Isolation and characterization of a stress-inducible Dunaliella salina Lcy-beta gene encoding a functional lycopene beta-cyclase.

Ana A Ramos; Coesel, Sacha; Marques, Ana; Rodrigues, Marta; Baumgartner, Alexandra; Noronha, João; Rauter, Amélia; Brenig, Bertram; João Varela; Furota, S.; Grunert, P.; Hodell, D.; Jimenez-Espejo, F.; Kim, J. K.; Krissek, L.; Kuroda, J.; Li, B.; Llave, E.; Lofi, J.; Lourens, L.; Miller, M.; Nanayama, F.; Nishida, N.; Richter, C.; Roque, C.; Hugo Pereira; Sanchez Goni, M. F.; Sierro, F. J.; Singh, A. D.; Sloss, C.; Takashimizu, Y.; Tzanova, A.; Antje H. L. Voelker; Williams, T.; Xuan, C.

Marine Biotechnology

Short Title

MarBiotech

Description

Coordinator

João Varela

Organiza

Main

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The Marine Biotechnology research group is currently ongoing active research in different fields of microalgal biotechnology, as well as in the exploitation of different marine organisms as sources of novel bioactive compounds. In addition, the group uses structure-based design for lead optimisation with the final goal of obtaining novel drugs to fight human and animal disease.

The MarBiotech research group is focused on the following interrelated research lines:

- Algae biofuels.

- Molecular basis of carotenoid biosynthesis in microalgae.

- Isolation of carotenoid- and lipid-hyperproducing microalgal strains.

- LEDs for microalgal production.

- Marine innovative feeds and functional foods.

- Marine bioactive compounds.

- Drug lead development and optimisation.

News

Especialistas do CCMAR vão otimizar produção e utilização de microalgas

New on Board: Chloé Placines

Three CCMAR researchers receive Tech2Market awards

NEW ON BOARD: Etiele Morais

New MSc Student: Ricardo Cerqueira

New MSc Student: Gabriel Bombo

Girl Power: inspire two young researchers

MarBiotech researchers participated in the EUROCAROTEN conference

CCMAR researchers participated in the ALGAEUROPE congress

Workshop Algae was a success

What will be the impact of COVID-19 on the Environment in 2040?

What are the benefits of LED lighting in microalgae cultivation?

Members

Enroll

Table view

Name	Position
Carolina	Investigador
Carolina Amaral Frade Bruno de Sousa
Chloé Placines
Filipa Pinheiro	PhD Student
Hugo Galvão Caiano Pereira
João Varela	Investigador
Lisa Schueler	PhD Student
Luísa Barreira	Senior Researcher
Marta Oliveira
Nadpi Gangadhar Katkam
Pedro Filipe Castela Horta
Peter Simon Claus Schulze

Grid view

Carolina

Position:

Investigador

Carolina Amaral Frade Bruno de Sousa

Position:

Chloé Placines

Position:

Filipa Pinheiro

Position:

PhD Student

Hugo Galvão Caiano Pereira

Position:

João Varela

Position:

Investigador

Lisa Schueler

Position:

PhD Student

Luísa Barreira

Position:

Senior Researcher

Marta Oliveira

Position:

Nadpi Gangadhar Katkam

Position:

Pedro Filipe Castela Horta

Position:

Peter Simon Claus Schulze

Position:

