biostudies-literatureUnknown14Wang LWe demonstrate two synthetic single-cell systems that can be used to better understand how the acquisition of an orphan gene can affect complex phenotypes. The Arabidopsis orphan gene, <i>Qua-Quine Starch</i> (<i>QQS</i>) has been identified as a regulator of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) partitioning across multiple plant species. <i>QQS</i> modulates this important biotechnological trait by replacing NF-YB (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit B) in its interaction with NF-YC. In this study, we expand on these prior findings by developing <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> and <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> strains, to refactor the functional interactions between QQS and NF-Y subunits to affect modulations in C and N allocation. Expression of <i>QQS</i> in <i>C. reinhardtii</i> modulates C (<i>i.e.</iFrontiers in plant science1126139https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10084940biostudies-literatureSingle-cell genetic models to evaluate orphan gene function: The case of QQS regulating carbon and nitrogen allocation.PMC10084940Tonsager AJZhang JZheng WMeng YLi LWang LStenback KETanvir RCothron SFang WCampbell ASpalding MHStessman DWang YNikolau BJWan DfalseSingle-cell genetic models to evaluate orphan gene function: The case of QQS regulating carbon and nitrogen allocation.We demonstrate two synthetic single-cell systems that can be used to better understand how the acquisition of an orphan gene can affect complex phenotypes. The Arabidopsis orphan gene, <i>Qua-Quine Starch</i> (<i>QQS</i>) has been identified as a regulator of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) partitioning across multiple plant species. <i>QQS</i> modulates this important biotechnological trait by replacing NF-YB (Nuclear Factor Y, subunit B) in its interaction with NF-YC. In this study, we expand on these prior findings by developing <i>Chlamydomonas reinhardtii</i> and <i>Saccharomyces cerevisiae</i> strains, to refactor the functional interactions between QQS and NF-Y subunits to affect modulations in C and N allocation. Expression of <i>QQS</i> in <i>C. reinhardtii</i> modulates C (<i>i.e.</i2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-22T05:03:45.991Z2025-04-05T21:09:25.423ZS-EPMC100849403705108010.3389/fpls.2023.1126139