BPP Bioportide™-mediated (genetic) transformation in cyanobacteria: a rapid and simplified approach for efficient molecular translocation and genome modification
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Cyanobacteria are promising candidates for sustainable bioproduction due to their ability to fix CO 2 via photosynthesis to produce valuable compounds. However, efforts toward their genetic engineering remain limited by inefficient, strain-specific transformation methods. In this study, we systematically evaluated BPP Bioportides™, a protein-based DNA delivery system, as a novel transformation approach across multiple cyanobacterial strains, including Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, and Synechococcus sp. UTEX 3153. BPP Bioportide™ variants BP-17 and BP-12 significantly improved transformation efficiency of both plasmid and linear DNA, even with minimal DNA input of 10 ng, surpassing conventional methods and enabling modification of previously non-model strains. Optimization revealed a narrow window for DNA uptake and identified key factors influencing genomic integration, such as DNA type, host ploidy, and selection conditions. Successful double homologous recombination and partial to full genomic segregation were validated by colony PCR. BPP Bioportide™-mediated transformation offers a versatile and efficient platform for cyanobacterial genome engineering, supporting advances in synthetic biology and carbon-neutral biotechnology.
Source: Frontiers in Plant Science
Language: English
Subfield: Genetics
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7155160350