oxidative stress response induced by reactive oxygen species was enhanced, and intracellular H2 O2 level decreased. In addition, under H2 O2 stress conditions, the BrD strain displayed increased growth rate and biomass, as well as higher chlorophyll content and deeper pigmentation than did wild-type and control strains.

CONCLUSION: By maintaining the AsA pool and redox homeostasis, the heterologous expression of BrDHAR increased S. elongatus tolerance to H2 O2 stress, improving the biomass yield under these conditions. The results suggest that the BrD strain of S. elongatus, with its ability to attenuate the deleterious effects of ROS caused by environmental stressors, could be a promising platform for the generation of biofuels and other valuable bioproducts.