improving the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae using high-throughput screening and next...
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Improving the photosynthetic efficiency of microalgae using high-throughput
screening and next generation sequencing for increased biofuel yields
Andreas Johansson, Mark Moore and Thomas Bibby, Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Center
Richard Edwards, Matthew Terry, The Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton
Loss of energy through fluorescence and heat due to over absorption of light by surface cells.
Over absorption of lightProblem:
Heat Fluorescence
Sunlight
Algal cells
Depth
Solution:Modify the structure of the light harvesting complex (LHC) that collects photons.
Photosystem
Thylakoid membrane
LHC
Lipid bilayer
Lipid bilayer
Contact: [email protected]
A)Knowledge of LHC gene regulation is limited.B)Effective tools only available in a few species including C. reinhardtii.
Available toolsWhy not targeted genetic engineering?
Alternative approach
A) High throughput based screening of candidates.
B) Allows us to work with any species.
Contact: [email protected]
1) Random mutagenesis
High throughput pipelineSelection of cells
2) High speed sorting
Chemical agent causes point mutations in selected microalgae
Flow cytometry based selection of cells
3) Culture selected cells
Grow selected clonal cells and measure physiological properties
4) Transcriptomics
Next generation sequencing of expressed genes
5) Data analysis
Find differentially expressed genes involved in photosynthesis
6) Measure biomass
Determine if the new lines of cells are suitable for biofuel production
Contact: [email protected]