Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time
Age-dependent changes in the transcription levels of 5-day-old <i>Euglena gracilis</i> cells, which showed positive gravitaxis, 6-day-old cells without gravitactic orientation, and older cells (9- and 11-day-old, which displayed a precise negative gravitaxis) were determined through micr...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/3/327 |
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| author | Julia Krüger Peter Richter Julia Stoltze Binod Prasad Sebastian M. Strauch Marcus Krüger Adeel Nasir Michael Lebert |
| author_facet | Julia Krüger Peter Richter Julia Stoltze Binod Prasad Sebastian M. Strauch Marcus Krüger Adeel Nasir Michael Lebert |
| author_sort | Julia Krüger |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Age-dependent changes in the transcription levels of 5-day-old <i>Euglena gracilis</i> cells, which showed positive gravitaxis, 6-day-old cells without gravitactic orientation, and older cells (9- and 11-day-old, which displayed a precise negative gravitaxis) were determined through microarray analysis. Hierarchical clustering of four independent cell cultures revealed pronounced similarities in transcription levels at the same culture age, which proves the reproducibility of the cultivation method. Employing the non-oriented cells from the 6-day-old culture as a reference, about 2779 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed. While positively gravitactic cells (5-day-old culture) showed only minor differences in gene expression compared to the 6-day reference, pronounced changes of mRNAs (mainly an increase) were found in older cells compared to the reference culture. Among others, genes coding for adenylyl cyclases, photosynthesis, and metabolic enzymes were identified to be differentially expressed. The investigated cells were grown in batch cultures, so variations in transcription levels most likely account for factors such as nutrient depletion in the medium and self-shading. Based on these findings, a particular transcript (e.g., transcript 19556) was downregulated using the RNA interference technique. Gravitaxis and phototaxis were impaired in the transformants, indicating the role of this transcript in signal transduction. Results of the experiment are discussed regarding the increasing importance of <i>E. gracilis</i> in biotechnology as a source of valuable products and the possible application of <i>E. gracilis</i> in life-support systems. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:29:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2e0b84bd57ce4f6ab02fdb002788fe5e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T18:29:52Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-2e0b84bd57ce4f6ab02fdb002788fe5e2024-03-27T13:27:58ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2024-03-0114332710.3390/biom14030327Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over TimeJulia Krüger0Peter Richter1Julia Stoltze2Binod Prasad3Sebastian M. Strauch4Marcus Krüger5Adeel Nasir6Michael Lebert7Gravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyGravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyGravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyGravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyGravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyEnvironmental Cell Biology Group, Department of Microgravity and Translational Regenerative Medicine, Otto von Guericke University, 39106 Magdeburg, GermanyUniv Brest, INSERM, EFS, UMR 1078, GGB-GTCA, 29200 Brest, FranceGravitational Biology Group, Department of Biology, Friedrich-Alexander University, Staudtstraße 5, 91058 Erlangen, GermanyAge-dependent changes in the transcription levels of 5-day-old <i>Euglena gracilis</i> cells, which showed positive gravitaxis, 6-day-old cells without gravitactic orientation, and older cells (9- and 11-day-old, which displayed a precise negative gravitaxis) were determined through microarray analysis. Hierarchical clustering of four independent cell cultures revealed pronounced similarities in transcription levels at the same culture age, which proves the reproducibility of the cultivation method. Employing the non-oriented cells from the 6-day-old culture as a reference, about 2779 transcripts were found to be differentially expressed. While positively gravitactic cells (5-day-old culture) showed only minor differences in gene expression compared to the 6-day reference, pronounced changes of mRNAs (mainly an increase) were found in older cells compared to the reference culture. Among others, genes coding for adenylyl cyclases, photosynthesis, and metabolic enzymes were identified to be differentially expressed. The investigated cells were grown in batch cultures, so variations in transcription levels most likely account for factors such as nutrient depletion in the medium and self-shading. Based on these findings, a particular transcript (e.g., transcript 19556) was downregulated using the RNA interference technique. Gravitaxis and phototaxis were impaired in the transformants, indicating the role of this transcript in signal transduction. Results of the experiment are discussed regarding the increasing importance of <i>E. gracilis</i> in biotechnology as a source of valuable products and the possible application of <i>E. gracilis</i> in life-support systems.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/3/327<i>Euglena gracilis</i>microarray analysisculture agegravitaxisphototaxis |
| spellingShingle | Julia Krüger Peter Richter Julia Stoltze Binod Prasad Sebastian M. Strauch Marcus Krüger Adeel Nasir Michael Lebert Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time Biomolecules <i>Euglena gracilis</i> microarray analysis culture age gravitaxis phototaxis |
| title | Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time |
| title_full | Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time |
| title_fullStr | Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time |
| title_short | Changes in Gravitaxis and Gene-Expression in an <i>Euglena gracilis</i> Culture over Time |
| title_sort | changes in gravitaxis and gene expression in an i euglena gracilis i culture over time |
| topic | <i>Euglena gracilis</i> microarray analysis culture age gravitaxis phototaxis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/14/3/327 |
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