Chlamydomonas: Regulation Toward Metal Deficiencies

Abstract

The green alga, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, is an ideal organism to study cellular responses related to metal deficiencies. The biology of C. reinhardtii is relevant to both animals and photosynthetic organisms, since many genes are derived from the common plant–animal ancestor. By studying C. reinhardtii, important questions in trace metal homeostasis have been answered; however, many aspects remain to be discovered. To cope with the effects of metal deficiencies or excess, C. reinhardtii has developed mechanisms to tightly regulate metal homeostasis. Here we describe the C. reinhardtii requirements for trace metals, the intracellular distribution of these micronutrients, and their assimilation mechanisms. We further discuss the impact of trace metals deficiencies on the metabolism and how the regulation is achieved.