D66 strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii: Difference between revisions
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The '''D66 strain of ''[[Chlamydomonas reinhardtii]]''''', a single-celled [[Green algae|green alga]], is a cell-wall-deficient strain of algae that exhibits normal photosynthetic characteristics, but requires ammonia as a source of nitrogen for growth<ref name="Pollock">{{cite journal|last=Pollock|first=Steve|title=Plant Physiology|journal=American Society of Plant Biologists|year=2003|month=December|volume=133|pages= |
The '''D66 strain of ''[[Chlamydomonas reinhardtii]]''''', a single-celled [[Green algae|green alga]], is a cell-wall-deficient strain of algae that exhibits normal photosynthetic characteristics, but requires ammonia as a source of nitrogen for growth.<ref name="Pollock">{{cite journal|last=Pollock|first=Steve|title=Plant Physiology|journal=American Society of Plant Biologists|year=2003|month=December|volume=133|pages=1854–1861|doi=10.1104/pp.103.032078|pmid=PMC300738|url=http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC300738/}}</ref> This strain of Green Algae is becoming an increasingly popular research organism due to its potential to be used as a source of biofuels. The D66 strain's potential to produce clean and renewable biofuel has also made it an increasingly important topic in the field of [[Conservation Biology]]. |
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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The D66 strain of ''Chlamydomonas reinhardtii'', has been genetically engineered with no cell wall in order to increase the strain's growth and photosynthesis rates<ref name="Pollock"/> |
The D66 strain of ''Chlamydomonas reinhardtii'', has been genetically engineered with no cell wall in order to increase the strain's growth and photosynthesis rates.<ref name="Pollock"/> The technique of genetically engineering Green Algae to increase oil production for biofuels is becoming increasingly more prevalent around the United States. With factors such as high petroleum prices and growing environmental protection concerns, the need for clean and renewable energy sources is higher than ever. Energy corporations and the federal government are investing billions of dollars into green energy research and projects, and algal-based biofuels appear to be a viable energy source for the future.<ref>{{cite web|title=Algae-Based Biofuels|url=http://www.pikeresearch.com/research/algae-based-biofuels}}</ref> Furthermore the D66 strain’s growth and photosynthesis rates have proven to be higher than the rates of similar genetically engineered algae strains. This strain of algae could be a key factor in the future success of algal-based biofuels.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Adams|first=James|title=MOLECULAR, GENETIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII INSERTIONAL MUTANT|year=2004|month=May}}</ref> |
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==Research== |
==Research== |
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At [[Louisiana State University]] Dr. Naohiro Kato’s research with the D66 strain is attempting to maximize oil production by changing growing conditions. The goal of the study is to find the D66 strain’s optimal oil production conditions. Kato began his study by testing the effects of various amounts of Brefeldin A, a lactone antibiotic produced by fungal organisms, had on oil production over three-day growing periods. Kato then went on to test several factors influencing the algae’s growing conditions, including: exclusion of nitrogen sources; adding hydrogen peroxide; adding tropomyosin; varying light conditions; and varying temperature. The results of these studies showed that the D66 strain produced the most oil under extreme stress. An accident by a student worker led to a breakthrough in Dr. Kato’s research. The student mistakenly left a [[Precipitation (chemistry)|pellet]] (centrifuged algae in a 10-mL test tube) out overnight instead of putting it in the freezer as instructed. The next morning, the samples that had been left out had produced around fifty times more oil than they usually would have if stored in the freezer. This finding caused Dr. Kato to shift his research into figuring out what caused such a drastic increase in oil production. However, currently no answers have been found<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bailey|first=Michael|title=Personal Interview|year=2012|month=October}}</ref> |
At [[Louisiana State University]] Dr. Naohiro Kato’s research with the D66 strain is attempting to maximize oil production by changing growing conditions. The goal of the study is to find the D66 strain’s optimal oil production conditions. Kato began his study by testing the effects of various amounts of Brefeldin A, a lactone antibiotic produced by fungal organisms, had on oil production over three-day growing periods. Kato then went on to test several factors influencing the algae’s growing conditions, including: exclusion of nitrogen sources; adding hydrogen peroxide; adding tropomyosin; varying light conditions; and varying temperature. The results of these studies showed that the D66 strain produced the most oil under extreme stress. An accident by a student worker led to a breakthrough in Dr. Kato’s research. The student mistakenly left a [[Precipitation (chemistry)|pellet]] (centrifuged algae in a 10-mL test tube) out overnight instead of putting it in the freezer as instructed. The next morning, the samples that had been left out had produced around fifty times more oil than they usually would have if stored in the freezer. This finding caused Dr. Kato to shift his research into figuring out what caused such a drastic increase in oil production. However, currently no answers have been found.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Bailey|first=Michael|title=Personal Interview|year=2012|month=October}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The D66 strain of Green Algae is being researched in laboratories all over the United States. Universities such as the [[University of Arkansas]] and [[Arizona State University]] are conducting similar studies as those by Dr. Kato at Louisiana State University. Recently Biomedical Engineers have included the D66 strain in their research for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Drugs.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Reeves|first=Jacqueline|title=Emerging Drug Targets for Antiretroviral Therapy|journal=Drugs|year=2005|volume=65|issue=13|pages=1747–1766}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | The D66 strain of Green Algae is being researched in laboratories all over the United States. Universities such as the [[University of Arkansas]] and [[Arizona State University]] are conducting similar studies as those by Dr. Kato at Louisiana State University. Recently Biomedical Engineers have included the D66 strain in their research for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Drugs<ref>{{cite journal|last=Reeves|first=Jacqueline|title=Emerging Drug Targets for Antiretroviral Therapy|journal=Drugs|year=2005|volume=65|issue=13|pages= |
