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

This is the uni2-3 mutant (CC-4162), transformed with a tagged wild type UNI2 gene.


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

From Charlene Forest, Brooklyn College, August 2007

Phenotype: does not mate when grown at high temperature

This is a temperature-sensitive, sex-limited mutant defective in gamete fusion. When incubated overnight in N-free medium at the restrictive temperature, gam10 mt- cells can agglutinate with mt+ gametes, signal, activate their mating structures and adhere via their mating structures with activated wt+ mating structures but they cannot fuse. The gam11 mutant has a similar phenotype, but was independently isolated.


Forest CL (1983) Specific contact between mating structure membranes observed in conditional fusion-defective Chlamydomonas mutants. Exp Cell Res 148:143-154

Forest CL (1987) Genetic control of plasma membrane adhesion and fusion in Chlamydomonas gametes. J Cell Sci 88:613-621

Forest CL, Ojakian GK (1989) Mating Structure Differences Demonstrated by Freeze-Fracture Analysis of Fusion-Defective Chlamydomonas Gametes. The Journal of Protozoology 36:548-556

From Charlene Forest, Brooklyn College, August 2007

Phenotype: does not mate when grown at high temperature

This is a temperature-sensitive, sex-limited mutant defective in gamete fusion. When incubated overnight in N-free medium at the restrictive temperature, gam11 mt- cells can agglutinate with mt+ gametes, signal, activate their mating structures and adhere via their mating structures with activated wt+ mating structures but they cannot fuse. The gam10 mutant has a similar phenotype, but was independently isolated.


Forest CL (1983) Specific contact between mating structure membranes observed in conditional fusion-defective Chlamydomonas mutants. Exp Cell Res 148:143-154

Forest CL (1987) Genetic control of plasma membrane adhesion and fusion in Chlamydomonas gametes. J Cell Sci 88:613-621

Forest CL, Ojakian GK (1989) Mating Structure Differences Demonstrated by Freeze-Fracture Analysis of Fusion-Defective Chlamydomonas Gametes. The Journal of Protozoology 36:548-556

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007, her strain CH1 F32-1

Phenotype: inhibitor resistant (colchicine)

The cor1 mutant is resistant to colchicine, but not to oryzalin or taxol, two other anti-microtubule drugs. This strain is a third backcross progeny from the original cor1 mutant, which was obtained by UV mutagenesis of strain NO mt+ (equivalent to strain CC-620).


James SW, Silflow CD, Thompson MD, Ranum LP, Lefebvre PA (1989) Extragenic suppression and synthetic lethality among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants resistant to anti-microtubule drugs. Genetics 122:567-577


  • Locus:
  • COR1
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007, strain 9-1-H7 F4

Phenotype: herbicide / inhibitor resistant (oryzalin, taxol, colchicine)

The ory1-1 mutant is resistant to oryzalin, taxol and colchicine,. This strain is a fourth backcross progeny from the original ory1-1 mutant (S. James 9-1-H7), which was obtained by mutagenesis with methylmethane sulfonate.


James SW, Lefebvre PA (1989) Isolation and characterization of dominant, pleiotropic drug-resistance mutants in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Curr Genet 15:443-452

James SW, Silflow CD, Thompson MD, Ranum LP, Lefebvre PA (1989) Extragenic suppression and synthetic lethality among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants resistant to anti-microtubule drugs. Genetics 122:567-577


  • Locus:
  • ORY1
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007, her strain TE5 F4

Phenotype: herbicide / inhibor resistant (oryzalin, taxol, colchicine)

The ory1-2 mutant is resistant to oryzalin, taxol and colchicine,. This strain is a fourth backcross progeny from the original ory1-2 (TE5) mutant, which was obtained by UV mutagenesis of strain NO mt+ (equivalent to strain CC-620).


James SW, Silflow CD, Thompson MD, Ranum LP, Lefebvre PA (1989) Extragenic suppression and synthetic lethality among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutants resistant to anti-microtubule drugs. Genetics 122:567-577


  • Locus:
  • ORY1
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Anastasios Melis, UC Berkeley, October 2007

Phenotype: somewhat chlorophyll deficient; wall deficient; antibiotic resistant (streptomycin)

The tla1 mutant, which was obtained by insertional mutagenesis with plasmid pJD67, has a truncated light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna. Photosynthesis is not impaired.


