Characterization of the Chloroplast Genome Facilitated the Transformation of -I, A Potential Marine Alga for Biofuel Production.

INTRODUCTION

The microalga produces high biomass and lipid content that could be suitable for producing economically viable biofuel at a commercial scale. Sequencing the complete chloroplast genome is crucial for the construction of a species-specific chloroplast transformation vector.

METHODS

In this study, the complete chloroplast genome sequence (cpDNA) of -I was assembled; annotated and genetic transformation of the chloroplast was optimized. For the chloroplast transformation, we have tested two antibiotic resistance makers, aminoglycoside adenine transferase (A) gene and Sh gene conferring resistance to spectinomycin and zeocin, respectively. Transgene integration and homoplasty determination were confirmed using PCR, Southern blot and Droplet Digital PCR.

RESULTS

The chloroplast genome (109,642 bp) exhibited a quadripartite structure with two reverse repeat regions (IRA and IRB), a long single copy (LSC), and a small single copy (SSC) region. The genome encodes 116 genes, with 80 protein-coding genes, 32 tRNAs and 4 rRNAs. The cpDNA provided essential information like codons, UTRs and flank sequences for homologous recombination to make a species-specific vector that facilitated the transformation of I chloroplast. The transgenic algal colonies were retrieved on a TAP medium containing 400 mg. L spectinomycin, but no transgenic was recovered on the zeocin-supplemented medium. PCR and Southern blot analysis ascertained the transgene integration into the chloroplast genome, homologous recombination. The chloroplast genome copy number in wildtype and transgenic I was determined using Droplet Digital PCR.

CONCLUSION

The optimization of stable chloroplast transformation in marine alga I should open a gateway for directly engineering the strain for carbon concentration mechanisms to fix more CO, improving the photosynthetic efficiency and reducing the overall biofuels production cost.