Transgenic Microalgae As Green Cell Factories

by Leon, Rosa

• ISBN13: 9780387755311
• ISBN10: 0387755314
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2008-06-01
• Publisher: Landes Bioscience

Summary

Microalgae have been largely commercialized as food and feed additives, and their potential as a source of high-added value compounds is well known. Yet, only a few species of microalgae have been genetically transformed with efficiency. A better understanding of the mechanisms that control the regulation of gene expression in eukaryotes is therefore needed. In this book a group of outstanding researchers working on different areas of microalgae biotechnology offer a global vision of the genetic manipulation of microalgae and their applications.

Table of Contents

Nuclear Transformation of Eukaryotic Microalgae: Historical Overview, Achievements and Problems	p. 1
Abstract	p. 1
Introduction	p. 1
Microalgae Groups Transformed	p. 2
Methods for Microalgae Transformation	p. 4
Characteristics of the Transformation Process	p. 6
DNA Constructions Used in Transformation	p. 6
Difficulties for Stable Expression of the Transgenes	p. 8
Concluding Remarks	p. 8
Transformation of Cyanobacteria	p. 12
Abstract	p. 12
Introduction	p. 12
Transformation of Cyanobacteria	p. 13
Applications	p. 14
Molecular Biology and the Biotechnological Potential of Diatoms	p. 23
Abstract	p. 23
Diatom Biology	p. 23
Genetic Manipulation of Diatoms	p. 25
Biochemistry of Diatoms and Technological Applications	p. 29
Synthesis of Fatty Acids	p. 29
Biomineralization	p. 30
Concluding Remarks	p. 31
Tools and Techniques for Chloroplast Transformation of Chlamydomonas	p. 34
Abstract	p. 34
Introduction	p. 34
Delivery of DNA into the Chloroplast Compartment	p. 36
Integration of Transforming DNA	p. 37
Polyploidy and the Problems of Heteroplasmy	p. 39
Selection Strategies	p. 41
Reverse-Genetic Studies of the Chlamydomonas Plastome	p. 42
Expression of Foreign Genes in the Chlamydomonas Chloroplast	p. 42
Future Prospects	p. 43
Influence of Codon Bias on the Expression of Foreign Genes in Microalgae	p. 46
Abstract	p. 46
General Aspects of Codon Bias in Pro- and Eukaryotic Expression Hosts	p. 46
Phaeodactylum tricornutum	p. 47
Chlamydomonas reinhardtii-Expression from Chloroplast and Nucleus	p. 48
Concluding Remarks	p. 52
In the Grip of Algal Genomics	p. 54
Abstract	p. 54
Introduction	p. 54
Which Organisms Should Have Their Genomes Sequenced?	p. 56
Full Genome Sequences	p. 56
cDNA and Partial Genome Sequences	p. 64
Viral Genomes	p. 65
Concluding Remarks	p. 67
Insertional Mutagenesis as a Tool to Study Genes/Functions in Chlamydomonas	p. 77
Abstract	p. 77
Chlamydomonas as a Model for Translational Biology	p. 77
Mutants as a Tool for Functional Genomics	p. 78
Future Perspectives	p. 86
Optimization of Recombinant Protein Expression in the Chloroplasts of Green Algae	p. 90
Abstract	p. 90
Introduction	p. 90
Expression of Recombinant Proteins in the Chlamydomonas Chloroplast	p. 92
Strategies for Increasing Recombinant Protein Expression in Algal Chloroplast	p. 94
Conclusion and Prospectus	p. 96
Phycoremediation of Heavy Metals Using Transgenic Microalgae	p. 99
Abstract	p. 99
Metals in the Environment	p. 99
The Role of the Algal Cell Wall in Heavy Metal Binding and Tolerance	p. 100
The Plasma Membrane and Heavy Metal Flux	p. 101
Heavy Metal Metabolism in the Cytoplasm of Algae	p. 102
Algal Heavy Metal Biosensors	p. 103
Application of Engineered Algae for Bioremediation: The Risks and Benefits	p. 106
Hydrogen Fuel Production by Transgenic Microalgae	p. 110
Abstract	p. 110
Overview	p. 110
Sulfur-Nutrient Deprivation Attenuates Photosystem-II Repair and Promotes H[subscript 2]-Production in Unicellular Green Algae	p. 111
Genetic Engineering of Sulfate Uptake in Microalgae for H[subscript 2]-Production	p. 113
Application of the Hydrogenase Assembly Genes in Conferring H[subscript 2]-Production Capacity in a Variety of Organisms	p. 113
Engineering O[subscript 2] Tolerance to the Green Algal Hydrogenase	p. 115
Engineering Starch Accumulation in Microalgae for H[subscript 2]-Production	p. 116
Engineering Optimal Light Utilization in Microalgae for H[subscript 2]-Production	p. 117
Future Directions	p. 118
Microalgal Vaccines	p. 122
Abstract	p. 122
Introduction	p. 122
Oral Vaccines	p. 123
Microalgal Vaccines	p. 123
Recent Progress	p. 124
Index	p. 129
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