Description of a novel extremophile green algae, Chlamydomonas pacifica, and its potential as a biotechnology host

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Joao Vitor Dutra Molino, Aaron Oliver, Harish Sethuram, Kalisa Kang, Barbara Saucedo, Crisandra Jade Diaz, Abhishek Gupta, Lee Jong Jen, Yasin Torres-tiji, Nora Hidasi, Amr Badary, Hunter Jenkins, Francis J. Fields, Ryan Simkovsky, Stephen Mayfield

Published: 04 Sept 2024, Last Modified: 15 Feb 2026CrossrefEveryoneRevisionsCC BY-SA 4.0
Abstract: h3>Abstract</h3> <p>We present the comprehensive characterization of a newly identified microalga, <i>Chlamydomonas pacifica</i>, originally isolated from a soil sample in San Diego, CA, USA. This species showcases remarkable biological versatility, including a broad pH range tolerance (6-11.5), high thermal tolerance (up to 42°C), and salinity resilience (up to 2% NaCl). Its amenability to genetic manipulation and sexual reproduction via mating, particularly between the two opposing strains CC-5697 &amp; CC-5699, now publicly available through the Chlamydomonas Resource Center, underscores its potential as a biotechnological chassis. The biological assessment of <i>C. pacifica</i> revealed versatile metabolic capabilities, including diverse nitrogen assimilation capability, motility and phototaxis. Genomic and transcriptomic analyses identified 17,829 genes within a 121 Mb genome, featuring a GC content of 61%. The codon usage of <i>C. pacifica</i> closely mirrors that of <i>C. reinhardtii</i>, indicating a conserved genetic architecture that supports a trend in codon preference with minor variations. Phylogenetic analyses position <i>C. pacifica</i> within the core-Reinhardtinia clade yet distinct from known Volvocales species. The lipidomic data revealed an abundance of triacylglycerols (TAGs), promising for biofuel applications and lipids for health-related benefits. Our investigation lays the groundwork for exploiting <i>C. pacifica</i> in biotechnological applications, from biofuel generation to synthesizing biodegradable plastics, positioning it as a versatile host for future bioengineering endeavors.</p>