Characteristics of Recombinant <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> Expressing Putative Germin-Like Protein from <i>Neopyropia yezoensis</i>

Since microalgae face various environmental stresses for the high production of biofuels, multiple studies have been performed to determine if microalgae are resistant to these various stresses. In this study, the viability of cells under various abiotic stresses was investigated by introducing a putative germin-like protein (GLP) from <i>Neopyropia yezoensis</i>, which was known to be related in the resistance to abiotic stresses. The expression of GLP in <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> allowed cells to grow better in various abiotic stress environments. In nitrogen starvation conditions, recombinant cells accumulated the lipid droplet 1.46-fold more than wild-type cells and responded more rapidly to form palmelloid forms. Under high-temperature, hydrogen peroxide conditions and saline stress, the survival rate was increased 3.5 times, 2.19 times, and 3.19 times in recombinant <i>C. reinhardtii</i> with GLP, respectively. The expression level of genes related to pathways in response to various stresses increased 2-fold more under those conditions. This result will be useful for the development of microalgae that can grow better and produce more biofuels under different stress conditions.