Heavy-ion beam-induced mutants of Medakamo hakoo indicate potential associations between photosynthesis and cell size, cell cycle, and cell wall morphology.

ABSTRACT: Medakamo hakoo is an ultrasmall green alga with a simplified cellular structure, offering potential as a new model organism. To explore the genetic basis of cell morphology and its physiological implications, we applied carbon-ion beam irradiation to induce mutations in M. hakoo and successfully isolated two mutants: LRG (Large) and TTR (Tetra). LRG exhibited significantly enlarged cell size and increased chlorophyll content, but lower photosynthetic efficiency compared to the wild-type. Proteomic analysis of LRG revealed upregulation of photosynthesis-related proteins, stress response proteins, and ribosomal proteins, suggesting a link between increased cell size and disrupted photosynthetic homeostasis. TTR showed a higher proportion of dividing cells throughout the light-dark cycle and

SUBMITTER: Okabe Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12868012 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature