Efficient Transformation of the Diatoms Phaeodactylum tricornutum by Multipulse Electroporation.

Abstract

An efficient nuclear transformation method has been established for the pennate marine diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum using an electroporation system that drives multisequence pulses to introduce foreign DNAs into the cells. By removing excess salts in the culture medium and optimizing pulse conditions, diatom cells can be transformed with high transformation efficiency. This method is also applicable to other marine diatoms, such as the centric diatom Chaetoceros gracilis. This efficient and stable transformation system will be useful for both functional analysis of diatom-specific genes and for further biotechnological applications.