RAW RNA-seq READS FROM PHYTOENE DESATURASE KNOCKOUT CAROTENOID-DEFICIENT MICROALGAL MUTANTS GENERATED BY Cas9-RIBONUCLEOPROTEIN COMPLEXES
CRISPR Cas9 mediated knock out transformant of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii were generated to produce microalgae enriched in the colourless carotenoid phytoene and to investigate the functional significance of coloured carotenoid in cellular metabolism. The PDS gene, which encodes phytoene desaturase, was targeted and multiple white PDS knockout transformants were obtained. Three selected lines were subsequently analyzed at both, molecular and phenotypic levels.