bioRxiv · 2026-06-06
Researchers discovered that special signaling molecules called inositol pyrophosphates act as master switches in green algae, controlling how the cells store energy and protect themselves when light becomes too intense. This finding could help scientists engineer hardier, more productive algae for biofuel and other industrial uses.
Loss of inositol pyrophosphate synthesis (vip1-1 mutant) increased storage fat (TAG) accumulation while altering starch levels, showing these molecules balance carbon between storage and structural uses.
PP-InsPs regulate the composition and fluidity of chloroplast membranes by controlling fatty acid desaturation and glycerolipid synthesis during high-light stress.
PP-InsPs coordinate retrograde signaling from the chloroplast to the nucleus, repressing transcription of photosynthesis-associated nuclear genes and lipid metabolism genes during high-light acclimation.
