The induction of pyrenoid synthesis by hyperoxia and its implications for the natural diversity of photosynthetic responses in Chlamydomonas

In algae, it is well established that the pyrenoid, a component of the carbon-concentrating mechanism (CCM), is essential for efficient photosynthesis at low CO₂. However, the signal that triggers the formation of the pyrenoid has remained elusive. Here, we show that, in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, the pyrenoid is strongly induced by hyperoxia, even at high CO₂ or bicarbonate levels. These results suggest that the pyrenoid can be induced by a common product of photosynthesis specific to low CO₂ or hyperoxia. Consistent with this view, the photorespiratory by-product, H₂O₂, induced the pyrenoid, suggesting that it acts as a signal. Finally, we show evidence for linkages between genetic variations in hyperoxia tolerance, H₂O₂ signaling, and pyrenoid morphologies.