Central Transcriptional Regulator Controls Photosynthetic Growth and Carbon Storage in Response to High Light: Article No. 4842

Seth Steichen, Arnav Deshpande, Megan Mosey, Jessica Loob, Damien Douchi, Eric Knoshaug, Stuart Brown, Robert Nielsen, Joseph Weissman, L. Ruby Carrillo, Lieve Laurens

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Carbon capture and biochemical storage are some of the primary drivers of photosynthetic yield and productivity. To elucidate the mechanisms governing carbon allocation, we designed a photosynthetic light response test system for genetic and metabolic carbon assimilation tracking, using microalgae as simplified plant models. The systems biology mapping of high light-responsive photophysiology and carbon utilization dynamics between two variants of the same Picochlorum celeri species, TG1 and TG2 elucidated metabolic bottlenecks and transport rates of intermediates using instationary 13C-fluxomics. Simultaneous global gene expression dynamics showed 73% of the annotated genes responding within one hour, elucidating a singular, diel-responsive transcription factor, closely related to the CCA1/LHY clock genes in plants, with significantly altered expression in TG2. Transgenic P. celeri TG1 cells expressing the TG2 CCA1/LHY gene, showed 15% increase in growth rates and 25% increase in storage carbohydrate content, supporting a coordinating regulatory function for a single transcription factor.
Original languageAmerican English
Number of pages14
JournalNature Communications
Volume15
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024

NREL Publication Number

  • NREL/JA-2700-88146

Keywords

  • algae biotechnology
  • biomass composition
  • carbon metabolism
  • fluxomics
  • light stress
  • transcriptional regulation

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