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Title Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of producing biofuel and value-added products by cadmium tolerant microalgae as sustainable biorefinery approach
ID_Doc 12330
Authors Tripathi, S; Kairamkonda, M; Gupta, P; Poluri, KM
Title Dissecting the molecular mechanisms of producing biofuel and value-added products by cadmium tolerant microalgae as sustainable biorefinery approach
Year 2023
Published
DOI 10.1016/j.cej.2022.140068
Abstract Microalgae can reconcile the deteriorating outcomes of environmental pollution by conserving the carbon footprint and generating green energy. Among different pollutants, cadmium (Cd) is one of the most noxious heavy metals that travels the ecological chain via phytoplanktons and stagnates the nutritional quality of aquatic life. In the present study, Scenedesmus sp. IITRIND2, a reported Cd-tolerant algal strain, has been subjected to detailed molecular investigations through metabolomics, gene expression, and biochemical analysis to dissect the pathways involved in Cd tolerance and the carbon flux channelization resulting in enhanced lipid/extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) production. The metabolic rewiring in the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) intermediates, amino acid metabolism, and starch metabolism presented the robust machinery of the cells to channelize the carbon pools for producing neutral lipids of vehicular quality under Cd stress. Further, microalgal cells instigated a defense network comprising organic osmolytes (betaine, ethylene glycol, sugars), antioxidants (glutathione, ascorbate, etc.,) and amino acids (glycine, glutamate, alanine, valine, threonine) suggesting the interplay of glutathione-ascorbate and probable phytochelatin based detoxification pathways as double edge sword to impart tolerance and detoxification of Cd. Moreover, stress-induced response constituted significant changes in the membrane fluidity and production of biodiesel quality lipids along with soluble EPS having paramount biotechnological applications. The outcomes of this study altogether presented an efficient model of algal-based biorefinery approach integrating the process of heavy metal (Cd) remediation and production of biodiesel and value-added products that are essential for a sustainable and circular economy.
Author Keywords Microalgae; Metabolomics; Cadmium; Lipid; Extracellular polysaccharide
Index Keywords Index Keywords
Document Type Other
Open Access Open Access
Source Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED)
EID WOS:000916038700002
WoS Category Engineering, Environmental; Engineering, Chemical
Research Area Engineering
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