From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, January 2007

VFL1-2-R2 is a rescued strain with wild-type motility obtained by cotransformation of vfl1-2, arg7 with pARG7.8 and an epitope-tagged construct of the VFL1 gene, pW6-10.0-3HA. The VFL1 gene product can be detected with antibodies against the HA epitope tag, as described by Silflow et al. 2001.

For more information on the VFL1 locus, please see CC-1388.


Silflow CD, LaVoie M, Tam LW, Tousey S, Sanders M, Wu W, Borodovsky M, Lefebvre PA (2001) The Vfl1 Protein in Chlamydomonas localizes in a rotationally asymmetric pattern at the distal ends of the basal bodies. J Cell Biol 153:63-74


  • Locus:
  • VFL1
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This mutation was induced with 5-fluorouracil, and was first described by Garnier and colleagues. The mutant is deficient in the P700 component of Photosystem I.


Maroc J and Garnier J (1973) Studies of cytochrome b-563 and P700 in three non-photosynthetic mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardti. Biochim Biophys Acta 292:477-490

Girard J, Chua NH, Bennoun P, Schmidt G, Delosme M (1980) Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 2:215-221

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate, yellow in dim light

The Fl-5 mutation was induced with 5-fluorouracil, and confers deficiency in the P700 component of Photosystem I. The pg27 mutant lacks chlorophyll b and the chlorophyll-binding protein CP II.


Maroc J, Garnier J (1973) Studies of cytochrome b-563 and P700 in three non-photosynthetic mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardti. Biochim Biophys Acta 292:477-490

Girard J, Chua NH, Bennoun P, Schmidt G, Delosme M (1980) Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 2:215-221

Garnier J, Maroc J (1984) Chloroplast Proteins Related to Photosystem II in Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii: Mutants and Trypsin-Treated Chloroplast Particles. Adv Photosyn Res. 3:183-186

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

The C3 mutant was isolated after mutagenesis with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine and metronidazole selection, as described by Girard et al., 1980. Girard-Bascou showed that this is a mutation in the chloroplast psaB gene.


Girard J, Chua NH, Bennoun P, Schmidt G, Delosme M (1980) Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 2:215-221

Girard-Bascou J (1987) Mutations in four chloroplast loci of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii affecting the photosystem I reaction center. Curr Genet 12:483-488

Girard-Bascou J, Choquet Y, Schneider M, Delosme M, Dron M (1987) Characterization of a chloroplast mutation in the psaA2 gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 12:489-495

Delosme R, Oliveb J, Wollmana FA (1996) Changes in light energy distribution upon state transitions: an in vivo photoacoustic study of the wild type and photosynthesis mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenergetics 1273:150-158


  • Locus:
  • psaB
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This is a nuclear mutant with a defect in processing the tripartitle psaA gene in the chloroplast genome. Its phenotype is deficiency in photosystem I, and the specific defect is in assembly of psaA exons 2 and 3.


Goldschmidt-Clermont M, Girard-Bascou J, Choquet Y, Rochaix JD (1990) Trans-splicing mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Gen Genet 223:417-425

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

The F15 mutation was induced with methyl methanesulfonate, and results in deficiency in Photosystem I.


Girard J, Chua NH, Bennoun P, Schmidt G, Delosme M (1980) Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 2:215-221

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

Mutants F24 and F28 are deficient in Photosystem I, and do not complement one another in diploids. The locus defined by these mutations has not yet been identified with a gene.


Girard J, Chua NH, Bennoun P, Schmidt G, Delosme M (1980) Studies on mutants deficient in the photosystem I reaction centers in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 2:215-221

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This is a nuclear gene mutation that prevents translation of the chloroplast-encoded psbC gene, resulting in failure to form the photosystem II reaction center.


Bennoun P, Masson A, Delosme M (1980) A method for complementation analysis of nuclear and chloroplast mutants of photosynthesis in chlamydomonas. Genetics 95:39-47

Zerges W, Rochaix JD (1994) The 5' leader of a chloroplast mRNA mediates the translational requirements for two nucleus-encoded functions in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Cell Biol 14:5268-5277

Zerges W, Girard-Bascou J, Rochaix JD (1997) Translation of the chloroplast psbC mRNA is controlled by interactions between its 5' leader and the nuclear loci TBC1 and TBC3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Cell Biol 17:3440-3448


  • Locus:
  • F64 [TBC2]
  • Chromosome:
  • 2

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This is a nuclear gene mutation that prevents translation of the chloroplast-encoded psbC gene, resulting in failure to form the photosystem II reaction center.


