PubMed · 2026-06-12
Scientists built a massive library of gene-edited microalgae and used a laser-based sorting system to rapidly identify which genes control the production of carotenoids — the pigments that give plants and algae their orange, red, and yellow colors. They discovered two previously unknown genetic pathways that regulate carotenoid levels, opening new doors for producing these valuable compounds more efficiently.
A library of 3,567 single-gene-edited microalgae mutants was screened using high-throughput laser sorting, identifying key carotenoid regulators without any chemical labels or dyes.
Knocking out the gene noPAC4 boosted total carotenoid content by elevating violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and β-carotene simultaneously, revealing it as a master regulator.
Two previously unknown carotenoid regulation mechanisms were discovered: epigenetic control via histone deacetylase (gene-switching machinery) and protein-degradation control via the 26S proteasome.