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1. Structures of glass-forming liquids by x-ray scattering: Glycerol, xylitol, and D-sorbitol

   https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0073986  

   Chen, Zhenxuan; Huang, Chengbin; Yao, Xin; Benmore, Chris J.; Yu, Lian (December 2021, The Journal of Chemical Physics)
2. Crystal nucleation rates in glass-forming molecular liquids: D-sorbitol, D-arabitol, D-xylitol, and glycerol

   https://doi.org/10.1063/1.5042112  

   Huang, Chengbin; Chen, Zhenxuan; Gui, Yue; Shi, Chenyang; Zhang, Geoff G.; Yu, Lian (August 2018, The Journal of Chemical Physics)
3. In-situ ATR-IR study of surface reaction during aqueous phase reforming of glycerol, sorbitol and glucose over Pt/γ-Al2O3

   https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mcat.2019.110423  

   So, Jungseob; Chung, Yoona; Sholl, David S.; Sievers, Carsten (October 2019, Molecular Catalysis)
4. Analyzing sorbitol biosynthesis using a metabolic network flux model of a lichenized strain of the green microalga Diplosphaera chodatii

   https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.03660-23  

   Nazem-Bokaee, Hadi; Hom, Erik_F Y; Mathews, Sarah; Gueidan, Cécile (January 2025, Microbiology Spectrum)

   Leão, Pedro Nuno (Ed.)

   ABSTRACT Diplosphaera chodatii,a unicellular terrestrial microalga found either free-living or in association with lichenized fungi, protects itself from desiccation by synthesizing and accumulating low-molecular-weight carbohydrates such as sorbitol. The metabolism of this algal species and the interplay of sorbitol biosynthesis with its growth, light absorption, and carbon dioxide fixation are poorly understood. Here, we used a recently available genome assembly forD. chodatiito develop a metabolic flux model and analyze the alga’s metabolic capabilities, particularly, for sorbitol biosynthesis. The model contains 151 genes, 155 metabolites, and 194 unique metabolic reactions participating in 12 core metabolic pathways and five compartments. Both photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growths ofD. chodatiiwere supported by the metabolic model. In the presence of glucose, mixotrophy led to higher biomass and sorbitol yields. Additionally, the model predicted increased starch biosynthesis at high light intensities during photoautotrophic growth, an indication that the “overflow hypothesis—stress-driven metabolic flux redistribution” could be applied toD. chodatii. Furthermore, the newly developed metabolic model ofD. chodatii, iDco_core, captures both linear and cyclic electron flow schemes characterized in photosynthetic microorganisms and suggests a possible adaptation to fluctuating water availability during periods of desiccation. This work provides important new insights into the predicted metabolic capabilities ofD. chodatii, including a potential biotechnological opportunity for industrial sorbitol biosynthesis.IMPORTANCELichenized green microalgae are vital components for the survival and growth of lichens in extreme environmental conditions. However, little is known about the metabolism and growth characteristics of these algae as individual microbes. This study aims to provide insights into some of the metabolic capabilities ofDiplosphaera chodatii, a lichenized green microalgae, using a recently assembled and annotated genome of the alga. For that, a metabolic flux model was developed simulating the metabolism of this algal species and allowing for studying the algal growth, light absorption, and carbon dioxide fixation during both photoautotrophic and mixotrophic growth,in silico. An important capability of the new metabolic model ofD. chodatiiis capturing both linear and cyclic electron flow mechanisms characterized in several other microalgae. Moreover, the model predicts limits of the metabolic interplay between sorbitol biosynthesis and algal growth, which has potential applications in assisting the design of bio-based sorbitol production processes. 

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