Researchers Discover a Regulator of Lipid Metabolism in Microalgae

Algae-derived lipids are attractive potential sources of biofuels. However, lipid accumulation in algae is a stress response and is associated to algal cell death. 

A team led by scientists from the U.S. DOE Joint Genome Institute performed an integrative chromatin signature and transcriptomic analysis to study the regulation of lipid biosynthesis in the algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.

The team cultured C. reinhardtii cells and starved them of nitrogen or sulfur, stress conditions that causes algae to produce lipids. The researchers then analyzed their expression profiles and compared it to non-stressed algae. The analysis identified the transcription factor, PSR1, as a switch that triggers lipid accumulation. Further analysis confirms its role in coordinating multiple lipid-inducing stress responses.

The work is expected to help algal researchers develop more targeted approaches for producing lipids for fuels.