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Updated: May 7, 2026

Observation of Photobehavior in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Published on: May 6, 2022
Algal photoreceptors: in vivo functions and potential applications
Arash Kianianmomeni1, Armin Hallmann
1Department of Cellular and Developmental Biology of Plants, University of Bielefeld, Universitätsstr. 25, 33615, Bielefeld, Germany, kianian@uni-bielefeld.de.
Abstract:
Many algae, particularly microalgae, possess a sophisticated light-sensing system including photoreceptors and light-modulated signaling pathways to sense environmental information and secure the survival in a rapidly changing environment. Over the last couple of years, the multifaceted world of algal photobiology has enriched our understanding of the light absorption mechanisms and in vivo function of photoreceptors. Moreover, specific light-sensitive modules have already paved the way for the development of optogenetic tools to generate light switches for precise and spatial control of signaling pathways in individual cells and even in complex biological systems.
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