Cas9 deletion of lutein biosynthesis in the marine alga Picochlorum celeri reduces photosynthetic pigments while sustaining high biomass productivity.

ABSTRACT: Domestication of algae for food and renewable biofuels remains limited by the low photosynthetic efficiencies of processes that have evolved to be competitive for optimal light capture, incentivizing the development of large antennas in light-limiting conditions, thus decreasing efficient light utilization in cultivated ponds or photobioreactors. Reducing the pigment content to improve biomass productivity has been a strategy discussed for several decades and the ability to reduce pigment significantly is now fully at hand thanks to the widespread use of genome editing tools. Picochlorum celeri is one of the fastest growing marine algae identified and holds particular promise for outdoor cultivation, especially in saline water and warm climates. We show that while chlorophyll b</

SUBMITTER: Cano M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10808502 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature