Figure 1.

Illustration of the major carbon and energy inputs and outputs of Chlamydomonas cells. CO₂ provides C input, light provides energy input, and acetate provides both. Incoming energy can be dissipated as heat, consumed for maintenance, or used in cell growth or biosynthesis of storage compounds (starch and oil). Incoming carbon is used in growth, stored in starch or oil, or respired as CO₂. The taps indicate sites of regulation by the cell for which the literature provides support.