Genetic Engineering of Microalgae for Biofuels Production

The current use of fossil fuels leads to resource depletion and climate change. For decades, photosynthetic algae, including microalgae and seaweeds, have attracted considerable interest as a possible biofuel resource. Here, Lifeasible offers specialized solutions for the genetic engineering of microalgae for biofuel production.

Microalgae for Biofuels Production

Many eukaryotic microalgae can store large amounts of energy-rich compounds such as triacylglycerol (TAG) and starch, which can produce several different biofuels, including biodiesel and ethanol. From an environmental perspective, microalgae are particularly attractive as a fuel source because they consume carbon dioxide and can be grown on marginal lands using waste or salt water. In addition, it is possible to use the metabolic pathways of microalgae to produce a variety of biofuels. To promote the use of microalgae in biofuel production, it is essential to design solutions to optimize the productivity of any microalgae culture system and  conduct bioprospecting efforts to identify strains with as many desirable biofuel properties as possible. Microalgal genetic engineering plays a vital role in this process.

Fig 1. Genetically engineered microalgae for enhanced biofuel production. (Korkhovoy V, et al., 2016)

Customized Solutions

Lifeasible's mission is to target genetic modifications for microalgal biofuel applications. Our scientists work on genetic engineering to increase and modify the accumulation or release of energy products or their precursors (e.g., lipids, alcohols, hydrocarbons) in photosynthetic microalgae. Among the biochemical components of microalgae, lipids have the highest energy levels. Our focus is to increase the accumulation of lipids in microalgae through genetic engineering, containing the following:

• Polar Lipids
• Triglycerides
• Di-triglycerides
• Mono-Triglycerides
• Free Fatty Acids

Both the quantity and quality of diesel precursors from a given strain are closely related to how lipid metabolism is controlled. We offer the following transgenic strategies for altering lipid content in microalgae to enhance diesel fuel production.

Genetic Engineering of Microalgal Lipid Biosynthesis

We increase lipid accumulation and content in microalgae by knocking out and overexpressing genes involved in microalgal lipid synthesis.

• Increase the expression of genes involved in the fatty acid synthesis.
• Knockout of genes in metabolic pathways leading to the accumulation of energy-rich storage compounds (e.g., starch).

Genetic Engineering of Microalgal Lipid Catabolism

We achieve the inactivation of genes involved in lipid catabolism by random mutagenesis or RNA silencing.

Modification of Lipid Properties in Microalgae

We transgenically overexpress thioesterases in microalgae to alter fatty acid chain lengths and thus improve the suitability of microalgae-derived diesel feedstocks.

Transcription Factors Engineering in Microalgae

We regulate whole microalgal intracellular metabolic pathways mainly by controlling the abundance or function of various enzymes in microalgae associated with producing desired components.

At Lifeasible, we can quickly help you improve lipid accumulation in transgenic strains to increase productivity for biofuel production. We are your trusted partner in all aspects of microalgae research. If you are interested in our solutions for the genetic engineering of microalgae for biofuels production, please do not hesitate to contact us.