scholarly journals Eyespot-Assembly Mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Genetics ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 721-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Rose Lamb ◽  
Susan K Dutcher ◽  
Cathy K Worley ◽  
Carol L Dieckmann

Abstract Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is a single-celled green alga that phototaxes toward light by means of a light-sensitive organelle, the eyespot. The eyespot is composed of photoreceptor and Ca++-channel signal transduction components in the plasma membrane of the cell and reflective carotenoid pigment layers in an underlying region of the large chloroplast. To identify components important for the positioning and assembly of a functional eyespot, a large collection of nonphototactic mutants was screened for those with aberrant pigment spots. Four loci were identified. eye2 and eye3 mutants have no pigmented eyespots. min1 mutants have smaller than wild-type eyespots. mlt1(ptx4) mutants have multiple eyespots. The MIN1, MLT1(PTX4), and EYE2 loci are closely linked to each other; EYE3 is unlinked to the other three loci. The eye2 and eye3 mutants are epistatic to min1 and mlt1 mutations; all double mutants are eyeless. min1 mlt1 double mutants have a synthetic phenotype; they are eyeless or have very small, misplaced eyespots. Ultrastructural studies revealed that the min1 mutants are defective in the physical connection between the plasma membrane and the chloroplast envelope membranes in the region of the pigment granules. Characterization of these four loci will provide a beginning for the understanding of eyespot assembly and localization in the cell.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Azeez Beebo ◽  
Ahmad Zia ◽  
Christopher R. Kinzel ◽  
Andrei Herdean ◽  
Karim Bouhidel ◽  
...  

SUMMARYPhotosynthetic oxygen evolution by photosystem II requires water supply into the chloroplast to reach the thylakoid lumen. A rapid water flow is also required into the chloroplast for optimal oxygen evolution and to overcome osmotic stress. The mechanisms governing water transport in chloroplasts are largely unexplored. Previous proteomics indicated the presence of three aquaporins from the tonoplast intrinsic protein (TIP) family, TIP1;1, TIP1;2 and TIP2;1, in chloroplast membranes of Arabidopsis thaliana. Here we revisited their location and studied their role in chloroplasts. Localization experiments indicated that TIP2;1 resides in the thylakoid, whereas TIP1;2 is present in both thylakoid and envelope membranes. Mutants lacking TIP1;2 and/or TIP2;1 did not display a macroscopic phenotype when grown under standard conditions. The mutant chloroplasts and thylakoids underwent less volume changes than the corresponding wild type preparations upon osmotic treatment and in the light. Significantly reduced rates of photosynthetic electron transport were obtained in the mutant leaves, with implications on the CO2 fixation rates. However, electron transport rates did not significantly differ between mutants and wild type when isolated thylakoids were examined. Less acidification of the thylakoid lumen was measured in mutants thylakoids, resulting in a slower induction of delta pH-dependent photoprotective mechanisms. These results identify TIP1;2 and TIP2;1 as chloroplast proteins and highlight their importance for osmoregulation and optimal photosynthesis. A third aquaporin, TIP1;1, is present in the chloroplast envelope, and may play role in photosynthesis under excessive light conditions, as based on the weak photosynthetic phenotype of its mutant.


2001 ◽  
Vol 125 (4) ◽  
pp. 1723-1731 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dauvillée ◽  
Christophe Colleoni ◽  
Gregory Mouille ◽  
Matthew K. Morell ◽  
Christophe d'Hulst ◽  
...  

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1483
Author(s):  
Jun Morishita ◽  
Ryutaro Tokutsu ◽  
Jun Minagawa ◽  
Toru Hisabori ◽  
Ken-ichi Wakabayashi

The most motile phototrophic organisms exhibit photo-induced behavioral responses (photobehavior) to inhabit better light conditions for photosynthesis. The unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is an excellent model organism to study photobehavior. Several years ago, we found that C. reinhardtii cells reverse their phototactic signs (i.e., positive and negative phototaxis) depending on the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in the cell. However, its molecular mechanism is unclear. In this study, we isolated seven mutants showing positive phototaxis, even after the induction of negative phototaxis (ap1~7: always positive) to understand the ROS-dependent regulatory mechanism for the phototactic sign. We found no common feature in the mutants regarding their growth, high-light tolerance, and photosynthetic phenotypes. Interestingly, five of them grew faster than the wild type. These data suggest that the ROS-dependent regulation of the phototactic sign is not a single pathway and is affected by various cellular factors. Additionally, the isolation and analyses of mutants with defects in phototactic-sign regulation may provide clues for their application to the efficient cultivation of algae.


Weed Science ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Varsha Vartak ◽  
Sujata Bhargava

A norflurazon-resistant mutant has been isolated from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii that showed a three-fold factor of resistance over wild type cultures. In comparison to wild type cultures, the mutant showed better retention of chlorophylls and carotenoids when grown in light in the presence of norflurazon. When grown in the dark, chlorophyll losses were similar, while carotenoid losses were lower than in the wild type cultures. Higher levels of phytoene accumulated in the wild type cultures in the presence of norflurazon than in the resistant cultures. The resistant cultures also showed cross tolerance to EMD-IT 5914, a herbicide with a similar mode of action. Norflurazon resistance in this alga appears to arise from alterations in the target enzyme phytoene desaturase.


Author(s):  
Keiji Okada ◽  
Ryo Takase ◽  
Yurie Hamaoka ◽  
Akinobu Honda ◽  
Asami Ikeda ◽  
...  

Mammalian sialidase Neu1 is involved in various physiological functions, including cell adhesion, differentiation, cancer metastasis, and diabetes through lysosomal catabolism and desialylation of glycoproteins at the plasma membrane. Various animal models have been established to further explore the functions of vertebrate Neu1. The present study focused on zebrafish (Danio rerio) belonging to Cypriniformes as an experimental animal model with neu1 gene deficiency. The results revealed that the zebrafish Neu1 desialyzed both a2-3 and a2-6 sialic acid linkages from oligosaccharides and glycoproteins at pH 4.5, and it is highly conserved with other fish species and mammalian Neu1. Further, Neu1-knockout zebrafish (Neu1-KO) was established through CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. Neu1-KO fish exhibited slight abnormal embryogenesis with the accumulation of pleural effusion; however, no embryonic lethality was observed. Although Neu1-KO fish were able to be maintained as homozygous, they showed smaller body length and weight than the wild type (WT) fish, and muscle atrophy and curvature of the vertebra were observed in adult Neu1-KO fish (8 months). The expression patterns of myod and myog transcription factors regulating muscle differentiation varied between Neu1-KO and WT fish embryo. Expression of lysosomal-related genes, including ctsa,lamp1a, and tfeb were upregulated in adult Neu1-KO muscle as compared to WT. Furthermore, the expression pattern of genes involved in bone remodeling (runx2a, runx2b, and mmp9) was decreased in Neu1-KO fish. These phenotypes were quite similar to those of Neu1-KO mice and human sialidosis patients, indicating the effectiveness of the established Neu1-KO zebrafish for the study of vertebrate Neu1 sialidase.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document