Saul Purton

Algal Biology and Biotechnology

Our research combines molecular-genetic, biochemical and biophysical techniques to investigate various basic and applied aspects of algal biology. Current research includes:

Genetic engineering of the algal chloroplast as a platform for production of therapeutic proteins

Development of genetic strategies for improved biofuel production from algae and cyanobacteria

Development of synthetic biology tools for metabolic engineering of algae

The regulation of organelle gene expression by nuclear-encoded factors.

Latest lab news

December 2018

Congratulations to Dr Juliana Ramos for successfully defending her PhD thesis on 3^rd December. Juliana's project focused on the production of bacteriophage endolysins in the chloroplast of Chlamydomonas and their use as novel antibiotics. She was funded through a prestigious CAPES scholarship awarded by the Brazilian Government.

November 2018

Professor Saul Purton has been successful in securing major funding from the BBSRC to run a UK-wide network in algal biotechnology. The award is part of a £11 million second phase investment by BBSRC and EPSRC to support 'Networks in Biotechnology and Bioenergy' (NIBB). The six awards aim to build capacity and capability in biologically based manufacturing processes by fostering collaboration between academic researchers, industry and other stakeholders. The algal NIBB, called 'Algae-UK' will run for five years from 2019, and builds on the tremendous success of the phase I NIBB, PHYCONET of which Saul is the Director.

Congratulations to Dr Lamya Al-Haj, a former PhD student in Professor Saul Purton's group (now Assistant Professor in Molecular Biology at Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) who is the recipient of a prestigious L'Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science International Award. Lamya is one of five laureates honoured for their contributions to the advancement of science in the Middle East region.

Congratulations to Dr Xenia Spencer-Milnes, a BBSRC-funded student supervised by Professor Saul Purton for successfully defending her PhD thesis entitled "Towards engineering the microalga Chorella sorokiniana for the production of high-value oils" on 7^th November. Xenia will be staying at UCL working as a post-doctoral researcher on a joint project between Brenda Parker and Saul Purton funded by the BBSRC. The project will investigate the use of microalgae as cell platforms for producing edible vaccines for the salmon industry.

Contact us:

Professor Saul Purton
Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology (Darwin Building)
University College London
Gower Street
London
WC1E 6BT
Tel: +44 (0)20 7679 2675
Email: s.purton[at]ucl.ac.uk

PHYCONET is a BBSRC Network in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy, a UK network of biologists, engineers and industrial partners focusing on high value products from microalgae. Saul Purton is the Director of this initiative. Visit the PHYCONET website for funding opportunities, conference listings and news!