SBIR Phase I: Regulating Transgene Expression for Biosecure Microalgal Biofuel Production

SBIR 第一阶段：调节转基因表达以实现生物安全微藻生物燃料生产

• 批准号: 0912157
• 负责人: Brad Postier
• 金额: $ 10万
• 依托单位: Phycal LLC
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2009
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2009-07-01 至 2010-06-30
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=0912157&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: SBIR; Phase; Regulating; Transgene; Expression

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project develops a system for the biosecure production of algal oils in open raceways while utilizing genetically modified algae. Through production of transgenic algae containing specific gene regulatory sequences, this research develops algal strains that conditionally express an essential chloroplast-encoded gene only in the presence of the specific inducer compound. Thus, transgenic algal strains would survive only in the presence of the inducer compound (which will be added to the ponds in our production facility). On escape from the production facility, these algae will stop production of the essential target protein and be unable to reproduce in the environment. This biosecure production system will allow the use of genetically modified algae in open pond production systems without fear of impacting the surrounding systems. The broader impact of the proposed research will be to enable the use of low cost, open-pond culturing systems for the production of biofuels using microalgae genetically manipulated for maximum oil and biomass production. This will be accomplished in a biosecure manner through the development of molecular biological strategies that prevent the genetically manipulated algal strains from reproducing once they are removed from the production ponds. The use of molecular genetics to both increase the production of oil and ensure biosecure use of the transgenic algae (unable to replicate in the surrounding environment) could enable cost effective production of biofuels using algal systems.This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).

这个小企业创新研究第一阶段项目开发了一个系统，用于在开放的水道中生物安全地生产藻油，同时利用转基因藻类。通过生产含有特定基因调控序列的转基因藻类，本研究开发了仅在特定诱导剂化合物存在下有条件地表达必需叶绿体编码基因的藻类菌株。因此，转基因藻株将仅在诱导化合物（其将被添加到我们的生产设施中的池塘中）存在下存活。一旦离开生产设施，这些藻类将停止生产必需的目标蛋白，并且无法在环境中繁殖。 这种生物安全的生产系统将允许在开放池塘生产系统中使用转基因藻类，而不必担心影响周围的系统。拟议研究的更广泛影响将是能够使用低成本的开放池塘培养系统，利用微藻生产生物燃料，这些微藻经过基因操纵，可最大限度地生产石油和生物质。这将通过制定分子生物学战略，以生物安全的方式实现，这些战略将防止经基因操作的藻类菌株一旦从生产池塘中移走就繁殖。利用分子遗传学来增加石油产量和确保转基因藻类的生物安全使用（无法在周围环境中复制）可以使使用藻类系统的生物燃料生产具有成本效益。该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。