Chloroplast Transformation Service for Algae
Chloroplast transformation is an environmentally friendly approach to algae genetic engineering that allows for abundant transgenic transcripts and a high accumulation of foreign proteins because of the polyploidy in the chloroplast genome.
With years of experience in chloroplast transformation, Lifeasible is capable to offer professional chloroplast transformation services for algae.
Introduction of Chloroplast Transformation for Algae
At the beginning of algae genetic engineering, the chloroplast genome defied the Mendelian laws of inheritance and went against the mainstream methods of biotechnology. It has been experimentally shown that chloroplast transformation in algae can be transformed by inert particle mediated transformation, gene gun, and electroporation.
The Advantages of Chloroplast Transformation for Algae
Chloroplast transformation has many strengths for the engineering of algae. The organelle is of central significance in metabolism because it is the site of photosynthesis and many other essential biochemical pathways, such as the biosynthesis of lipids and amino acids.
Lack of Gene-Silencing Machinery
The first advantage is that chloroplasts of algae lack gene-silencing machinery, and are capable of extremely high levels of foreign protein production. The chloroplast transformation is carried out by homologous recombination, so transgene insertion can be predicted by design. The expression of chloroplast transgenes is not affected by positional effects, transcriptional silencing, or RNA interference, all of which affect nuclear genes.
Capable of Expression Toxic Heterologous Proteins
As cellular compartments are normally separated from the rest of the cell by two membranes, chloroplasts provide an extremely well-contained environment for toxic recombinant proteins. Because they lack the mechanism or machinery to export foreign proteins, this feature allows plastids to serve as potential sites for the expression of heterologous proteins that would be toxic when expressed in the cell membrane (via nuclear expression).
Application of chloroplast transformation
Many algae have been shown to be able to undergo chloroplast transformation through a variety of transformation methods such as C. reinhardtii, H. pluvialis, and Porphyridium sp.
in C. reinhardtii
A number of recombinant proteins, therapeutics, commercial enzymes, and metabolites have been generated in microalgae by transforming chloroplast genomes, mainly in C. reinhardtii, due to the availability of transformation protocols for C. reinhardtii. For example, a study performed to test the heterologous expression of a bifunctional enzyme (diterpene synthase) with a molecular weight of 91 kDa in chloroplasts of Rhizobium in C. reinhardtii, indicated that this protein can accumulate in large quantities.
in H. pluvialis
H. pluvialis, another algal species with high commercial potential, can undergo chloroplast transformation by particle bombardment and accumulate 67% more carotenoids than wild-type cells at high light intensities.
Our Services
Lifeasible offers a full range of DNA engineering services in the chloroplast of algae. A number of algae strains are used to conduct chloroplast transformation. In addition, we have multiple techniques to perform chloroplast transformation, such as inert particle mediated transformation, gene gun mediated transformation, and electroporation mediated transformation.
Why Choose Us
As a trustworthy CRO company, Lifeasible has top-notched devices and a team of professional scientists to support the chloroplast transformation service of eukaryotic algae. Please contact us for more information.
Our services are for research use only and not for any clinical use.