Polle JE, Kanakagiri SD, Melis A (2003) tla1, a DNA insertional transformant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with a truncated light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna size. Planta 217:49-59

Melis A, Seibert M, Happe T (2004) Genomics of green algal hydrogen research. Photosynth Res 82:277-288

Tetali SD, Mitra M, Melis A (2007) Development of the light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is regulated by the novel Tla1 gene. Planta 225:813-829

Mitra M, Melis A (2010) Genetic and biochemical analysis of the TLA1 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Planta 231:729-740


  • Locus:
  • TLA1
  • Chromosome:
  • 5

From Anastasios Melis, UC Berkeley, October 2007

Phenotype: somewhat chlorophyll deficient; antibiotic resistant (kanamycin or neamine)

CC-4170 (Melis 37RP1-tla1) is a daughter cell of a cross between CC-4169 (the original tla1 strain) and CC-1068, selected because it has a cell wall, unlike the CC-4169 parent.

Please see CC-4169 for more information about the tla1 mutants.


Polle JE, Kanakagiri SD, Melis A (2003) tla1, a DNA insertional transformant of the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii with a truncated light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna size. Planta 217:49-59

Melis A, Seibert M, Happe T (2004) Genomics of green algal hydrogen research. Photosynth Res 82:277-288

Tetali SD, Mitra M, Melis A (2007) Development of the light-harvesting chlorophyll antenna in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is regulated by the novel Tla1 gene. Planta 225:813-829

Mitra M, Melis A (2010) Genetic and biochemical analysis of the TLA1 gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Planta 231:729-740


  • Locus:
  • TLA1
  • Chromosome:
  • 5

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Mutation in HSP70A gene.


James SW, Ranum LP, Silflow CD, Lefebvre PA (1988) Mutants resistant to anti-microtubule herbicides map to a locus on the uni linkage group in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Genetics 118:141-147

James SW, Lefebvre PA (1992) Genetic interactions among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutations that confer resistance to anti-microtubule herbicides. Genetics 130:305-314

Silflow CD, Sun X, Haas NA, Foley JW, Lefebvre PA (2011) The Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperones influence microtubule stability in Chlamydomonas. Genetics 189:1249-60


  • Locus:
  • APM2
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Mutation in HSP70A gene.


James SW, Ranum LP, Silflow CD, Lefebvre PA (1988) Mutants resistant to anti-microtubule herbicides map to a locus on the uni linkage group in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Genetics 118:141-147

James SW, Lefebvre PA (1992) Genetic interactions among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutations that confer resistance to anti-microtubule herbicides. Genetics 130:305-314

Silflow CD, Sun X, Haas NA, Foley JW, Lefebvre PA (2011) The Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperones influence microtubule stability in Chlamydomonas. Genetics 189:1249-60


  • Locus:
  • APM2
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Mutation in HSP70A gene.


James SW, Ranum LP, Silflow CD, Lefebvre PA (1988) Mutants resistant to anti-microtubule herbicides map to a locus on the uni linkage group in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Genetics 118:141-147

James SW, Lefebvre PA (1992) Genetic interactions among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutations that confer resistance to anti-microtubule herbicides. Genetics 130:305-314

Silflow CD, Sun X, Haas NA, Foley JW, Lefebvre PA (2011) The Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperones influence microtubule stability in Chlamydomonas. Genetics 189:1249-60


  • Locus:
  • APM2
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Mutation in HSP70A gene.


James SW, Ranum LP, Silflow CD, Lefebvre PA (1988) Mutants resistant to anti-microtubule herbicides map to a locus on the uni linkage group in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Genetics 118:141-147

James SW, Lefebvre PA (1992) Genetic interactions among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutations that confer resistance to anti-microtubule herbicides. Genetics 130:305-314

Silflow CD, Sun X, Haas NA, Foley JW, Lefebvre PA (2011) The Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperones influence microtubule stability in Chlamydomonas. Genetics. 189:1249-60


  • Locus:
  • APM2
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From Carolyn Silflow, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Mutation in HSP70A gene.


James SW, Ranum LP, Silflow CD, Lefebvre PA (1988) Mutants resistant to anti-microtubule herbicides map to a locus on the uni linkage group in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Genetics 118:141-147

James SW, Lefebvre PA (1992) Genetic interactions among Chlamydomonas reinhardtii mutations that confer resistance to anti-microtubule herbicides. Genetics 130:305-314

Silflow CD, Sun X, Haas NA, Foley JW, Lefebvre PA (2011) The Hsp70 and Hsp40 chaperones influence microtubule stability in Chlamydomonas. Genetics 189:1249-60


  • Locus:
  • APM2
  • Chromosome:
  • 8

From P.A. Lefebvre, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Phenotype: impaired motility

Please see CC-803 for more information on the LF2 locus, and CC-4187 for the lf2-6 allele.


  • Locus:
  • LF2
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From P.A. Lefebvre, University of Minnesota, October 2007

Phenotype: impaired motility

This allele at the LF3 locus has flagella of unequal lengths.