Bennoun P, Masson A, Delosme M (1980) A method for complementation analysis of nuclear and chloroplast mutants of photosynthesis in chlamydomonas. Genetics 95:39-47

Zerges W, Rochaix JD (1994) The 5' leader of a chloroplast mRNA mediates the translational requirements for two nucleus-encoded functions in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Cell Biol 14:5268-5277

Zerges W, Girard-Bascou J, Rochaix JD (1997) Translation of the chloroplast psbC mRNA is controlled by interactions between its 5' leader and the nuclear loci TBC1 and TBC3 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Cell Biol 17:3440-3448


  • Locus:
  • F64 [TBC2]
  • Chromosome:
  • 2

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

FUD39 is a mutation in the PSBP gene encoding protein OEE2. Despite isolation following 5-fluorodeoxyuridine treatment, which is generally considered to act preferentially on chloroplast DNA, this is a nuclear mutation.


de Vitry C, Olive J, Drapier D, Recouvreur M, Wollman FA (1989) Posttranslational events leading to the assembly of photosystem II protein complex: a study using photosynthesis mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. J Cell Biol 109:991-1006

Rova M, Franzén LG, Fredriksson PO, Styring S (1994) Photosystem II in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii lacking the 23 kDa psbP protein shows increased sensitivity to photoinhibition in the absence of chloride. Photosynth Res 39:75-83

Rova EM, Mc Ewen B, Fredriksson PO, Styring S (1996) Photoactivation and photoinhibition are competing in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii lacking the 23-kDa extrinsic subunit of photosystem II. J Biol Chem 271:28918-28924


  • Locus:
  • FUD39 [PSBP1]
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

CC-4142 is the same mutant in mt+. Please see that strain for additional information on this mutation.


de Vitry C, Olive J, Drapier D, Recouvreur M, Wollman FA (1989) Posttranslational events leading to the assembly of photosystem II protein complex: a study using photosynthesis mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. J Cell Biol 109:991-1006

Rova M, Franzén LG, Fredriksson PO, Styring S (1994) Photosystem II in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii lacking the 23 kDa psbP protein shows increased sensitivity to photoinhibition in the absence of chloride. Photosynth Res 39:75-83

Rova EM, Mc Ewen B, Fredriksson PO, Styring S (1996) Photoactivation and photoinhibition are competing in a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii lacking the 23-kDa extrinsic subunit of photosystem II. J Biol Chem 271:28918-28924


  • Locus:
  • FUD39 [PSBP1]
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

Despite isolation following 5-fluorodeoxyuridine treatment, a mutagen generally considered to act preferentially on chloroplast DNA, this is a nuclear mutation. It has a 5.7 kb insertion of the TOC1 transposon in the gene encoding the OEE1 protein.


Day A, Schirmer-Rahire M, Kuchka MR, Mayfield SP, Rochaix JD (1988) A transposon with an unusual arrangement of long terminal repeats in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. EMBO J 7:1917-1927


  • Locus:
  • FUD44 [PSBO]
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

Please see CC-4144 for additional information on the FUD44 mutation.


Day A, Schirmer-Rahire M, Kuchka MR, Mayfield SP, Rochaix JD (1988) A transposon with an unusual arrangement of long terminal repeats in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. EMBO J 7:1917-1927


  • Locus:
  • FUD44 [PSBO]
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This is a chloroplast mutant with an alteration in the petD gene.


Lemaire C, Girard-Bascou J, Wollman FA, Bennoun P (1986) Studies on the cytochrome b6/f complex. I. Characterization of the complex subunits in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Biochim Biophys Acta 851:229-238

Sturm NR, Kuras R, Büschlen S, Sakamoto W, Kindle KL, Stern DB, Wollman FA (1994) The petD gene is transcribed by functionally redundant promoters in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii chloroplasts. Mol Cell Biol 14:6171-6179

Gans P, Wollman FA (1995) The effect of cyanide on state transitions in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii.
Biochim. Biophys Acta 1228:51-57

Delosme R, Olive J, Wollman FA (1996) Changes in light energy distribution upon state transitions: an in vivo photoacoustic study of the wild type and photosynthesis mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Biochim Biophys Acta Bioenergetics 1273:150-158

Higgs DC, Kuras R, Kindle KL, Wollman FA, Stern DB (1998) Inversions in the Chlamydomonas chloroplast genome suppress a petD 5' untranslated region deletion by creating functional chimeric mRNAs. Plant J 14:663-671


  • Locus:
  • petD
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This strain replaces CC-741 FUD7 mt+, which has been widely used as a recipient for chloroplast transformation. This is a deletion mutation spanning the psbA gene, and it can be rescued by chloroplast DNA clones containing the wild type gene.


