Team:Bilkent UNAM Turkey

Biodegradation of TNT and TNT derivatives by nfsI-transfected Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Abstract

We aim for the genetic modification of the unicellular microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by introducing the nfsI gene belonging to the bacterium Enterobacter cloacae in order to investigate how nitroreductase expressing-microalgae respond to trinitrotoluene (TNT) exposure. Our experimental design is as follows: firstly, obtain a synthetic gene of nfsI with flanking prefix and suffix of standard Biobricks, and ligate this insert to pRbcBRL, a vector with appropriate expression and selection system for Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and obtain pRbcnfsI. Then, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii will be transfected with the with the designed plasmid. The transfected algae will then be grown in presence of TNT and/or TNT derivatives and the effectiveness of nitroreductase activity on biological degradation of TNT will be investigated.