Decades-old algae lab strains had hidden chromosome scrambling all along
Bujaldon S, Burlacot A, Chaux F, Wollman FA
Crispr
The way this single-celled algae balances two light-harvesting systems is the same basic mechanism every green plant uses to avoid sun damage, so fixing broken research tools here speeds up discoveries that could help crops handle shifting light and heat.
For twenty years, plant scientists studying how algae cells balance their two solar-power stations relied on a couple of mutant strains as their go-to tools. Turns out those strains were secretly a mess: scrambled chromosomes, extra or missing chunks of DNA, and cells that struggled to reproduce normally. The researchers used modern gene-sequencing tools and CRISPR to build cleaner replacement strains, so future experiments on how plants and algae respond to light will rest on firmer ground.
Key Findings
Long-read whole-genome sequencing revealed extensive chromosomal rearrangements and high aneuploidy in the classic stt7-1 mutant strain used since the 1990s
The genomic instability was linked to increased cell size and meiotic dysfunction, explaining why stt7-1 is nearly sterile in genetic crosses
Two new, more reliable null mutants for the STT7 kinase were created, one via traditional crossing and one via CRISPR-Cas9, both suitable for future genetic crosses
chevron_right Technical Summary
Scientists discovered that key lab strains of algae used for decades to study how plants adapt to light have hidden genetic chaos, including scrambled chromosomes, and they've now created cleaner, more reliable versions for future research.
Abstract Preview
Original paper
The cold case of state transition 7 (stt7) mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, solved by whole-genome sequencing.
The process of State Transitions (ST) corresponds to an STT7 kinase-driven redistribution of the transmembrane LHCII antenna proteins between Photosystem II (PSII) and Photosystem I (PSI), which re...
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Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a single-cell green alga about 10 micrometres in diameter that swims with two flagella. It has a cell wall made of hydroxyproline-rich glycoproteins, a large cup-shaped chloroplast, a large pyrenoid, and an eyespot apparatus that senses light.