The use of micro-algae as a platform for the production of recombinant proteins has significant potential given the relative easy in generating stable nuclear and chloroplast transformants, the ability of algae to produce both simple prokaryotic or complex eukaryotic proteins, and the ability of algae to be grown at very large scale in a cost effective manner.  In order to fully exploit the advantages of micro-algae for biotechnology applications we have been developing tools for the regulated expression of recombinant proteins in the eukaryotic green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. We have expressed a number of proteins including single chain antibodies and full-length antibodies, human and animal therapeutic proteins and vaccines.  We have also expressed a number of industrial enzymes including enzyme useful for the biochemical dgradation of cellulose into simple sugars for use in biofuel production. The challenges, potential, and some early successes of algae as a source of cellulases and other industrial enzymes will be discussed.

Production of industrial enzymes in algae to enable cellulosic biofuels

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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