Method for assembling and expressing multiple genes in the nucleus of microalgae

Biotechnol Lett. 2014 Mar;36(3):561-6. doi: 10.1007/s10529-013-1378-0. Epub 2013 Oct 16.

Abstract

The green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is a model organism used in the study of photosynthesis and biotechnological research. Despite its importance, a complete set of genetic tools has yet to be developed. Here, we report the development of a new method for constructing a multi-gene pathway in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and integrating the assembled pathway into the nuclear genome of C. reinhardtii. To demonstrate the use of this method, we assembled and functionally expressed up to three reporter proteins (Ble, AphVIII, and GFP) simultaneously in the nucleus of C. reinhardtii. This new molecular tool should aid efforts to engineer microalgae for biofuel and biopharmaceutical production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Cell Nucleus*
  • Chlamydomonas reinhardtii / genetics*
  • Gene Expression*
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Genetic Engineering / methods*
  • Molecular Biology / methods*
  • Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
  • Recombinant Proteins / genetics
  • Saccharomyces cerevisiae / genetics
  • Synthetic Biology / methods*

Substances

  • Recombinant Proteins