Identification of a Psychrophilic Green Alga from Lake Bonney Antarctica: Chlamydomonas Raudensis Ettl. (uwo 241) Chlorophyceae

An unusual psychrophilic green alga was isolated from the deepest portion of the photic zone (o0.1% of incident PAR) at a depth of 17m in the permanently ice-covered lake, Lake Bonney, Antarctica. Here we identify and report the first detailed morphological and molecular examination of this Antarctic green alga, which we refer to as strain UWO 241. To determine the taxonomic identity, UWO 241 was examined using LM and TEM and partial sequences of the small subunit (SSU), internal transcribed spacer (ITS) 1 and ITS2 regions (including the 5.8S) of the ribosomal operon. These data were compared with those of previously described taxa. We identified UWO 241 as a strain of Chlamydomonas raudensis Ettl (SAG 49.72). Chlamydomonas raudensis is closely related to C. noctigama Korshikov (UTEX 2289) as well as foraminifer symbionts such as C. hedleyi Lee, Crockett, Hagen et Stone (ATCC 50216). In addition, its morphology, pigment complement, and phototactic response to temperature are reported. Chlamydomonas raudensis (UWO 241) contains relatively high levels of lutein and low chl a/b ratios (1.6 0.15), and the phototactic response was temperature dependent. The Antarctic isolate (UWO 241) included the typical photosynthetic pigments found in all chl a/b containing green algae. It possesses a small eyespot and, interestingly, was positively phototactic only at higher nonpermissive growth temperatures. Comparison of SSU and ITS rDNA sequences confirms the identification of the strain UWO 241 as C. raudensis Ettl and contradicts the previous designation as C. subcaudata Wille. Key index words: Antarctica; Chlamydomonas; Chlamydomonas hedleyi; Chlamydomonas noctigama; Chlamydomonas raudensis; Chlamydomonas subcaudata; Lake Bonney; phototaxis; phylogeny; psychrophile; systematics; UWO 241