Enhanced Eicosapentaenoic Acid Production Via Synthetic Biological Strategy in

The rational dietary ratio of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) to eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) can exert neurotrophic and cardiotrophic effects on the human body. The marine microalga produces EPA yet no DHA, and thus, it is considered an ideal EPA-only model to pursue a rational DHA/EPA ratio. In this study, synthetic biological strategy was applied to improve EPA production in . Firstly, to identify promoters and terminators, fifteen genes from were isolated using a transcriptomic approach. Compared to , , and exhibited 1.2~1.3-fold increases in transcription levels. Secondly, to identify EPA-synthesizing modules, putative desaturases (NoFADs) and elongases (NoFAEs) were overexpressed by the and promoters/terminators in . Compared to the wild type (WT), and overexpression resulted in 47.7% and 40.6% increases in EPA yields, respectively. Thirdly, to store EPA in triacylglycerol (TAG), was overexpressed using the promoter/terminator, along with - stacking, forming transgenic line XS521. Compared to WT, TAG-EPA content increased by 154.8% in XS521. Finally, to inhibit TAG-EPA degradation, a TAG lipase-encoding gene was knocked out in XS521, leading to a 49.2-65.3% increase in TAG-EPA content. Our work expands upon EPA-enhancing approaches through synthetic biology in microalgae and potentially crops.