Effects of selenite on growth and metabolism in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, playing a pivotal role in antioxidant defense, immune regulation, and disease prevention. Chlamydomonas reinhardtii is considered a promising edible source for selenium-enriched food production. Yet, its mechanisms of selenium tolerance and metabolic regulation remain insufficiently understood, limiting the optimization of biofortification strategies. This study used the C. reinhardtii strain RZTCr-1 to elucidate the concentration-dependent effects of sodium selenite on its growth, photosynthesis, and selenium metabolic pathways. The results demonstrated that low concentrations of sodium selenite (