A consortium of Chuo University and Tokyo Institute of Technology, including Denso Research Center, succeeded first to apply TALEN technology (artificial nuclease) to algae, knocking out uracil synthetase as a model garget gene. Transformation frequency was low. P. ellipsoidea can produce up to 30 % lipids and are being studied by Denso for fuel production.
Nikkei Biotech, March 11, 2013
Team led by Denso succeeds in gene knock-out in Pseudococcomyxa microalgae using TALEN technology