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Abstract :
[en] Natural trait variation is present across all domains of life. Individuals of the same species often present differences in response to environmental stress or in adaptation. Some traits, such as biomass production, have economical interest in the industrial, pharmaceutical or agricultural sectors. Identifying the genetic variants affecting these processes is, therefore, fundamental. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is the reference unicellular photosynthetic eukaryote model organism. This haploid unicellular green alga is capable of sexual reproduction, has a high recombination rate and a very short generation interval. Furthermore, C. reinhardtii can metabolize alternative carbon sources and grow under nutrient deficiency. Studying its mineral nutrition is essential to understand adaptation to the environment. A Multiparent Advanced Generation Inter-Cross (MAGIC) design is used to study genetic variation. Eight founder lines presenting phenotypic variation were intercrossed in a determined design where each founder line contributes
equally, for 8 generations. A total of 768 terminal lines, consisting of a genetic mosaic of the founder lines, were obtained. Mineral nutrition of the terminal lines is explored using mixotrophy as control condition, and 10 conditions were tested: autotrophy, 5 macronutrient deprivation, and 4 micronutrient deprivation. Cells are pre-cultured in control media for 2 days, transferred to treatment media, then harvested after 4 days. Phenotypic variation in the terminal lines of the MAGIC design largely exceeds the variability observed in founder lines, indicating that new diversity has been obtained. Together with genome sequencing of the terminal lines, the dataset will enable Quantitative Trait Loci mapping for mineral nutrition in C. reinhardtii.
Financing: This project is funded by a University of Liège fellowship under the ARC project Green
MAGIC