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==Future Impacts== |
==Future Impacts== |
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Studies show that, on paper, algal-based biofuels could completely replace petroleum as an energy source. It is estimated that 140.4 billion gallons of biofuel would have to be produced annually to do so. Current hurdles such as high production costs and the lack of facilities to mass-produce these biofuels has led to no algal-based biofuels being commercially distributed. However, high fuel prices and environmental concerns could make the need for algal-based biofuels, and in particular those produced from the highly efficient D66 strain, a legitimate energy source in the near future<ref>{{cite journal|title=Algae-Based Biofuels--Oil's REal Replacement|year=2009|month=May|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/05/05/728103/-Algae-Based-Biofuel-oil-s-real-replacement}}</ref> |
Studies show that, on paper, algal-based biofuels could completely replace petroleum as an energy source. It is estimated that 140.4 billion gallons of biofuel would have to be produced annually to do so. Current hurdles such as high production costs and the lack of facilities to mass-produce these biofuels has led to no algal-based biofuels being commercially distributed. However, high fuel prices and environmental concerns could make the need for algal-based biofuels, and in particular those produced from the highly efficient D66 strain, a legitimate energy source in the near future.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Algae-Based Biofuels--Oil's REal Replacement|year=2009|month=May|url=http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/05/05/728103/-Algae-Based-Biofuel-oil-s-real-replacement}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[green algae]] |
* [[green algae]] |
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* [[algae fuels]] |
* [[algae fuels]] |
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* [[Conservation Biology]] |
* [[Conservation Biology]] |
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==References== |
==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
{{reflist}} |
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[[Category:Green algae]] |
[[Category:Green algae]] |
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Revision as of 01:55, 7 December 2012
The D66 strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a single-celled green alga, is a cell-wall-deficient strain of algae that exhibits normal photosynthetic characteristics, but requires ammonia as a source of nitrogen for growth.[1] This strain of Green Algae is becoming an increasingly popular research organism due to its potential to be used as a source of biofuels. The D66 strain's potential to produce clean and renewable biofuel has also made it an increasingly important topic in the field of Conservation Biology.
Background
The D66 strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, has been genetically engineered with no cell wall in order to increase the strain's growth and photosynthesis rates.[1] The technique of genetically engineering Green Algae to increase oil production for biofuels is becoming increasingly more prevalent around the United States. With factors such as high petroleum prices and growing environmental protection concerns, the need for clean and renewable energy sources is higher than ever. Energy corporations and the federal government are investing billions of dollars into green energy research and projects, and algal-based biofuels appear to be a viable energy source for the future.[2] Furthermore the D66 strain’s growth and photosynthesis rates have proven to be higher than the rates of similar genetically engineered algae strains. This strain of algae could be a key factor in the future success of algal-based biofuels.[3]
Forschung
At Louisiana State University Dr. Naohiro Kato’s research with the D66 strain is attempting to maximize oil production by changing growing conditions. The goal of the study is to find the D66 strain’s optimal oil production conditions. Kato began his study by testing the effects of various amounts of Brefeldin A, a lactone antibiotic produced by fungal organisms, had on oil production over three-day growing periods. Kato then went on to test several factors influencing the algae’s growing conditions, including: exclusion of nitrogen sources; adding hydrogen peroxide; adding tropomyosin; varying light conditions; and varying temperature. The results of these studies showed that the D66 strain produced the most oil under extreme stress. An accident by a student worker led to a breakthrough in Dr. Kato’s research. The student mistakenly left a pellet (centrifuged algae in a 10-mL test tube) out overnight instead of putting it in the freezer as instructed. The next morning, the samples that had been left out had produced around fifty times more oil than they usually would have if stored in the freezer. This finding caused Dr. Kato to shift his research into figuring out what caused such a drastic increase in oil production. However, currently no answers have been found.[4]
The D66 strain of Green Algae is being researched in laboratories all over the United States. Universities such as the University of Arkansas and Arizona State University are conducting similar studies as those by Dr. Kato at Louisiana State University. Recently Biomedical Engineers have included the D66 strain in their research for HIV Antiretroviral Therapy Drugs.[5]
Future Impacts
Studies show that, on paper, algal-based biofuels could completely replace petroleum as an energy source. It is estimated that 140.4 billion gallons of biofuel would have to be produced annually to do so. Current hurdles such as high production costs and the lack of facilities to mass-produce these biofuels has led to no algal-based biofuels being commercially distributed. However, high fuel prices and environmental concerns could make the need for algal-based biofuels, and in particular those produced from the highly efficient D66 strain, a legitimate energy source in the near future.[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b Pollock, Steve (2003). "Plant Physiology". American Society of Plant Biologists. 133: 1854–1861. doi:10.1104/pp.103.032078. PMID PMC300738.
{{cite journal}}: Check|pmid=value (help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ "Algae-Based Biofuels".
- ^ Adams, James (2004). "MOLECULAR, GENETIC AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF A CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII INSERTIONAL MUTANT".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Bailey, Michael (2012). "Personal Interview".
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Reeves, Jacqueline (2005). "Emerging Drug Targets for Antiretroviral Therapy". Drugs. 65 (13): 1747–1766.
- ^ "Algae-Based Biofuels--Oil's REal Replacement". 2009.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help); Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help)