Method of improving resistance to substrate analog of nitric acid in microalga

1 . A method of improving resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid in a Nannochloropsis microalga, comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) from the genome of the Nannochloropsis microalga:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (C) or (D) from the genome of the microalga: wherein protein (C) is:

(C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42; and wherein protein (D) is:

(D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C).

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41 is deleted and a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42 is deleted.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the microalga is selected from the group consisting of Nannochloropsis oculata, Nannochloropsis granulata and Nannochloropsis oceanica.

5 . A transformant of a Nannochloropsis microalga having resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid, wherein a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) is deleted from the genome of the transformant, or expression of the gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) is downregulated in the transformant:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.

6 . The transformant of claim 5 , wherein a gene encoding the following protein (C) or (D) is deleted from the genome of the transformant;

wherein protein (C) is:

(C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42; and

wherein protein (D) is:

(D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C).

7 . The transformant according to claim 5 , wherein the microalga is selected from the group consisting of Nannochloropsis oculata, Nannochloropsis granulata and Nannochloropsis oceanica.

8 . A method of preparing a transformant having resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid, comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) from the genome of a Nannochloropsis microalga; and

obtaining the transformant using resistance to the substrate analog of nitric acid as an indicator:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and

wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (C) or (D) from the genome of the microalga; and

obtaining the transformant using resistance to the substrate analog of nitric acid as an indicator:

wherein protein (C) is:

(C) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 42; and

wherein protein (D) is:

(D) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 92% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (C).

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the microalga is selected from the group consisting of Nannochloropsis oculata, Nannochloropsis granulata and Nannochloropsis oceanica.

11 . A method of improving resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid in a Nannochloropsis microalga, comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) from the genome of the Nannochloropsis microalga:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and

wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 95% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.

12 . A transformant of a Nannochloropsis microalga having resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid, wherein a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) is deleted from the genome of the transformant:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and

wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 95% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.

13 . A method of preparing a transformant having resistance to a substrate analog of nitric acid, comprising:

deleting a gene encoding the following protein (A) or (B) from the genome of a Nannochloropsis microalga; and

obtaining the transformant using resistance to the substrate analog of nitric acid as an indicator:

wherein protein (A) is:

(A) a protein consisting of the amino acid sequence set forth in SEQ ID NO: 41; and

wherein protein (B) is:

(B) a protein consisting of an amino acid sequence having 95% or more identity with the amino acid sequence of the protein (A);

and wherein

the substrate analog of nitric acid is chloric acid.