ABSTRACT
Genetic transformation is an essential tool for fundamental research and applied biotechnology of macroalgae. However, up to now, attempts to create stable transgenic macroalgae have been successful only in species within the genus Ulva. Here, we describe a protocol for the polyethylene glycol-mediated stable transformation of Ulva mutabilis. On the basis of vector plasmids integrating into Ulva’s genome, nontargeted insertional mutagenesis with sufficient transformation rates can be achieved. The original transformation protocol is based on the bleomycin-resistance gene that is expressed under the control of a combination of expression signal promoter, enhancer, and transcriptional termination sequences of the chromosomal RBCS gene from U. mutabilis with the bleomycin resistance gene (BLE) as a dominant selection marker gene.
Keywords: Bleomycin, gametes, insertional mutagenesis, macroalga, transformation, Ulva
