- Researchers in Barcelona have developed a new method to enhance gene expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a microalga with significant biofuel potential.
- The breakthrough involves a novel intron insertion strategy that simplifies genetic engineering and boosts efficiency in transgene expression.
- The method was successfully tested by expressing genes like fungal luciferase and tryptophan decarboxylase, demonstrating its versatility.
- This innovation could accelerate the development of sustainable energy solutions, including biofuels and bioplastics, using microalgae.
A team of researchers at the Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics, CRAG, in Barcelona, led by Moritz Aschern, has developed a groundbreaking method to enhance gene expression in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a microalga with immense potential for biofuel production and industrial applications.
Published in Frontiers in Plant Science, the study at CRAG introduces a novel intron insertion strategy that significantly boosts transgene expression in the microalga’s nuclear genome.
This innovation at CRAG, compatible with the Chlamydomonas Modular Cloning (MoClo) toolkit, simplifies genetic engineering and improves efficiency, paving the way for more sustainable energy solutions.
The team demonstrated the method’s effectiveness by expressing genes such as fungal luciferase and tryptophan decarboxylase in C. reinhardtii, showcasing its versatility.
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Aschern emphasized the potential of this breakthrough to accelerate advancements in algal biotechnology, enabling faster development of microalgae-based biofuels, bioplastics, and other valuable compounds.
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As global demand for sustainable energy grows, this research marks a critical step toward harnessing microalgae’s full potential.
