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bioRxiv · 10.1101/2022.06.30.498297

Acetaminophen production in the edible, filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis

Hilzinger, J. M.·Freidline, S.·Sivanandan, D.·Cheng, Y.-F.·Yamazaki, S.·Clark, D. S.·Skerker, J. M.·Arkin, A. P.
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Abstract

Spirulina is the common name for the edible, non-heterocystous, filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis that is grown industrially as a food supplement, animal feedstock, and pigment source. Although there are many applications for engineering this organism1-3, until recently no genetic tools or reproducible transformation methods have been published. While recent work showed the production of a diversity of proteins in A. platensis, including single domain antibodies for oral delivery, there remains a need for a modular, characterized genetic toolkit4. Here, we establish and characterize a genetic toolkit and reproducible method for the transformation of A. platensis and engineer this bacterium to produce acetaminophen as proof-of-concept for small molecule production in an edible host from CO2, H2O, and light. This work opens A. platensis to the wider scientific community for future engineering as a functional food for nutritional enhancement, modification of organoleptic traits, and production of pharmaceuticals for oral delivery.

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Hilzinger, J. M., Freidline, S., Sivanandan, D., Cheng, Y.-F., Yamazaki, S., Clark, D. S., Skerker, J. M., Arkin, A. P.. 2022-07-02. Acetaminophen production in the edible, filamentous cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis. https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.06.30.498297

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