Title | Systematic characterization of gene function in the photosynthetic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2022 |
Authors | Fauser, F, Vilarrasa-Blasi, J, Onishi, M, Ramundo, S, Patena, W, Millican, M, Osaki, J, Philp, C, Nemeth, M, Salomé, PA, Li, X, Wakao, S, Kim, RG, Kaye, Y, Grossman, AR, Niyogi, KK, Merchant, SS, Cutler, SR, Walter, P, Dinneny, JR, Jonikas, MC, Jinkerson, RE |
Journal | Nat Genet |
Volume | 54 |
Issue | 5 |
Pagination | 705-714 |
Date Published | 2022 May |
ISSN | 1546-1718 |
Keywords | Arabidopsis, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Eukaryota, Phenotype, Photosynthesis |
Abstract | <p>Most genes in photosynthetic organisms remain functionally uncharacterized. Here, using a barcoded mutant library of the model eukaryotic alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we determined the phenotypes of more than 58,000 mutants under more than 121 different environmental growth conditions and chemical treatments. A total of 59% of genes are represented by at least one mutant that showed a phenotype, providing clues to the functions of thousands of genes. Mutant phenotypic profiles place uncharacterized genes into functional pathways such as DNA repair, photosynthesis, the CO-concentrating mechanism and ciliogenesis. We illustrate the value of this resource by validating phenotypes and gene functions, including three new components of an actin cytoskeleton defense pathway. The data also inform phenotype discovery in land plants; mutants in Arabidopsis thaliana genes exhibit phenotypes similar to those we observed in their Chlamydomonas homologs. We anticipate that this resource will guide the functional characterization of genes across the tree of life.</p> |
DOI | 10.1038/s41588-022-01052-9 |
Alternate Journal | Nat Genet |
PubMed ID | 35513725 |
PubMed Central ID | PMC9110296 |
Grant List | DP2 GM119137 / GM / NIGMS NIH HHS / United States 55108535 / HHMI / Howard Hughes Medical Institute / United States |