Bennoun P, Masson A, Delosme M (1980) A method for complementation analysis of nuclear and chloroplast mutants of photosynthesis in chlamydomonas. Genetics 95:39-47

Wollman FA, Olive J, Bennoun P, Recouvreur M (1980) Organization of the photosystem II centers and their associated antennae in the thylakoid membranes: a comparative ultrastructural, biochemical, and biophysical study of Chlamydomonas wild type and mutants lacking in photosystem II reaction centers. J Cell Biol 87:728-735

Bennoun P, Spierer-Herz M, Erickson J, Girard-Bascou J, Pierre Y, Delosme M, Rochaix JD (1986) Characterization of photosystem II mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardii lacking the psbA gene. Plant Mol Biol 6:151-160

Minagawa J, Crofts AR (1994) A robust protocol for site-directed mutagenesis of the D1 protein inChlamydomonas reinhardtii: A PCR-splicedpsbA gene in a plasmid conferring spectinomycin resistance was introduced into apsbA deletion strain. Photosynth Res 42:121-131


  • Locus:
  • psbA
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This mutant was isolated by Bennoun after treatment with 5-fluorodeoxyuridine. Ketchner et al. showed that FUD16 contains two missense mutations in the atpA gene, changing Ile at 184 to Asn and Asn at 186 to Tyr in a strictly conserved region downstream of the P-loop. The mutant is acetate-requiring and deficient in ATP synthase activity, but over-produces the alpha and beta subunits of the chloroplast CF1 ATP synthase complex.


Delepelaire P, Bennoun P (1978) Energy transfer and site of energy trapping in photosystem I. Biochim Biophys Acta 502:183-187

Woessner JP, Masson A, Harris EH, Bennoun P, Gillham NW, Boynton JE (1984) Molecular and genetic analysis of the chloroplast ATPase of chlamydomonas. Plant Mol Biol 3:177-190

Lemaire C, Wollman FA (1989) The chloroplast ATP synthase in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. II. Biochemical studies on its biogenesis using mutants defective in photophosphorylation. J Biol Chem 264:10235-10242

Ketchner SL, Drapier D, Olive J, Gaudriault S, Girard-Bascou J, Wollman FA (1995) Chloroplasts can accommodate inclusion bodies. Evidence from a mutant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii defective in the assembly of the chloroplast ATP synthase. J Biol Chem 270:15299-15306


  • Locus:
  • atpA
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This is a frameshift mutation in the atpE gene. For more information, please see CC-1289.


  • Locus:
  • atpE
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This mustant is specifically deficient in subunit I of the CF0 ATP synthase complex, encoded by the chloroplast atpF gene.


Bennoun P, Masson A, Delosme M (1980) A method for complementation analysis of nuclear and chloroplast mutants of photosynthesis in chlamydomonas. Genetics 95:39-47

Woessner JP, Masson A, Harris EH, Bennoun P, Gillham NW, Boynton JE (1984) Molecular and genetic analysis of the chloroplast ATPase of chlamydomonas. Plant Mol Biol 3:177-190

Lemaire C, Wollman FA (1989) The chloroplast ATP synthase in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. II. Biochemical studies on its biogenesis using mutants defective in photophosphorylation. J Biol Chem 264:10235-10242


  • Locus:
  • atpF
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

This mutation is a 4 bp deletion near the 3′ end of the chloroplast-encoded psaB gene. The resulting frameshift results in production of a truncated protein.