Tam LW, Dentler WL, Lefebvre PA (2003) Defective flagellar assembly and length regulation in LF3 null mutants in Chlamydomonas. J Cell Biol 163:597-607


  • Locus:
  • LF3
  • Chromosome:
  • 1

From Jean-David Rochaix, University of Geneva, November 2007

The stt7 mutant is defective in state transition between photosystem I and photosystem II. It can grow photoautotrophically, although at a slower rate than wild type. The STT7 gene is a serine-threonine protein kinase associated with the thylakoid membranes, and is an ortholog of Arabidopsis STN7.

*The copy in our collection lost the the original phenotype and does undergo state transition. This strain is not recommended.


Fleischmann MM, Ravanel S, Delosme R, Olive J, Zito F, Wollman FA, Rochaix JD (1999) Isolation and characterization of photoautotrophic mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii deficient in state transition. J Biol Chem 274:30987-30994

Finazzi G, Rappaport F, Furia A, Fleischmann M, Rochaix JD, Zito F, Forti G (2002) Involvement of state transitions in the switch between linear and cyclic electron flow in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. EMBO Rep 3:280-285

Depège N, Bellafiore S, Rochaix JD (2003) Role of chloroplast protein kinase Stt7 in LHCII phosphorylation and state transition in Chlamydomonas. Science 299:1572-1575

Lemeille S, Turkina MV, Vener AV, Rochaix JD (2010) Stt7-dependent phosphorylation during state transitions in the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Cell Proteomics 9:1281-1295


  • Locus:
  • STT7
  • Chromosome:
  • 2

From Susan Dutcher, Washington University, November 2007

Phenotype: uniflagellate

The uni3 mutants have alterations in delta tubulin. This is the original mutant.


Dutcher SK, Trabuco EC (1998) The UNI3 gene is required for assembly of basal bodies of Chlamydomonas and encodes delta-tubulin, a new member of the tubulin superfamily. Mol Biol Cell 9:1293-1308

O'Toole ET, Giddings TH, McIntosh JR, Dutcher SK (2003) Three-dimensional organization of basal bodies from wild-type and delta-tubulin deletion strains of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Biol Cell 14:2999-3012

Fromherz S, Giddings TH Jr, Gomez-Ospina N, Dutcher SK (2004) Mutations in alpha-tubulin promote basal body maturation and flagellar assembly in the absence of delta-tubulin. J Cell Sci 117(Pt 2):303-314


  • Locus:
  • UNI3 [TUD]
  • Chromosome:
  • 3

From Masafumi Hirono, University of Tokyo, December 2007

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is a null allele at the FLA10 locus. For more information on FLA10, please see CC-1919. For information specifically on this allele, see the following papers:


Matsuura K, Lefebvre PA, Kamiya R, Hirono M (2002) Kinesin-II is not essential for mitosis and cell growth in Chlamydomonas. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 52:195-201

Miller MS, Esparza JM, Lippa AM, Lux FG 3rd, Cole DG, Dutcher SK (2005) Mutant kinesin-2 motor subunits increase chromosome loss. Mol Biol Cell 16:3810-3820


  • Locus:
  • FLA10 [KHP1]
  • Chromosome:
  • 17

From Masafumi Hirono, University of Tokyo, December 2007

Phenotype: lacks flagella, does not mate; requires arginine

The BLD10 locus encodes a coiled-coil protein localized to the cartwheel structure at the proximal end of the basal body. Null mutants at this locus have no basal bodies or flagella. Alleles in which a truncated protein is made have abnormal basal bodies in which the 9-fold symmetry is altered.


Marshall WF (2007) Centriole assembly: the origin of nine-ness. Curr Biol 7, R1057-R1059

Hiraki M, Nakazawa Y, Kamiya R, Hirono M (2007) Bld10p constitutes the cartwheel-spoke tip and stabilizes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole. Curr Biol 17:1778-1783


  • Locus:
  • BLD10
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Masafumi Hirono, University of Tokyo, December 2007


Hiraki M, Nakazawa Y, Kamiya R, Hirono M (2007) Bld10p constitutes the cartwheel-spoke tip and stabilizes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole. Curr Biol 17:1778-1783


  • Locus:
  • BLD10
  • Chromosome:
  • 10

From Masafumi Hirono, University of Tokyo, December 2007

Phenotype: lacks flagella, does not mate

The BLD12 gene encodes a component of basal body cartwheel that establishes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole. It is a homolog of the SAS-6 protein in Drosophila and Caenorhabditis elegans.


