Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis
Abstract Background Dormancy is widespread in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. Among diatoms, unicellular microalgae at the base of all aquatic food webs, several species produce dormant cells (spores or resting cells) that can withstand long periods of adverse environmental conditions....
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-03-01
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| Series: | BMC Genomics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09175-x |
| _version_ | 1797865457875681280 |
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| author | Angela Pelusi Luca Ambrosino Marco Miralto Maria Luisa Chiusano Alessandra Rogato Maria Immacolata Ferrante Marina Montresor |
| author_facet | Angela Pelusi Luca Ambrosino Marco Miralto Maria Luisa Chiusano Alessandra Rogato Maria Immacolata Ferrante Marina Montresor |
| author_sort | Angela Pelusi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Dormancy is widespread in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. Among diatoms, unicellular microalgae at the base of all aquatic food webs, several species produce dormant cells (spores or resting cells) that can withstand long periods of adverse environmental conditions. Results We present the first gene expression study during the process of spore formation induced by nitrogen depletion in the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros socialis. In this condition, genes related to photosynthesis and nitrate assimilation, including high-affinity nitrate transporters (NTRs), were downregulated. While the former result is a common reaction among diatoms under nitrogen stress, the latter seems to be exclusive of the spore-former C. socialis. The upregulation of catabolic pathways, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle, glyoxylate cycle and fatty acid beta-oxidation, suggests that this diatom could use lipids as a source of energy during the process of spore formation. Furthermore, the upregulation of a lipoxygenase and several aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) advocates the presence of oxylipin-mediated signaling, while the upregulation of genes involved in dormancy-related pathways conserved in other organisms (e.g. serine/threonine-protein kinases TOR and its inhibitor GATOR) provides interesting avenues for future explorations. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the transition from an active growth phase to a resting one is characterized by marked metabolic changes and provides evidence for the presence of signaling pathways related to intercellular communication. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:09:25Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2601fd1a19444978b515f3895aec92a3 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2164 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T23:09:25Z |
| publishDate | 2023-03-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Genomics |
| spelling | doaj.art-2601fd1a19444978b515f3895aec92a32023-03-22T10:30:32ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642023-03-0124111610.1186/s12864-023-09175-xGene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialisAngela Pelusi0Luca Ambrosino1Marco Miralto2Maria Luisa Chiusano3Alessandra Rogato4Maria Immacolata Ferrante5Marina Montresor6Department of Integrative Marine EcologyDepartment of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological ResourcesDepartment of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological ResourcesDepartment of Research Infrastructures for Marine Biological ResourcesDepartment of Integrative Marine EcologyDepartment of Integrative Marine EcologyDepartment of Integrative Marine EcologyAbstract Background Dormancy is widespread in both multicellular and unicellular organisms. Among diatoms, unicellular microalgae at the base of all aquatic food webs, several species produce dormant cells (spores or resting cells) that can withstand long periods of adverse environmental conditions. Results We present the first gene expression study during the process of spore formation induced by nitrogen depletion in the marine planktonic diatom Chaetoceros socialis. In this condition, genes related to photosynthesis and nitrate assimilation, including high-affinity nitrate transporters (NTRs), were downregulated. While the former result is a common reaction among diatoms under nitrogen stress, the latter seems to be exclusive of the spore-former C. socialis. The upregulation of catabolic pathways, such as tricarboxylic acid cycle, glyoxylate cycle and fatty acid beta-oxidation, suggests that this diatom could use lipids as a source of energy during the process of spore formation. Furthermore, the upregulation of a lipoxygenase and several aldehyde dehydrogenases (ALDHs) advocates the presence of oxylipin-mediated signaling, while the upregulation of genes involved in dormancy-related pathways conserved in other organisms (e.g. serine/threonine-protein kinases TOR and its inhibitor GATOR) provides interesting avenues for future explorations. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that the transition from an active growth phase to a resting one is characterized by marked metabolic changes and provides evidence for the presence of signaling pathways related to intercellular communication.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09175-xTranscriptomicsResting stagesNitrogen transportersNitrogen starvationDiatomsChaetoceros socialis |
| spellingShingle | Angela Pelusi Luca Ambrosino Marco Miralto Maria Luisa Chiusano Alessandra Rogato Maria Immacolata Ferrante Marina Montresor Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis BMC Genomics Transcriptomics Resting stages Nitrogen transporters Nitrogen starvation Diatoms Chaetoceros socialis |
| title | Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis |
| title_full | Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis |
| title_fullStr | Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis |
| title_short | Gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom Chaetoceros socialis |
| title_sort | gene expression during the formation of resting spores induced by nitrogen starvation in the marine diatom chaetoceros socialis |
| topic | Transcriptomics Resting stages Nitrogen transporters Nitrogen starvation Diatoms Chaetoceros socialis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12864-023-09175-x |
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