Gallery

Publications

All Publications


Pereira CGuerreiro, Barreira L, Bijttebier S, et al. Chemical profiling of infusions and decoctions of Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii by UHPLC-PDA-MS and in vitro biological activities comparatively with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis). Journal of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis. 2017;145. doi:10.1016/j.jpba.2017.07.007 Read more about Chemical profiling of infusions and decoctions of Helichrysum italicum subsp. picardii by UHPLC-PDA-MS and in vitro biological activities comparatively with green tea (Camellia sinensis) and rooibos tisane (Aspalathus linearis) Google Scholar DOI
Rodrigues MJoão, Neves V, Martins A, et al. In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Limonium algarvense flowers' infusions and decoctions: A comparison with green tea (Camellia sinensis). Food Chem. 2016;200:322-9. doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.01.048 Read more about In vitro antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of Limonium algarvense flowers' infusions and decoctions: A comparison with green tea (Camellia sinensis). Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Custódio L, Laukaityte S, Engelen AH, et al. A comparative evaluation of biological activities and bioactive compounds of the seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera noltei from southern Portugal. Natural Product Research. 2016;30(6):724 - 728. doi:10.1080/14786419.2015.1040791 Read more about A comparative evaluation of biological activities and bioactive compounds of the seagrasses Zostera marina and Zostera noltei from southern Portugal Google Scholar DOI
Oliveira M, Junior PAdemar Sal, Rodrigues MJoão, et al. Unlocking the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of halophyte plants from the southern Portugal. Asian Pac J Trop Med. 2016;9(8):735-41. doi:10.1016/j.apjtm.2016.06.015 Read more about Unlocking the in vitro anti-Trypanosoma cruzi activity of halophyte plants from the southern Portugal. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Ismael A, Henriques MSC, Marques C, et al. Exploring saccharinate-tetrazoles as selective Cu(. RSC Adv. 2016;6(75):71628 - 71637. doi:10.1039/C6RA15051A Read more about Exploring saccharinate-tetrazoles as selective Cu( Google Scholar DOI
Pereira H, Custódio L, Rodrigues MJ, et al. Profiling of antioxidant potential and phytoconstituents of Plantago coronopus. Brazilian Journal of Biology. 2016;(ahead). doi:10.1590/1519-6984.02416 Read more about Profiling of antioxidant potential and phytoconstituents of Plantago coronopus Google Scholar DOI
Grosso C, Cardoso ALúcia, Lemos A, et al. Novel approach to bis(indolyl)methanes: de novo synthesis of 1-hydroxyiminomethyl derivatives with anti-cancer properties. Eur J Med Chem. 2015;93:9-15. doi:10.1016/j.ejmech.2015.01.050 Read more about Novel approach to bis(indolyl)methanes: de novo synthesis of 1-hydroxyiminomethyl derivatives with anti-cancer properties. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Vizetto-Duarte C, Pereira H, de Sousa CBruno, et al. Fatty acid profile of different species of algae of the Cystoseira genus: a nutraceutical perspective. Nat Prod Res. 2015;29(13):1264-70. doi:10.1080/14786419.2014.992343 Read more about Fatty acid profile of different species of algae of the Cystoseira genus: a nutraceutical perspective. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Pereira H, Custódio L, Rodrigues MJoão, et al. Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Methanolic Extracts of Selected Autochthonous Microalgae Strains from the Red Sea. Mar Drugs. 2015;13(6):3531-49. doi:10.3390/md13063531 Read more about Biological Activities and Chemical Composition of Methanolic Extracts of Selected Autochthonous Microalgae Strains from the Red Sea. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Rodrigues MJoão, Gangadhar KN, Vizetto-Duarte C, et al. Maritime halophyte species from southern Portugal as sources of bioactive molecules. Mar Drugs. 2014;12(4):2228-44. doi:10.3390/md12042228 Read more about Maritime halophyte species from southern Portugal as sources of bioactive molecules. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Hernandez-Molina FJ, Stow DAV, Alvarez-Zarikian CA, et al. Onset of Mediterranean outflow into the North Atlantic. Science. 2014;344(6189):1244 - 1250. doi:10.1126/science.1251306 Read more about Onset of Mediterranean outflow into the North Atlantic Google Scholar DOI
Schulze PSC, Barreira L, Pereira H, Perales JA, Varela J. Light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied to microalgal production. Trends Biotechnol. 2014;32(8):422-30. doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2014.06.001 Read more about Light emitting diodes (LEDs) applied to microalgal production. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Martins DAlves, Custódio L, Barreira L, et al. Alternative sources of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in marine microalgae. Mar Drugs. 2013;11(7):2259-81. doi:10.3390/md11072259 Read more about Alternative sources of n-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in marine microalgae. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Maria VL, Gomes T, Barreira L, Bebianno MJ. Impact of benzo(a)pyrene, Cu and their mixture on the proteomic response of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Aquat Toxicol. 2013;144-145:284-95. doi:10.1016/j.aquatox.2013.10.009 Read more about Impact of benzo(a)pyrene, Cu and their mixture on the proteomic response of Mytilus galloprovincialis. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Hernández-Prieto MA, Schön V, Georg J, et al. Iron deprivation in Synechocystis: inference of pathways, non-coding RNAs, and regulatory elements from comprehensive expression profiling. G3 (Bethesda). 2012;2(12):1475-95. doi:10.1534/g3.112.003863 Read more about Iron deprivation in Synechocystis: inference of pathways, non-coding RNAs, and regulatory elements from comprehensive expression profiling. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Pereira H, Barreira L, Figueiredo F, et al. Polyunsaturated Fatty acids of marine macroalgae: potential for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. Mar Drugs. 2012;10(9):1920-35. doi:10.3390/md10091920 Read more about Polyunsaturated Fatty acids of marine macroalgae: potential for nutritional and pharmaceutical applications. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Pereira H, Barreira L, Mozes A, et al. Microplate-based high throughput screening procedure for the isolation of lipid-rich marine microalgae. Biotechnol Biofuels. 2011;4(1):61. doi:10.1186/1754-6834-4-61 Read more about Microplate-based high throughput screening procedure for the isolation of lipid-rich marine microalgae. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Ramos AA, Marques AR, Rodrigues M, et al. Molecular and functional characterization of a cDNA encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase from Dunaliella salina. J Plant Physiol. 2009;166(9):968-77. doi:10.1016/j.jplph.2008.11.008 Read more about Molecular and functional characterization of a cDNA encoding 4-hydroxy-3-methylbut-2-enyl diphosphate reductase from Dunaliella salina. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Coesel SNicole, Baumgartner ACordeiro, Teles LMarlene, et al. Nutrient limitation is the main regulatory factor for carotenoid accumulation and for Psy and Pds steady state transcript levels in Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) exposed to high light and salt stress. Mar Biotechnol (NY). 2008;10(5):602-11. doi:10.1007/s10126-008-9100-2 Read more about Nutrient limitation is the main regulatory factor for carotenoid accumulation and for Psy and Pds steady state transcript levels in Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyta) exposed to high light and salt stress. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Ramos AA, Varela J. Biochemistry and molecular biology in Portugal: an overview of past and current contributions. IUBMB Life. 2008;60(5):265-9. doi:10.1002/iub.65 Read more about Biochemistry and molecular biology in Portugal: an overview of past and current contributions. Google Scholar PubMed DOI
Ramos AA, Coesel S, Marques A, et al. Isolation and characterization of a stress-inducible Dunaliella salina Lcy-beta gene encoding a functional lycopene beta-cyclase. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol. 2008;79(5):819-28. doi:10.1007/s00253-008-1492-4 Read more about Isolation and characterization of a stress-inducible Dunaliella salina Lcy-beta gene encoding a functional lycopene beta-cyclase. Google Scholar PubMed DOI

