Volume 11 Issue 1 ( March )

Chlorella vulgaris is a type of microalgae that contains active chemical metabolites, including Pigment-Protein Fraction (PPF), which has been shown to possess anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties in fish viral infections. The objective of this study is to characterize PPF of C. vulgaris through cloning and in silico analysis. This study utilized C. vulgaris isolated from the endemic region of East Java, Indonesia. The morphology of the cultured microalgae was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The PPF was characterized using the SDS-PAGE method, and its cDNA was isolated and analyzed through RT-PCR. Subsequently, the gene was cloned, transformed using E. coli DH5α, and sequenced. The structure and function of PPF were then described through an in-silico procedure. The study revealed that the cultures of C. vulgaris had a high cell density, with a density of 772 x 10⁴ cells/mL after being cultured for 7-8 days. The morphology of the microalgae was observed to have a smooth surface with a diameter ranging from 1.5 μm to 2.67 μm. The PPF had a molecular weight of 14 and 35 kDa and its cDNA was visualized using RT-PCR, which revealed a protein with an alkaline pair length of 313 bp. In silico analysis identified two compounds in PPF of C. vulgaris, namely, Succinate CoA ligase and Ammonia form cytochrome c nitrite reductase. These compounds were found to have functions such as protein kinase activity, catalytic activity, and regulation of gene expression.

Keywords: capsid protein; cloning; C. vulgaris; PPF; protein structure.