Reviewer Comments - EERE

2011 Algae Platform Review – Reviewer Comments
Reviewer Comments are direct transcripts of commentary and material provided by the Platform’s
Review Panel. They have not been edited or altered by the Biomass Program.
Approach 4.43 2.13 7
Progress 4.86 1.46 7
Relevance 3.86 1.88 7
Critical Success Factors 3.86 2.29 7
1. Project Approach
The project performers have implemented technically sound research, development, and deployment
approaches and demonstrated necessary results to meet their targets
The project performers have identified a project management plan that includes well-defined milestones
and adequate methods for addressing potential risks.
Reviewer Comments
Reviewer: 1 Criteria Score: 3
The first step lacking in the approach is a discussion of why this organism is chosen for these detailed
studies. After all, if this is not likely to be a viable lipid-generating organism, why do the work.
Investigators suggest it is not in their slide titled Critical Succes Factors.
Reviewer: 2 Criteria Score: 6
This project's goal is to determine how to maximize TAG production from Chlamydomonas. The
approach includes metabolic studies (e.g. evaluation of acetate enrichment of basic medium vs N
deprivation) and transformation to add a glucose transporter.
Reviewer: 3 Criteria Score: 8
To address carbon allocation and partitioning in green algae we use: Biochemical analysis Modeling of
metabolism Metabolic engineering (genetic transformation
Reviewer: 4 Criteria Score: 5
See Overall Impressions text.
Reviewer: 5 Criteria Score: 3
The goal is to identify metabolic targets for increasing lipid production using a model strain of Chlamy.
The goal and approach seem to have very limited relevance to platform goals.
Reviewer: 6 Criteria Score: 1
This approach (MFA) is far more applicable to the fermentation industry that has the ability to grow pure
cultures under highly controlled conditions. To apply the MFA analysis of a lab rat strain as a means to
suggest pond conditions is highly challenged if one agrees open ponds of local cultures is the likely path
forward. If the work was applied to strains isolated from real ponds, and if the model applied conditions
that exist in ponds, it might be able to explain why certain productivities are achieved and thus be more
applicable.
Reviewer: 7 Criteria Score: 5
It is difficult to evaluate if the approach of using Chalmydomonas in acetate media will apply to
phototrophic growth of other species.
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