Introduction of the Molybdenum Cofactor Biosynthesis Pathway to Chlamydomonas reinhardtii for Future Use by Formate Dehydrogenase

With needs for carbon sequestration and sustainable chemical feedstocks increasing formate stands out as a real possibility in addressing these growing problems. One of the principal issues with positioning formate as the central compound of a bioeconomy is establishing a sustainable and reliable method for producing it. The goal of this project was to take the first steps towards engineering a formate production cell factory in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by introducing the biosynthetic pathway necessary for the creation of molybdenum cofactor which would later be used as an integral part of the function of a formate dehydrogenase enzyme capable of reducing carbon dioxide to make formate. I was able to get some seemingly successful transformants but unable to confidently confirm whether or not these transformants hardboard the molybdenum cofactor synthesis genes.