Stable Nuclear Transformation System for the Coccolithophorid Alga Pleurochrysis carterae

Hirotoshi Endo; Megumi Yoshida; Toshiki Uji; Naotsune Saga; Koji Inoue; Hiromichi Nagasawa

doi:10.1038/srep22252

Stable Nuclear Transformation System for the Coccolithophorid Alga Pleurochrysis carterae

Sci Rep. 2016 Mar 7:6:22252. doi: 10.1038/srep22252.

Authors

Hirotoshi Endo^{1

2

3}, Megumi Yoshida³, Toshiki Uji⁴, Naotsune Saga⁵, Koji Inoue³, Hiromichi Nagasawa⁶

Affiliations

¹ Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan.
² Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
³ Atmosphere and Ocean Research Institute, the University of Tokyo, Japan.
⁴ Faculty of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, Japan.
⁵ Institute for Food Sciences, Hirosaki University, Japan.
⁶ College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, China.

Abstract

Of the three dominant marine microalgal groups, dinoflagellates and diatoms can undergo genetic transformation; however, no transformation method has been established for haptophytes to date. Here, we report the first stable genetic transformation of a coccolithophore, Pleurochrysis carterae, by means of polyethylene glycol (PEG)-mediated transfer of a bacterial hygromycin B-resistance gene. Together with the novel transient green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression system, this approach should facilitate further molecular-based research in this phylum.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Gene Expression
Genetics, Microbial / methods*
Genomic Instability
Haptophyta / genetics*
Molecular Biology / methods*
Recombinant Proteins / biosynthesis
Recombinant Proteins / genetics
Transformation, Genetic*

Substances

Recombinant Proteins