An efficient gene knockout system for eukaryotic microalgae

真核微藻是一类具有重要生态意义的光合生物，在生物燃料、生物药物和结构纳米器件的绿色生产中具有重要的生物技术前景。由于缺乏简单可靠的基因组工程系统，微藻的生物技术潜力受到阻碍。OCE VIP 1和NSERC ENGAGE联合资助的预期成果是开发和验证用于修饰微藻基因组的敲除盒系统。该盒系统可用于敲除基因以微调生物燃料生产的生物合成途径，或引入基因以过表达具有生物制药潜力的蛋白质。OCE VIP 1和NSERC ENGAGE联合资助将利用西方大学大卫·埃格尔博士实验室开发的特异性基因组工程核酸酶，以及Designer Microbes Inc.开发的方法。以极高的效率操纵并将大片段DNA引入微藻。诱变试剂卡系统将定位于Designer Microbes Inc.站在快速发展的行业的最前沿， 有可能彻底改变微藻基因组的生物技术潜力。

Eukaryotic microalgae are a group of ecologically important photosynthetic organisms that hold significant biotechnological promise for the green production of biofuels, biopharmaceuticals, and structured nanodevices. The biotechnological potential of microalgae has been hindered by the lack of a simple and reliable system for genome engineering. The anticipate outcome of the combined OCE VIP1 & NSERC ENGAGE grant is the development and validation of a knockout cassette system for modification of microalgae genomes. The cassette system can be used to knockout genes to fine-tune biosynthetic pathways for biofuel production, or to introduce genes for overexpression of proteins with biopharmaceutical potential. The combined OCE VIP1 & NSERC ENGAGE grant will utilize the exquisitely specific genome engineering nucleases developed in the Dr David Edgell lab at Western University, and the methodologies developed by Designer Microbes Inc. to manipulate and introduce large fragments of DNA into microalgae with extremely high efficiency. The mutagenic cassette system will position Designer Microbes Inc. at the forefront of a rapidly developing industry with the potential to revolutionize the biotechnological potential of microalgae genomes.