A Series of Fortunate Events: Introducing Chlamydomonas as a Reference Organism
[1];
[2]
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095
- University of California, Los Angeles, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Los Angeles, CA 90095, University of California, Berkeley, Departments of Plant and Microbial Biology and Molecular and Cell Biology, Berkeley, CA 94720
The unicellular alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a classical reference organism for studying photosynthesis, chloroplast biology, cell cycle control, and cilia structure and function. It is also an emerging model for studying sensory cilia, the production of high-value bioproducts, and in situ structural determination. Much of the early appeal of Chlamydomonas was rooted in its promise as a genetic system, but like other classic model organisms, this rise to prominence predated the discovery of the structure of DNA, whole-genome sequences, and molecular techniques for gene manipulation. The haploid genome of C. reinhardtii facilitates genetic analyses and offers many of the advantages of microbial systems applied to a photosynthetic organism. C. reinhardtii has contributed to our understanding of chloroplast-based photosynthesis and cilia biology. Despite pervasive transgene silencing, technological advances have allowed researchers to address outstanding lines of inquiry in algal research. The most thoroughly studied unicellular alga, C. reinhardtii, is the current standard for algal research, and although genome editing is still far from efficient and routine, it nevertheless serves as a template for other algae. We present a historical retrospective of the rise of C. reinhardtii to illuminate its past and present. We also present resources for current and future scientists who may wish to expand their studies to the realm of microalgae.
- Research Organization:
- Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- FC02-02ER63421
- OSTI ID:
- 1573125
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1609016
- Journal Information:
- The Plant Cell, Journal Name: The Plant Cell Vol. 31 Journal Issue: 8; ISSN 1040-4651
- Publisher:
- American Society of Plant BiologistsCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Web of Science
Similar Records
High-throughput sequencing of the chloroplast and mitochondrion of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to generate improved de novo assemblies, analyze expression patterns and transcript speciation, and evaluate diversity among laboratory strains and wild isolates
From molecular manipulation of domesticated Chlamydomonas reinhardtii to survival in nature