Informatics for improved algal taxonomic classification and research: A case study of UTEX 2341

Algal research has the potential to address numerous industrial and environmental challenges. Despite this potential, informatics data for algae are relatively modest limiting the development of algal biotechnology. This study reports on the re-classification of the green algae strain UTEX 2341 as a case study demonstrating the need for improved public informatics data for algae. Observations in the literature from lipid and pigment research led to uncertainty surrounding the identity of UTEX 2341, originally classified as Chlorella minutissima. In this study, lipid and conserved-gene sequencing data were combined to establish the identity of UTEX 2341 as Auxenochlorella protothecoides. Unambiguous identification of strains that are maintained over long periods of time will require sufficient allocation of resources to culture collections. Furthermore, development of repositories for biochemical and physiological data, along with DNA sequence information, are needed to facilitate sharing of strain data between research institutions and culture collections.