Nanosecond pulsed electric fields modulate the expression of the astaxanthin biosynthesis genes psy, crtR-b and bkt 1 in Haematococcus pluvialis.

ABSTRACT: Nanosecond pulsed electric fields (nsPEFs) have been extensively studied with respect to cellular responses. Whether nsPEFs can regulate gene expression and to modulate the synthesis of valuable compounds, has so far been only tested in the context of apoptosis in cancer cells. We used the unicellular algae Haematococcus pluvialis as system to test, whether nsPEFs could alter gene expression and to promote the biosynthesis of astaxanthin. We find that nsPEFs induce a mild, but significant increase of mortality up to about 20%, accompanied by a moderate increase of astaxanthin accumulation. Steady-state transcript levels of three key genes psy, crtR-b and bkt 1 were seen to increase with a maximum at 3 d after PEF treatment at 50 ns. Pulsing at 25 ns reduce the transcripts of psy, crtR-b fr

SUBMITTER: Bai F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7511312 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature