Giacomo Cao

A novel cell disruption technique to enhance lipid extraction from microalgae.

Lipid extraction represents one of the main bottlenecks of the microalgal technology for the production of biofuels. A novel method based on the use of H2O2 with or without FeSO4, to disrupt the cell wall of Chlorella vulgaris and favor the subsequent extraction of lipids from wet biomass, is proposed. Experimental results show that, when disruption is performed under suitable operating conditions, the amount of lipids extracted is significantly increased with respect to the case where a classical approach is applied. Moreover, quality of lipids extracted after disruption seems to be improved in view of their exploitation for producing biofuels.

Comprehensive modeling and investigation of the effect of iron on the growth rate and lipid accumulation of Chlorella vulgaris cultured in batch photobioreactors

Recent works have shown that specific strains of microalgae are capable to simultaneously increase their growth rate and lipid content when cultured under suitable concentrations of iron. While these results are promising in view of the exploitation of microalgae for producing biofuels, to the best of our knowledge, no mathematical model capable to describe the effect of iron on lipid accumulation in microalgae, has been so far proposed. A comprehensive mathematical model describing the effect of iron on chlorophyll synthesis, nitrogen assimilation, growth rate and lipid accumulation in a freshwater strain of Chlorella vulgaris is then proposed in this work. Model results are successfully compared with experimental data which confirm the positive effect of growing iron concentrations on lipid productivity of C. vulgaris. Thus, the proposed model might represent a useful tool to optimize iron-based strategies to improve the lipid productivity of microalgal cultures.

Complete genome sequence of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) of Chlorella sorokiniana

Abstract The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Chlorella sorokiniana strain (SAG 111–8u2009k) is presented in this study. The genome consists of circular chromosomes of 109,811u2009bp, which encode a total of 109 genes, including 74 proteins, 3 rRNAs and 31 tRNAs. Moreover, introns are not detected and all genes are present in single copy. The overall AT contents of the C. sorokiniana cpDNA is 65.9%, the coding sequence is 59.1% and a large inverted repeat (IR) is not observed.

A simulation model for stem cells differentiation into specialized cells of non-connective tissues

A novel mathematical model to simulate stem cells differentiation into specialized cells of non-connective tissues is proposed. The model is based upon material balances for growth factors coupled with a mass-structured population balance describing cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. The proposed model is written in a general form and it may be used to simulate a generic cell differentiation pathway during in vitro cultivation when specific growth factors are used. Literature experimental data concerning the differentiation of central nervous stem cells into astrocytes are successfully compared with model results, thus demonstrating the validity of the proposed model as well as its predictive capability. Finally, sensitivity analysis of model parameters is also performed in order to clarify what mechanisms most strongly influence differentiation and cell types distribution.

Complete genome sequence of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) of Chlorella sorokiniana.

Abstract The complete sequence of mitochondrial genome of the Chlorella sorokiniana strain (SAG 111-8u2009k) is presented in this work. Within the Chlorella genus, it represents the second species with a complete sequenced and annotated mitochondrial genome (GenBank accession no. KM241869). The genome consists of circular chromosomes of 52,528u2009bp and encodes a total of 31 protein coding genes, 3 rRNAs and 26 tRNAs. The overall AT contents of the C. sorokiniana mtDNA is 70.89%, while the coding sequence is of 97.4%.

Complete sequence and characterization of mitochondrial and chloroplast genome of Chlorella variabilis NC64A

Abstract The complete nucleotide sequences of the mitochondrial (mtDNA) and chloroplast (cpDNA) genomes of Chlorella variabilis NC64A (Trebouxiophyceae) have been determined in this study (GenBank accession no. KP271968 and KP271969, respectively). The mt genome assembles as a circle of 78,500u2009bp and contains 62 genes, including 32 protein-coding, 27 tRNA and 3 rRNA genes. The overall GC content is 28.2%, while the coding sequence is 34%. The cp genome forms a circle of 124,793u2009bp, containing 114 genes, including 79 protein-coding, 32 tRNA and 3 rRNA genes. The overall GC content is 33,9%, while the coding sequence is 50%.

A novel quantitative model of cell cycle progression based on cyclin-dependent kinases activity and population balances

Cell cycle regulates proliferative cell capacity under normal or pathologic conditions, and in general it governs all in vivo/in vitro cell growth and proliferation processes. Mathematical simulation by means of reliable and predictive models represents an important tool to interpret experiment results, to facilitate the definition of the optimal operating conditions for in vitro cultivation, or to predict the effect of a specific drug in normal/pathologic mammalian cells. Along these lines, a novel model of cell cycle progression is proposed in this work. Specifically, it is based on a population balance (PB) approach that allows one to quantitatively describe cell cycle progression through the different phases experienced by each cell of the entire population during its own life. The transition between two consecutive cell cycle phases is simulated by taking advantage of the biochemical kinetic model developed by Gérard and Goldbeter (2009) which involves cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) whose regulation is achieved through a variety of mechanisms that include association with cyclins and protein inhibitors, phosphorylation-dephosphorylation, and cyclin synthesis or degradation. This biochemical model properly describes the entire cell cycle of mammalian cells by maintaining a sufficient level of detail useful to identify check point for transition and to estimate phase duration required by PB. Specific examples are discussed to illustrate the ability of the proposed model to simulate the effect of drugs for in vitro trials of interest in oncology, regenerative medicine and tissue engineering.