Bidirectional promoters in Nannochloropsis

• US 8,314,228 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2010
• Issued: 11/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Original Assignee: Aurora Algae, Incorporated (Reliance Industries Limited)
• Inventors: Kilian, Oliver, Vick, Bertrand
• Primary Examiner(s): QIAN, CELINE X
• Application Number:
  US12/706,683
• Publication Number:
  US 20100210832A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 536/24.5
• CPC Class Codes: C12N 15/79 Vectors or expression systems specially adapted for eukaryotic hosts

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments provided herein include novel promoters isolated from the microalgae, Nannochloropsis. These promoters drive gene expression in a bidirectional manner, and are especially useful for the genetic manipulation of Nannochloropsis and other organisms. The inventors herein successfully used these promoters (in both parallel and antiparallel orientations with respect to a Sh ble gene cassette) to impart zeocine-resistance to Nannochloropsis.

Claims

1. A bidirectional promoter for a transformation construct for algal cell transformation, the bidirectional promoter comprising the nucleotide sequence of SEQ. ID. NO. 1.

2. The bidirectional promoter of claim 1, wherein the algal cell is of algal genus Nannochloropsis.

3. The bidirectional promoter of claim 1, wherein the bidirectional promoter promotes transcription of a first nucleotide sequence adjacent to a first side of the bidirectional promoter in a 3′

direction and the bidirectional promotes transcription of a second nucleotide sequence adjacent to a second side of the bidirectional promoter in a 5′

direction.

4. The bidirectional promoter of claim 3, wherein the bidirectional promoter promotes transcription of the first and the second nucleotide sequences at a same time.

5. The bidirectional promoter of claim 3, wherein the first nucleotide sequence includes a selection marker gene.

6. The bidirectional promoter of claim 3, wherein the second nucleotide sequence includes a selection marker gene.

7. The bidirectional promoter of claim 5 or claim 6, wherein the selection marker gene is a Sh Ble gene.