Characterization and Transcriptomic Analysis of Antarctic Planococcus sp. Mutant with Enhanced Carotenoid Content
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Carotenoids are industrially important antioxidants, and microbial production represents a sustainable and scalable alternative to plant extraction and chemical synthesis.The recently reported complete genome sequence of the Antarctic bacterium Planococcus sp.PAMC21323 indicates its promise as a robust microbial chassis for carotenoid biosynthesis.In this study, we systematically investigated the genetic architecture underlying carotenoid biosynthesis in PAMC21323.Random mutagenesis using ethyl methanesulfonate generated pigment-variant strains, from which a carotenoid-overproducing mutant, R07, was selected through colony pigmentation screening and HPLC analysis.Integrated genome mining, homology-based annotation, and comparative RNA-seq analysis of the wild type and R07 were employed to reconstruct the carotenoid biosynthetic pathway and to characterize global transcriptional changes linked to overproduction.Genome-scale annotation newly defined a CrtM-CrtN-CrtP-CrtNc gene cluster, demonstrating that PAMC21323 synthesizes C 30 rather than C 40 carotenoids.Comparative transcriptomic profiling further revealed upregulation of upstream MEP pathway genes and concomitant downregulation of competing non-carotenoid terpenoid branches in R07, indicating effective redirection of metabolic flux toward carotenoid biosynthesis.Collectively, these findings establish the molecular framework for C 30 carotenoid production in PAMC21323 and highlight a carotenoid-enriched mutant strain as a valuable platform for future metabolic engineering and biotechnological applications in extreme environments.
Authors: Hee-Sun Park, Jong-il Choi
Institution: Chonnam National University
Language: English
Subfield: Biotechnology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
Awards: G431996272, G7017540440
OpenAlex ID: W7141497684
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