סמינר המחלקה להנדהס ביו רפואית

עידו וינר

תלמיד התואר השני במחלקה לביולוגיה מולקולרית ואקולוגיה של צמחים

אוניברסיטת תל אביב

Towards Microalgae-based Technologies
Harnessing Computational Models to Overcome the Heterologous Gene Expression Barriers in Microalgae

Recently, various species of microalgae have emerged as promising host-organisms for biotechnology industries, due to a set of unique features. These include rapid cell division rates, efficient conversion of sunlight to organic compounds by photosynthesis, and the ability to grow in extreme conditions. However, the inability to receive high levels of heterologous gene expression in microalgae is hindering the development of the entire field. Indeed, most current microalgae-based technologies focus on producing substances that occur naturally in the host species.

The chloroplast genome is considered a promising target for the insertion of foreign genes due to the lack of silencing mechanisms and the relatively high overall expression of chloroplast genes. Although some successful attempts to effectively produce proteins of interest in the chloroplast genome have been recorded, a better understanding of the mechanisms regulating translation is required. Current knowledge is mainly based on empirical mutation assays carried out for several genes in a small set of chloroplast genomes. Very few large-scale analyses of features and signals related to gene expression mechanisms in the chloroplast genome were reported, thus limiting the robustness and scope of the conclusions made so far.

To this end we have comprised a data-set of chloroplast genomes and applied computational models and motif-searching algorithms to detect novel global features on the one hand, and improve the current understanding of known motifs on the other hand. We provide new insights into the role of the bacterial Shine-Delgarno element in chloroplasts. Subsequently, we were able to detect additional motifs containing signals that suggest their involvement in new unknown canonical translation initiation mechanisms. 

העבודה נעשתה בהנחיית ד"ר יפתח יעקובי המחלקה לביולוגיה מולקולרית ואקולוגיה של צמחים ופרופ' תמיר טולר המחלקה להנדסה ביו-רפואית אוניברסיטת תל-אביב

ההרצאה תתקיים ביום ראשון 27.11.16, בשעה 14:30

בחדר 315, הבניין הרב תחומי, אוניברסיטת תל אביב