건강보조식품 등으로 이용되는 Arthrospira platensis는 세계적으로 대량생산되고 있으나 생산공정 중 수확단계에서 많은 비용이 소요된다. 본 연구에서는 부상을 이용한 효과적인 수확을 위해 균주의 개량을 시도하였으며, 개량균주의 생리적 물리적 특성을 파악하고자 하였다. Ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS)를 모균주 A. platensis KCTC AG20590에 0.24%의 농도로 10, 20, 30분씩 처리하여, 형태 및 부상성이 우수한 균주 A. platensis M20CJK3 균주를 분리하였다. A. platensis M20CJK3은 느슨한 형태에서 촘촘한 형태로 세포사(trichome)의 길이 및 코일간 간격이 감소하였으며, 생장 및 $CO_2$ 고정능이 각각 15%, 17% 향상되었다. 또한, 개량균주의 부상성은 모균주에 비해 2배 이상 향상되었다. 이차원 전기영동 분석을 통해 모균주와 개량균주의 단백질 발현양상을 비교분석한 결과 광합성 관련 색소의 구조와 광전자전달계에 관련된 단백질의 발현 양상이 차이를 보였다. 본 연구에서 개발된 A. platensis M20CJK3은 고밀도 대량배양 및 수확에 유리하며, A. platensis 유전자 연구의 유용한 모델 균주로 활용될 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.
A photosynthetic cyanobacterium Arthrospira platensis, well known for health food supplement, was studied as a target species for atmospheric $CO_2$ removal as well as biomass production. Although the biomass of A. platensis was massively produced in many countries, the recovery cost of its biomass is still high. The purpose of this study was to develop the A. platensis mutant strains which have enhanced growth rate and floatation activity to reduce the recovery cost. A. platensis KCTC AG20590 was treated with 0.24% ethyl methanesulfonate (EMS) for 20 min at room temperature. The mutant strain A. platensis M20CJK3 was finally selected by its morphological and physiological features. The morphology of the mutant A. platensis M20CJK3 was changed from loose-coiled form to tight-coiled form showing short pitch. The growth and $CO_2$ uptake rate of A. platensis M20CJK3 were improved about 15% and 17% compared with A. platensis KCTC AG20590, respectively. The floatation activity of A. platensis M20CJK3 was enhanced in 2-fold compared with that of A. platensis KCTC AG20590. Soluble proteins extracted from two strains were analyzed by two dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and MALDI-TOF MS/MS. Among 15 protein spots induced in 2-DE analysis, two spots were the proteins related to photosynthesis and electron transfer system of the other cyanobacteria. As a consequence, it seems that the tight-coiled mutant A. platensis M20CJK3 has an advantage of high growth rate and floatation activity which are beneficial for the mass cultivation and recovery.
