Molecular biotechnology

Algae are a valuable source of many substances with high commercial value, and industrial use. Some substances are specific only for algae, and are present in very small amounts, which complicates their commercialization. Our laboratory is focused on applied genetics and molecular biology of microalgae. We are focused on genetic modifications to enhance the content of selected substances. For these purposes we use methods:

Crispr / Cas9 – to knock-out genes of competitive metabolic pathways.

Gene overexpression - for overproduction of target substances. In this method, regulatory elements are added to selected genes to increase their expression level in the cell. An enhancement of precursors production leads to an increase in the production of the target substance.

Random mutagenesis - is a process in which we use UV radiation or a chemical substance (eg ethyl methanesulfonate), which causes random mutations in DNA. Some of these changes may be positive and thus increase the production of the target molecule. The cells prepared by random mutagenesis are considered as non-genetically modified organisms, and are therefore not subject to complex legislation of gmo cultivation.

Diatoms - a rich source of carotenoids

Our goal is the genetic modification of the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum, to enhnace the fucoxanthin production - a carotenoid with great medical potential. One way to overproduce fucoxanthin is to overexpress selected genes that are part of the fucoxanthin metabolic pathway. Besides, we design suitable vectors with a strong promoter for effective gene overexpression. We also use the Crispr / Cas system to eliminate competitive metabolic pathways. Last but not least, is random mutagenesis. Here we develop methods of UV / chemical mutagenesis with rapid screening revealing mutants with enhnaced fucoxanthine production.

This work is supported by the NCK project and the International Mobility of Researchers of the Institute of Microbiology AS CR, v. V. I. No. 2 ", registration number CZ.02.2.69 / 0.0 / 0.0 / 18_053 / 0017705

Contamination detection

During large-scale cultivation is necessary to monitor the growth of the culture and prevent any contamination that would degrade the final product. Contamination detection based on molecular markers (DNA, RNA) is currently the most effective way to identify contaminats in early stage of cultivation. In our laboratory, we have developed an assay identifying Chlorella sp. - a fast-growing strain and a potential contaminant in a culture of diatom Phaeodactylum tricnornutum. We also cooperates on the development of contamination detection of other organisms. This work is supported by the NCK project.