Girard-Bascou J (1987) Mutations in four chloroplast loci of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii affecting the photosystem I reaction center. Curr Genet 12:483-488

Girard-Bascou J, Choquet Y, Schneider M, Delosme M, Dron M (1987) Characterization of a chloroplast mutation in the psaA2 gene of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 12:489-495


  • Locus:
  • psaB
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Jacqueline Girard-Bascou, Institut de Biologie Physico-Chimique, January 2007

Phenotype: requires acetate

FUD34 is a mutation in the 5′ flanking region of the psbC gene.


de Vitry C, Olive J, Drapier D, Recouvreur M, Wollman FA (1989) Posttranslational events leading to the assembly of photosystem II protein complex: a study using photosynthesis mutants from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. J Cell Biol 109:991-1006

Rochaix JD, Kuchka M, Mayfield S, Schirmer-Rahire M, Girard-Bascou J, Bennoun P (1989) Nuclear and chloroplast mutations affect the synthesis or stability of the chloroplast psbC gene product in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. EMBO J 8:1013-1021


  • Locus:
  • psbC
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Wayne Riekhof, National Jewish Medical and Research Center, February 2007

Phenotype: altered lipid metabolism

This is as sulfolipid-deficient insertional mutant obtained after transformation of a nit1 cw15 strain with the NIT1 gene.


Riekhof WR, Ruckle ME, Lydic TA, Sears BB, Benning C (2003) The sulfolipids 2'-O-acyl-sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol are absent from a Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutant deleted in SQD1. Plant Physiol 133:864-874


  • Locus:
  • SQD1
  • Chromosome:
  • 16

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

The ad1 (air dier) mutants are defective in the CO2-responsive gene LCIB, and are unable to grow on minimal medium at air levels of CO2 (350 ppm). They can grow either in high CO2 (5%) or in very low levels of CO2 (


Wang Y, Spalding MH (2006) An inorganic carbon transport system responsible for acclimation specific to air levels of CO2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:10110-10115


  • Locus:
  • LCIB
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

Please see CC-4154 for more information on the ad1 mutants.

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

Please see CC-4154 for more information on the ad1 mutants.


Wang Y, Spalding MH (2006) An inorganic carbon transport system responsible for acclimation specific to air levels of CO2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:10110-10115


  • Locus:
  • LCIB
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

Please see CC-4154 for more information on the ad1 mutants.


Wang Y, Spalding MH (2006) An inorganic carbon transport system responsible for acclimation specific to air levels of CO2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:10110-10115


  • Locus:
  • LCIB
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

Please see CC-4154 for more information on the ad1 mutants.


Wang Y, Spalding MH (2006) An inorganic carbon transport system responsible for acclimation specific to air levels of CO2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:10110-10115


  • Locus:
  • LCIB
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation; requires acetate

Please see CC-4154 for more information on the ad1 mutants.


Wang Y, Spalding MH (2006) An inorganic carbon transport system responsible for acclimation specific to air levels of CO2 in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:10110-10115


  • Locus:
  • LCIB
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Martin Spalding and Yingjun Wang, Iowa State University, March 2007

Phenotype: altered CO2 assimilation

This is an insertional mutation in the gene encoding glycolate dehydrogenase. The mutant requires high levels of CO2 for growth. Note that the gene is referred to in the paper as GDH, but this name had already been used in Chlamydomonas for glutamate dehydrogenase.

9/19/23 – Altered growth phenotype nor glycolate excretion at low C02 were observed by researchers at Carnegie Institution for Science.


Nakamura Y, Kanakagiri S, Van K, He W, Spalding MH (2005) Disruption of the glycolate dehydrogenase gene in the high-CO2-requiring mutant HCR89 of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Can J Bot 83:820-833


  • Locus:
  • HCR89 [GYD1]
  • Chromosome:
  • 6

From Brian Piasecki, Silflow lab, University of Minnesota, June 2007

Phenotype: uniflagellate

This is Piasecki’s strain 12A10, obtained by insertional mutagenesis. Most cells in a culture of this strain are either uniflagellate or have no flagella.


Piasecki BP, LaVoie M, Tam LW, Lefebvre PA, Silflow CD (2008) The Uni2 phosphoprotein is a cell cycle regulated component of the basal body maturation pathway in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Biol Cell 19:262-273


  • Locus:
  • UNI2
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Brian Piasecki, Silflow lab, University of Minnesota, June 2007

Phenotype: uniflagellate

This is Piasecki’s strain 31E3, obtained by insertional mutagenesis. Most cells in a culture of this strain are either uniflagellate or have no flagella.


Piasecki BP, LaVoie M, Tam LW, Lefebvre PA, Silflow CD (2008) The Uni2 phosphoprotein is a cell cycle regulated component of the basal body maturation pathway in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Biol Cell 19:262-273

Piasecki BP, Silflow CD (2009) The UNI1 and UNI2 genes function in the transition of triplet to doublet microtubules between the centriole and cilium in Chlamydomonas. Mol Biol Cell 20:368-378


  • Locus:
  • UNI2
  • Chromosome:
  • 9