Algae Research Supply: Algae Culture Chlamydomonas pacifica in Alkali

This listing is the strain grown and shipped in Alkali media. Chlamydmonas pacifica can also grow in RO water (found here!)

Strain Description

Chlamydomonas pacifica is a newly identified species of unicellular, flagellated green algae belonging to the phylum Chlorophyta. Discovered in a soil sample in San Diego, California, C. pacifica is an extremophile known for its remarkable resilience to a wide range of environmental conditions, including high salinity(up to 2%), elevated temperatures(up to 42 C), and alkaline pH (up to pH 11). This species thrives in various challenging environments, which makes it an attractive candidate for biotechnological applications. It has a large genome with 17,829 protein-coding genes and showcases versatile metabolic capabilities, including diverse nitrogen and carbon assimilation.

This alga’s adaptability, including its tolerance to high light intensities and brackish water, positions C. pacifica as a promising strain for industrial-scale cultivation in open ponds. Furthermore, its ability to be genetically engineered(particularly with vectors already designed for C. reinhardtii) for enhanced lipid and starch production has made it a target for biofuel, biomaterial, and bioplastic production. The strain can also sexually reproduce, making it suitable for breeding programs aimed at improving desirable traits such as enhanced lipid or starch accumulation.

References:

• Molino, J.V.D., et al. "Description of a novel extremophile green algae, Chlamydomonas pacifica, and its potential as a biotechnology host." bioRxiv, September 2024. [https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.03.611117]
• Gupta, A., et al. "Engineering the novel extremophile alga Chlamydomonas pacifica for high lipid and high starch production as a path to developing commercially relevant strains." bioRxiv, July 2024. [https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.07.18.604193]

C. pacifica Culture Kit: coming soon!

Freshwater Media Kit

Should I order a the CULTURE or the CULTURING KIT?  

The culture is just that- algae culture in a bottle.  

The culturing kit is (1) algae culture, (2) algae culturing salts, (3) algae culturing nutrients.

The KIT will get you to a total volume that is much greater than the initial volume of the culture. 

Other Names for this Strain
This strain is the "403wt" strain, also listed in the "Chlamydomonas Collection" strain repository as CC-5699, and can be readily bred with the "402wt" strain(CC-5697).

Note from Hunter, one of our Phycologists:
"I first isolated Chlamydomonas pacifica while working at UCSD back in 2020 or so. At the time, I was searching for strains that could tolerate high pH, light, and temperature, and even went on bioprospecting trips around San Diego and the Imperial Valley. Then one day, right outside our research greenhouse at UCSD, I noticed a plant pot with about an inch of standing water from recent rain. The water had a layer of foamy green bubbles on top, which is always a good sign. I took a sample back to the lab, checked it under the microscope, and saw it was a mixed population of some sort of Chlamydomonas species, actively breeding. So I plated it out on agar, got it growing, and now this strain is being used in all sorts of cool research by many brilliant scientists and engineers. Funny how sometimes the solution is right under your nose!"