Engineering of Algal Chassis for Biosynthesis

Chassis selection depends on your target application. Chlamydomonas is ideal for recombinant protein expression and eukaryotic modifications due to its well-characterized genetics and MoClo parts availability. Nannochloropsis excels in omega-3 fatty acid and lipid production with up to 60% lipid content. Synechococcus/Synechocystis are best for direct solar-driven chemical production and high-growth applications (UTEX 2973 doubles in 1.5 hours). Our team can help evaluate your specific needs during consultation.

We employ strain-specific transformation methods optimized for maximum efficiency. For Chlamydomonas, we use glass bead agitation and electroporation. Nannochloropsis transformation utilizes electroporation and biolistic particle delivery. Synechococcus species are transformed via natural competence (PCC 7942), triparental conjugation (PCC 7002), or high-efficiency electroporation depending on the strain.

Polyploidy is a key challenge in cyanobacterial engineering. Our proprietary CRISPR-accelerated segregation technology actively eliminates wild-type chromosomal copies by targeting them with the Cas nuclease, forcing the cell to maintain only edited alleles. This reduces segregation time by up to 70% compared to traditional methods, achieving homozygous strains within weeks instead of months.

Yes, we offer multiplexed editing capabilities using CRISPR-Cas12a polycistronic gRNA arrays. This allows simultaneous targeting of multiple genomic loci in a single transformation, essential for redirecting complex metabolic carbon flux. We've successfully targeted up to three sites simultaneously in Nannochloropsis and can design custom multiplexing strategies for your pathway engineering needs.

Absolutely. We provide comprehensive codon optimization using chassis-specific matrices to ensure maximal translational throughput. Each alga has distinct codon usage preferences—for example, Chlamydomonas is GC-rich with bias toward C in the third position. Our optimization includes intron-mediated enhancement elements and avoids sequence motifs that may trigger silencing.

Yes, we offer marker-free strain development using advanced techniques including RNP delivery, curable vectors, and scarless editing methods. These approaches allow removal of antibiotic resistance markers after confirmation of the desired edit, providing clean strains suitable for industrial applications and regulatory compliance.

Our standard delivery includes comprehensive analytical support: Sanger and/or NGS sequencing verification, growth curve characterization, and phenotypic analysis. For metabolic engineering projects, we provide quantitative metabolite analysis via GC-MS, HPLC, or LC-MS/MS depending on your target compounds. Custom analytical packages are available upon request.