A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton
We present a model of the growth rate and elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton as a function of resource allocation between and within broad macromolecular pools under a variety of resource supply conditions. The model is based on four, empirically-supported, cornerstone assumptions: that there...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2020-02-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00086/full |
| _version_ | 1818214466542632960 |
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| author | Keisuke Inomura Anne Willem Omta David Talmy Jason Bragg Curtis Deutsch Michael J. Follows |
| author_facet | Keisuke Inomura Anne Willem Omta David Talmy Jason Bragg Curtis Deutsch Michael J. Follows |
| author_sort | Keisuke Inomura |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | We present a model of the growth rate and elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton as a function of resource allocation between and within broad macromolecular pools under a variety of resource supply conditions. The model is based on four, empirically-supported, cornerstone assumptions: that there is a saturating relationship between light and photosynthesis, a linear relationship between RNA/protein and growth rate, a linear relationship between biosynthetic proteins and growth rate, and a constant macromolecular composition of the light-harvesting machinery. We combine these assumptions with statements of conservation of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and energy. The model can be solved algebraically for steady state conditions and constrained with data on elemental stoichiometry from published laboratory chemostat studies. It interprets the relationships between macromolecular and elemental stoichiometry and also provides quantitative predictions of the maximum growth rate at given light intensity and nutrient supply rates. The model is compatible with data sets from several laboratory studies characterizing both prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton from marine and freshwater environments. It is conceptually simple, yet mechanistic and quantitative. Here, the model is constrained only by elemental stoichiometry, but makes predictions about allocation to measurable macromolecular pools, which could be tested in the laboratory. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:20:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3581d70f913b468e8721b391db3a1def |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T06:20:38Z |
| publishDate | 2020-02-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-3581d70f913b468e8721b391db3a1def2022-12-22T00:34:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2020-02-011110.3389/fmicb.2020.00086477727A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in PhytoplanktonKeisuke Inomura0Anne Willem Omta1David Talmy2Jason Bragg3Curtis Deutsch4Michael J. Follows5School of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesDepartment of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United StatesDepartment of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, United StatesNational Herbarium of New South Wales, The Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney, NSW, AustraliaSchool of Oceanography, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United StatesDepartment of Earth, Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, United StatesWe present a model of the growth rate and elemental stoichiometry of phytoplankton as a function of resource allocation between and within broad macromolecular pools under a variety of resource supply conditions. The model is based on four, empirically-supported, cornerstone assumptions: that there is a saturating relationship between light and photosynthesis, a linear relationship between RNA/protein and growth rate, a linear relationship between biosynthetic proteins and growth rate, and a constant macromolecular composition of the light-harvesting machinery. We combine these assumptions with statements of conservation of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and energy. The model can be solved algebraically for steady state conditions and constrained with data on elemental stoichiometry from published laboratory chemostat studies. It interprets the relationships between macromolecular and elemental stoichiometry and also provides quantitative predictions of the maximum growth rate at given light intensity and nutrient supply rates. The model is compatible with data sets from several laboratory studies characterizing both prokaryotic and eukaryotic phytoplankton from marine and freshwater environments. It is conceptually simple, yet mechanistic and quantitative. Here, the model is constrained only by elemental stoichiometry, but makes predictions about allocation to measurable macromolecular pools, which could be tested in the laboratory.https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00086/fullphytoplanktonelemental stoichiometrygrowth ratemacromoleculephotosynthesisprotein |
| spellingShingle | Keisuke Inomura Anne Willem Omta David Talmy Jason Bragg Curtis Deutsch Michael J. Follows A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton Frontiers in Microbiology phytoplankton elemental stoichiometry growth rate macromolecule photosynthesis protein |
| title | A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton |
| title_full | A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton |
| title_fullStr | A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton |
| title_short | A Mechanistic Model of Macromolecular Allocation, Elemental Stoichiometry, and Growth Rate in Phytoplankton |
| title_sort | mechanistic model of macromolecular allocation elemental stoichiometry and growth rate in phytoplankton |
| topic | phytoplankton elemental stoichiometry growth rate macromolecule photosynthesis protein |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fmicb.2020.00086/full |
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