Genetic Engineering for Microalgae Strain Improvement

Green microalgae have been established as a sustainable feedstock with great potential for biofuel production, and its genetic engineering completeness makes large-scale production economically feasible. The most crucial aspect of microalgae oil production is strain selection, which affects almost all production stages. Here, Lifeasible offers specialized solutions for the genetic engineering of microalgae strain improvement.

The Need for Microalgae Strain Improvement

The potential of microalgae as biodiesel is well established, but many technical and biological barriers prevent the economic viability of microalgae biodiesel for large-scale production. The microalgal oil industry must improve many technological and biological aspects of production. One of the most important biological aspects of microalgal lipid production is the strains used for culture. The selection of the right strain has a downstream impact on almost every aspect of production, including growth conditions (pH, CO₂, light intensity, salinity), harvesting methods, oil extraction, and the quantity and quality of the biodiesel produced if costly enough. Using molecular biology for strain development offers greater flexibility than traditional breeding and strain development techniques, which will translate into greater processing volumes and higher yields of biocrude oil.

Fig 1. Illustrated scheme for improving microalgal strains for potential biotechnological interests via genetic engineering. (Guihéneuf F, et al., 2016)

Customized Solutions

Our scientists are keen on transgenic microalgae, and our top priority is developing new and efficient strains. Here, Lifeasible is focused on targeting identified genes through genetic engineering approaches to redirect metabolic pathways or improve traits in microalgae. We aim to improve microalgae strains to enable the various properties required for microalgae oil production. We offer a customized process for improving microalgae strains through genetic engineering.

(1) Collection and isolation of microalgae.

(2) Screening of oil-producing microalgae based on criteria.

(3) Genetic metabolic engineering for microalgae strain improvement.

We have various molecular toolkits for the genetic engineering of improved microalgae strains at different sites.

• Nuclear Transformation
• Random and Insertional Mutagenesis
• Homologous Recombination (HR) in the Nucleus
• RNA Interference (RNAi)
• Genome Editing
• Chloroplast Transformation
• Homologous Recombination in the Chloroplast
• Mitochondrial Transformation
• Selection Techniques Following Transformation
• Recombinant Protein Expression

Our Unique Advantages

• Professional Team
  Our team has comprehensive knowledge in genomics, transcriptomics, and metabolic pathways to rapidly identify target genes for engineering.
• Rich Molecular Tools
  We have a wealth of genetic manipulation tools, including selectable markers, vectors, and techniques for systematic insertion in screening libraries.
• Extensive Manipulation of the Genome
  We can manipulate the genomes of each of the three genetic systems of microalgae (nuclear, mitochondrial, and plastid).

At Lifeasible, we can efficiently genetically modify microalgal strains to improve physical and chemical stress resistance during cultivation. We are your trusted partner in all aspects of microalgae research. If you are interested in our solutions for the genetic engineering of microalgae strain improvement, please do not hesitate to contact us.