Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transient gene expression in a red alga, Cyanidioschyzon merolae 10D

Plant Cell Physiol. 2008 Jan;49(1):117-20. doi: 10.1093/pcp/pcm157. Epub 2007 Nov 14.

Abstract

DNA introduction into cells is an essential technique for molecular genetic analysis. Here, we show that DNA is easily introduced into cells of the unicellular red alga Cyanidioschyzon merolae by a polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated protocol. In this study, the beta-tubulin gene of C. merolae was cloned on a plasmid and a hemagglutinin (HA) tag then added at the C-terminus. This plasmid was then introduced into C. merolae cells by a PEG-mediated transformation protocol. At 24 h after PEG-mediated transformation, intracellular localization of the tagged protein was detected by anti-HA immunocytochemistry, indicating the utility of this transient expression system for molecular genetic analyses.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • DNA / genetics
  • DNA / metabolism
  • Gene Expression*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Plasmids / genetics
  • Plasmids / metabolism
  • Polyethylene Glycols*
  • Rhodophyta / genetics*
  • Transfection / methods*

Substances

  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • DNA