Pyrenoid of chlorarachniophytes

Abstract

Pyrenoids consist of Rubisco proteins and play a central role in CO₂ fixation in algae. It is suggested that pyrenoids are formed by liquid-liquid phase separation in plastid stroma. Recently, the pyrenoid formation and CO₂-concentrating mechanisms have been reported in the model green alga Chlamydomonas. However, there is limited information given the huge diversity of algae. How have pyrenoids evolved in a wide variety of photosynthetic organisms? Is the molecular mechanism of pyrenoids universal among them? To answer these questions, investigations in other than the model species are necessary. I have been conducting research using chlorarachniophyte algae that acquired plastids through secondary symbiosis. Here I’d like to introduce the morphological diversity and evolution of pyrenoids in chlorarachniophytes.