Affiliation:
1. Laboratory of Biochemistry Wageningen University Wageningen the Netherlands
Abstract
AbstractZygnematophycean algae represent the streptophyte group identified as the closest sister clade to land plants. Their phylogenetic position and growing genomic resources make these freshwater algae attractive models for evolutionary studies in the context of plant terrestrialization. However, available genetic transformation protocols are limited and exclusively DNA‐based. To expand the zygnematophycean toolkit, we developed a DNA‐free method for protein delivery into intact cells using electroporation. We use confocal microscopy coupled with fluorescence lifetime imaging to assess the delivery of mNeonGreen into algal cells. We optimized the method to obtain high efficiency of delivery and cell recovery after electroporation in two strains of Penium margaritaceum and show that the experimental setup can also be used to deliver proteins in other zygnematophycean species such as Closterium peracerosum‐strigosum‐littorale complex and Mesotaenium endlicherianum. We discuss the possible applications of this proof‐of‐concept method.
Funder
H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek
Subject
Cell Biology,Plant Science,Genetics,General Medicine,Physiology