Mackinder Lab

@mackinderlab.bsky.social

Molecular basis of global carbon fixation. Algal tool development. Pyrenoids. LLPS.

1/7 New preprint: we found that Chlamydomonas carries a giant and unexpectedly elaborate chloroplast RNA polymerase with 12 previously unknown subunits, overturning the idea that the complexity of this organellar enzyme emerged during plant terrestrialization! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

The structure of a 2-MDa chloroplast RNA polymerase reveals unexpected evolutionary complexity

Transcription in chloroplasts depends on the Plastid-Encoded RNA polymerase (PEP), a bacterial-derived enzyme whose catalytic core remains encoded by the highly reduced genome inherited from the cyano...

biorxiv.org

Another pyrenoid, another example of convergent evolution to condense Rubisco and turbocharge photosynthesis. This time in a multicellular organism. So much fun exploring a seaweed pyrenoid with @jonasblomme.bsky.social, @mjplevin.bsky.social, @jnb-lab.bsky.social, @james-r-barrett.bsky.social.

Jonas Blomme@jonasblomme.bsky.social · 3w ago

Excited to share our latest preprint on #PhycologyFriday. We map out the carbon fixation pathway for the first time in a multicellular alga, the green seaweed Ulva, and reveal a unique Rubisco-Linker interaction in the pyrenoid, a chloroplast condensate. Below I summarize some key points. #seaweeds

Check this new study on carbon concentration mechanisms! See how the pyrenoid changes by modifying Rubisco linkers in our favorite alga, Chlamy 💚! My desk mate @phaips.vd.st spent a lot of time collecting & carefully analyzing these beautiful tomograms 🔬. Congrats to all the authors!

James Barrett@james-r-barrett.bsky.social · 6mo ago

How does molecular valency shape condensate assembly and function? We used the CO2-fixing organelle in algae—the pyrenoid—to find out… 🧵 Preprint here!: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6... @cellarchlab.com @phaips.vd.st @biologyatyork.bsky.social #Rubisco #PhaseSeparation #Condensates #Pyrenoid