Projects

	Title	Coordinator	Time frame	Funding	CCMAR	All
RHE-MEDiation	RHE-MEDiation - Responsive hub for long term governance to destress the Mediterranean Sea from chemical pollution.	Luísa Barreira	06/01/2023 to 05/31/2026	Comissão Europeia		521.645,00k€
Vertical Algas	PRR: Pacto Bioeconomia Azul - Vertical Algas (WP 5)	João Varela, Ester Serrão, Rui Santos	07/01/2022 to 12/31/2025	IAPMEI
GreenTreat	GreenTreat: An Integrated, Sustainable Process for the Tertiary Treatment of Urban Wastewater using Microalgae in the Algarve region	Luísa Barreira	09/28/2018 to 05/31/2022	FCT	155.00k€	236,46k€

	Title	Coordinator	Time frame	Funding	CCMAR
SEAWEED	Anaerobic Digestion of Seaweed for Biofuels	João Varela	09/01/2011 to 08/31/2013	Comissão Europeia	211.19k€
CYANO	Regulação da homeostase do ferro em cianobactérias	João Varela	01/01/2010 to 06/30/2013	FCT	42.62k€
BOTRYOFUEL	Microalgas hiperprodutoras de hidrocarbonetos	João Varela	07/01/2007 to 06/30/2008	AdI - Agência de Inovação	12.31k€

News

Girl Power: inspire two young researchers

The girl's movers, Cláudia and Isilda, came to meet women who inspire them in the area of marine sciences and learn about the work developed by CCMAR researchers.

Workshop Algae was a success

In this event, the role of algae producing companies, new microalgae production strategies developed by LNEG, the concept of biorefinery of algal biomass and two round tables was presented.

MarBiotech researchers participated in the EUROCAROTEN conference

On November 26-28, PhD student Lisa Schüler and researcher Gangadhar Katkam from MarBiotech participated in the EUROCAROTEN conference, which took place in Cyprus.

CCMAR researchers participated in the ALGAEUROPE congress

During the three days of the congress, our researchers made several oral presentations and presented their posters.

What will be the impact of COVID-19 on the Environment in 2040?

Isabel Marín Beltrán, a CCMAR researcher, was one of the young researchers invited by Science to write about how she imagined the world in 2040, considering the possible impact of COVID-19.

What are the benefits of LED lighting in microalgae cultivation?

Our researchers have found that the use of LED lighting in the production of microalgae increases the growth of their biomass, especially during the night.