A fluorescence-based approach to screen for productive chemically mutagenized strains of Desmodesmus armatus
2020
Ware, Maxwell A. | Kendrick, Julia M. | Hantzis, Laura J. | Peers, Graham
Non-photochemical quenching, alternative electron transport and respiration all reduce photosynthetic efficiency. Targeted or random mutagenesis engineering approaches affecting genes involved in these processes have been repeatedly utilized to identify proteins which are essential for maximum photosynthetic efficiency. Ethylmethane sulfonate (EMS) was used here to randomly mutagenize wild type (WT) Desmodesmus armatus (SE00107). A chlorophyll a fluorescence-based screening procedure was utilized to analyse 6662 novel mutant strains and mutants with altered fluorescence trace kinetics, indicative of altered electron transport or photoprotection relative to WT. Mutants were subsequently analysed for improved biomass productivity. Cells were grown under a variety of experimental conditions, leading to the selection of mutants with increased photosynthetic parameters and growth rates relative to WT. Three of these mutants demonstrated on average 20, 28 and 37% improved biomass production compared to WT cultures in conditions that mimic outdoor cultivation. This research provides a framework for independent groups looking to rapidly isolate mutants with enhanced biomass productivity. It is also particularly relevant when working with organisms that have limited genomic sequencing available.
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