A rapid method for chloroplast isolation from the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Catherine B. Mason, Louisiana State University
Terry M. Bricker, Louisiana State University
James V. Moroney, Louisiana State University

Abstract

This method has been developed to yield highly purified intact chloroplasts from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This procedure involves breaking cell-wall-deficient cells by passage through a narrow-bore syringe needle and purifying the intact chloroplasts by differential centrifugation and Percoll gradient centrifugation. This procedure can be completed in less than 3 h and is capable of generating relatively high yields of chloroplasts that should be useful for researchers studying the biochemistry and cell biology of C. reinhardtii chloroplasts.