Advances on the Genetic Transformation of Anabaena sp. Strain PCC7120

Abstract:

Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120, an ancient group of photosynthetic prokaryotes, have served as an excellent model system for analysis of fascinating biological phenomena such as photosynthesis and its regulation, cell differentiation and N2 fixation, metabolism of nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen, resistance to environmental stresses and molecular evolution. Apart from excellent basic research on heterocyst development and gene rearrangements, Anabaena strains have been extensively investigated for biotechnological applications such as production of drug and food, nitrogen biofertilizer, for hydrogen production and ammonia excretion, pesticides infested soils, bioremediation of oil, and production of biological fuel. However, the low expression rate was the neck for the use of this system. To improve the foreign protein expression rate, genetic transformation system of Anabaena sp. strain PCC7120 were extensively investigated such as vector (including promoter, reproducer, select marker etc.), foreign gene modification (coden and SD sequence), host adjustment, transformation method. Besides used for gene function research, Anabaena PCC7120 was used as host expressed many foreign proteins. Constructing Anabaena PCC7120 mutant and finding the best culture condition specially for expressing foreign proteins may be one of the new research directions.