Product and process for transformation of thraustochytriales microorganisms

1. A method for transformation of cells of a microorganism of the Order Thraustochytriales, the method comprising:

a. introducing into cells of a microorganism of the Order Thraustochytriales a recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding an acetolactate synthase that confers onto the cells reduced sensitivity to compounds selected from the group consisting of: sulfonylurea compounds, imidazolinone-class inhibitors, and pyrimidinyl oxybenzoates, wherein the acetolactate synthase has an amino acid sequence that is at least 90% identical to an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO: 19, SEQ ID NO: 22 and SEQ ID NO: 24; and

b. selecting cells that have been successfully transformed with the recombinant nucleic acid molecule by culturing the cells of (a) in a medium containing at least one compound that is inhibitory to untransformed cells, the compound being selected from the group consisting of: a sulfonylurea compound, an imidazolinone-class inhibitor, and pyrimidinyl oxybenzoates.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein to be produced by the cell, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein to be produced by the cell is operatively linked to a transcription control sequence.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the protein to be produced by the cell is associated with the synthesis of a fatty acid selected from the group consisting of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and arachidonic acid (ARA).

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the protein to be produced by the cell is selected from the group consisting of: a fatty acid synthase, a fatty acid desaturase, a fatty acid elongase, a protein associated with a polyketide synthase complex, a protein associated with incorporation of fatty acids into phospholipids or into triacylglycerol molecules, a polyenoic fatty acid isomerase, HMG-CoA synthase, HMG-CoA reductase, squalene synthase, phytoene synthase, phytoene desaturase, a carotenoid cyclase, a carotenoid hydroxylase, a carotenoid ketolase, and proteins associated with the synthesis of vitamin E and lipoic acid.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule of (a) further comprises a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence in the microorganism such that a gene comprising the target nucleic acid sequence is mutated or inactivated by homologous recombination with the nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with the target nucleic acid sequence.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing into the cell at least one additional recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein to be expressed, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein to be expressed being operatively linked to a transcription control sequence.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing into the cell at least one additional recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence in the microorganism such that a gene comprising the target nucleic acid sequence is mutated or inactivated by homologous recombination with the nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with the target nucleic acid sequence.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising introducing into the cell at least one additional recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a bleomycin-binding protein.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding the bleomycin-binding protein further comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a protein to be expressed by the cell, wherein the nucleic acid sequence encoding the protein to be expressed by the cell is operatively linked to a transcription control sequence.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transcription control sequence is selected from the group consisting of a Thraustochytriales α-tubulin promoter, a Thraustochytriales acetolactate synthase promoter, a promoter from a Thraustochytriales polyketide synthase (PKS) system, and a Thraustochytriales fatty acid desaturase promoter.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the recombinant nucleic acid molecule comprising the nucleic acid sequence encoding the bleomycin-binding protein further comprises a nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with a target nucleic acid sequence in the microorganism such that a gene comprising the target nucleic acid sequence is mutated or inactivated by homologous recombination with the nucleic acid sequence that hybridizes with the target nucleic acid sequence.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is from a genus selected from the group consisting of Thraustochytrium, Labyrinthuloides, Japonochytrium , and Schizochytrium.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the microorganism is from a species selected from the group consisting of Schizochytrium sp., Schizochytrium aggregatum, Schizochytrium limacinum, Schizochytrium minutum, Thraustochytrium sp., Thraustochytrium striatum, Thraustochytrium aureum, Thraustochytriuln roseum , and Japonochytrium sp.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the introducing of the recombinant nucleic acid molecule into the cells is performed by a method selected from the group consisting of particle bombardment, electroporation, microinjection, lipofection, adsorption, infection and protoplast fusion.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to a transcription control sequence selected from the group consisting of: a Thraustochytriales α-tubulin promoter, a Thraustochytriales acetolactate synthase promoter, a promoter from a Thraustochytriales polyketide synthase (PKS) system, and a Thraustochytriales fatty acid desaturase promoter.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the nucleic acid sequence is operatively linked to a signal segment nucleic acid sequence.