Background

Natural astaxanthin is mainly derived from Haematococcus pluvialis. In the photoinduction phase, astaxanthin accumulation ability can be significantly affected by the characteristics of H. pluvialis cells in the proliferation phase. Based on sequential heterotrophy–dilution–photoinduction (SHDP) technology, the authors’ previous study showed that high astaxanthin accumulation ability is accompanied by high chlorophyll content of H. pluvialis heterotrophic cell; whereas the mechanism of this result remained largely obscure. Therefore, transcriptome analysis was conducted to explain this mechanism.

Results

RNA-seq analysis showed that the transcription level of chlorophyll synthesis-related genes was negatively correlated with genes related to astaxanthin synthesis. A metabolic network between chlorophyll synthesis and astaxanthin accumulation was proposed.

Conclusions

The relationship between chlorophyll synthesis and astaxanthin accumulation was clarified. Chlorophyll degradation products might be used for astaxanthin synthesis through certain pathways. This study enlightens on the mechanism for the transformation of pigment and is conducive to optimize culture process of H. pluvialis by improving the chlorophyll content of heterotrophic cell.

中文翻译：

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叶绿素是评估雨生红球菌虾青素积累能力的关键指标

背景

天然虾青素主要来源于雨生红球菌。在光诱导阶段，虾红素的积累能力会受到H特性的显着影响。生红球藻在增殖期的细胞。作者先前的研究基于连续的异养分-稀释-光诱导（SHDP）技术，表明虾青素的高积累能力伴随着H的高叶绿素含量。尿液异养细胞; 然而，这种结果的机制在很大程度上仍然不清楚。因此，进行转录组分析来解释这种机制。

结果

RNA-seq分析表明，叶绿素合成相关基因的转录水平与虾青素合成相关基因的表达呈负相关。提出了叶绿素合成与虾青素积累之间的代谢网络。

结论

阐明了叶绿素合成与虾青素积累之间的关系。叶绿素降解产物可能通过某些途径用于虾青素的合成。这项研究对色素转化的机理有启迪作用，有利于优化H的培养过程。通过改善异养细胞的叶绿素含量来降低生叶菌的数量。