CLONING AND EXPRESSION OFΒSUBUNIT GENE OF PHYCOCYANINFROM SPIRULINALAXA IN E. COLI BL21(DE3)

This study focuses on the cloning and expression of the β-subunit gene of C-phycocyanin (C-PC) from Spirulina laxa in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3). C-phycocyanin, a significant light-harvesting protein found in cyanobacteria, is known for its pharmacological properties, including antioxidant and antifungal activities. The β-subunit gene (1119 bp) was amplified using specific primers, digested with EcoRI and BamHI, and inserted into the pGEM®-3Zf(+) vector. The recombinant DNA was transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3), with protein expression induced by IPTG. SDS-PAGE analysis confirmed the expression of the recombinant β-subunit protein, with an estimated molecular weight of 37 kDa. The biological activity of the expressed protein was evaluated against two pathogenic fungi, Candida albicans and Aspergillus niger, using the agar well diffusion method. The results demonstrated significant antifungal activity, with inhibition zones of 45 mm and 43 mm, respectively. This study highlights the potential of Spirulina-derived recombinant phycocyanin in biotechnological applications, offering promising antifungal properties. Further research could explore its potential in pharmaceuticals and food industries, contributing to developing natural antifungal agents.