TAG, You're it! Chlamydomonas as a reference organism for understanding algal triacylglycerol accumulation

► Chlamydomonas is a reference organism for gene discovery and pathway manipulation. ► Multiple acyltransferases, associated with ER and plastid, contribute to TAG accumulation in cytoplasmic and plastid lipid bodies. ► Transcriptome and proteome analyses have led to discovery of algal-specific components of TAG metabolism. ► Compartmentalized metabolism, metabolite flux and breeding are under-investigated.