Nakazawa Y, Hiraki M, Kamiya R, Hirono M (2007) SAS-6 is a cartwheel protein that establishes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole. Curr Biol 17:2169-2174


  • Locus:
  • BLD12
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From Masafumi Hirono, University of Tokyo, December 2007

Phenotype: lacks flagella, does not mate

Please see CC-4183 for additional information on the BLD12 locus.


Nakazawa Y, Hiraki M, Kamiya R, Hirono M (2007) SAS-6 is a cartwheel protein that establishes the 9-fold symmetry of the centriole. Curr Biol 17:2169-2174


  • Locus:
  • BLD12
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From P.A. Lefebvre, University of Minnesota, January 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is an insertional mutant at the PF13 locus, obtained by transformation with the NIT2 gene. This is isolate 7-4 in the Tam and Lefebvre paper. For more information on the PF13 locus, please see CC-1030.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384


  • Locus:
  • PF13
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Mary Hamilton, Imperial College, London, February 2008

Phenotype: requires acetate

This mutant, in which the psbE gene has been deleted, was generated by F. Morais in Peter Nixon’s group.


Morais F, Barber J, Nixon PJ (1998) The chloroplast-encoded alpha subunit of cytochrome b-559 is required for assembly of the photosystem two complex in both the light and the dark in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. J Biol Chem 273:29315-29320


  • Locus:
  • psbE
  • Chromosome:
  • chloroplast

From Lai-Wa Tam, Lefebvre lab, University of Minnesota, March 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is strain 1H3I4C, an allele at the LF2 locus obtained by insertional mutagenesis with pMN24. Please see CC-803 for more information on the LF2 locus.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384

Tam LW, Wilson NF, Lefebvre PA (2007) A CDK-related kinase regulates the length and assembly of flagella in Chlamydomonas. J Cell Biol 176:819-829


  • Locus:
  • LF2
  • Chromosome:
  • 12

From Lai-Wa Tam, Lefebvre lab, University of Minnesota, March 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is strain 12D9, an allele at the LF3 locus obtained by insertional mutagenesis with pMN24.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384

Tam LW, Dentler WL, Lefebvre PA (2003) Defective flagellar assembly and length regulation in LF3 null mutants in Chlamydomonas. J Cell Biol 163:597-607


  • Locus:
  • LF3
  • Chromosome:
  • 1

From Lai-Wa Tam, Lefebvre lab, University of Minnesota, March 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is strain 29H4, an allele at the LF3 locus obtained by insertional mutagenesis with pMN24.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384

Tam LW, Dentler WL, Lefebvre PA (2003) Defective flagellar assembly and length regulation in LF3 null mutants in Chlamydomonas. J Cell Biol 163:597-607


  • Locus:
  • LF3
  • Chromosome:
  • 1

From Lai-Wa Tam, Lefebvre lab, University of Minnesota, March 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is strain 2G12, an allele at the MBO2 locus obtained by insertional mutagenesis with pMN24. For more information on the MBO2 locus, please see CC-2377.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384

Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (2002) The Chlamydomonas MBO2 locus encodes a conserved coiled-coil protein important for flagellar waveform conversion. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 51:197-212


  • Locus:
  • MBO2
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Lai-Wa Tam, Lefebvre lab, University of Minnesota, March 2008

Phenotype: impaired motility

This is an allele at the MBO2 locus obtained by insertional mutagenesis of strain A54-e18 (CC-2929) with pMN24. For more information on the MBO2 locus, please see CC-2377.


Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (1993) Cloning of flagellar genes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by DNA insertional mutagenesis. Genetics 135:375-384

Tam LW, Lefebvre PA (2002) The Chlamydomonas MBO2 locus encodes a conserved coiled-coil protein important for flagellar waveform conversion. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton 51:197-212


  • Locus:
  • MBO2
  • Chromosome:
  • 9

From Corinne Yoshihara, Sydney Kustu lab, University of California, Berkeley, April 2008

Phenotype: carotenoid deficient

This strain was derived by transformation of lts1-204 with an Rh1-GFP fusion construct (TM1-4) containing Rh1 transmembrane regions 1-4. The lts1 mutant was used as a recipient in order to eliminate chlorophyll fluorescence, which interfered with detection of GFP. Please see CC-4109 for more information on the LTS1 [PSY1] locus.


McCarthy SS, Kobayashi MC, Niyogi KK (2004) White mutants of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are defective in phytoene synthase. Genetics 168:1249-1257

Yoshihara C, Inoue K, Schichnes D, Ruzin S, Inwood W, Kustu S (2008) An Rh1-GFP fusion protein is in the cytoplasmic membrane of a white mutant strain of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. Mol Plant 1:1007-1020


  • Locus:
  • LTS1 [PSY1]
  • Chromosome:
  • 11