The photosynthetic green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is capable of performing a complex fermentative metabolism which is related to the mixed acid fermentation of bacteria such as Escherichia coli. The fermentative pattern includes the products formate, ethanol, acetate, glycerol, lactate, carbon dioxide and molecular hydrogen (H(2)). H(2) production is catalysed by an active [Fe]-hydrogenas...

Increased photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation by Chlamydomonas reinhardtii cells treated with triacontanol (TRIA) was not due to changes in glycolate excretion, CO(2) compensation point, or the sensitivity of photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation to O(2). Kinetic analysis of TRIA-treated cells showed that the increase in photosynthetic CO(2) assimilation was a result of an increase in the apparent V(...

While research on iron nutrition in plants has largely focused on iron-uptake pathways, photosynthetic microbes such as the unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii provide excellent experimental systems for understanding iron metabolism at the subcellular level. Several paradigms in iron homeostasis have been established in this alga, including photosystem remodeling in the chloroplast...

Diacylglycerol acyltransferases (DGATs) catalyze a rate-limiting step of triacylglycerol (TAG) biosynthesis in higher plants and yeast. The genome of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii has multiple genes encoding type 2 DGATs (DGTTs). Here we present detailed functional and biochemical analyses of Chlamydomonas DGTTs. In vitro enzyme analysis using a radiolabel-free assay revealed distinc...

BACKGROUND Microalgae biofuel has become the most promising renewable energy over the past few years. But limitations still exist because of its high cost. Although, efforts have been made in enhancement of lipid productivity, the major cost problem in harvesting and oil extraction is still intractable. Thus, the idea of fatty acids (FAs) secretion which can massively facilitate algae harvestin...