Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom
Diatoms are ancestrally photosynthetic microalgae. However, some underwent a major evolutionary transition, losing photosynthesis to become obligate heterotrophs. The molecular and physiological basis for this transition is unclear. Here, we isolate and characterize new strains of non-photosynthetic...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
The Royal Society
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Open Biology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.230148 |
| _version_ | 1827800262954188800 |
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| author | Peng Zheng Kayo Kumadaki Christopher Quek Zeng Hao Lim Yonatan Ashenafi Zhi Ting Yip Jay Newby Andrew J. Alverson Yan Jie Gregory Jedd |
| author_facet | Peng Zheng Kayo Kumadaki Christopher Quek Zeng Hao Lim Yonatan Ashenafi Zhi Ting Yip Jay Newby Andrew J. Alverson Yan Jie Gregory Jedd |
| author_sort | Peng Zheng |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Diatoms are ancestrally photosynthetic microalgae. However, some underwent a major evolutionary transition, losing photosynthesis to become obligate heterotrophs. The molecular and physiological basis for this transition is unclear. Here, we isolate and characterize new strains of non-photosynthetic diatoms from the coastal waters of Singapore. These diatoms occupy diverse ecological niches and display glucose-mediated catabolite repression, a classical feature of bacterial and fungal heterotrophs. Live-cell imaging reveals deposition of secreted extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Diatoms moving on pre-existing EPS trails (runners) move faster than those laying new trails (blazers). This leads to cell-to-cell coupling where runners can push blazers to make them move faster. Calibrated micropipettes measure substantial single-cell pushing forces, which are consistent with high-order myosin motor cooperativity. Collisions that impede forward motion induce reversal, revealing navigation-related force sensing. Together, these data identify aspects of metabolism and motility that are likely to promote and underpin diatom heterotrophy. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:05:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c6d48d3a7cfd46258d10d7034f0d265b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2046-2441 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T20:05:52Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Open Biology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c6d48d3a7cfd46258d10d7034f0d265b2023-10-03T23:05:17ZengThe Royal SocietyOpen Biology2046-24412023-10-01131010.1098/rsob.230148Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatomPeng Zheng0Kayo Kumadaki1Christopher Quek2Zeng Hao Lim3Yonatan Ashenafi4Zhi Ting Yip5Jay Newby6Andrew J. Alverson7Yan Jie8Gregory Jedd9Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 117604 SingaporeDepartment of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542 SingaporeTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 117604 SingaporeTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 117604 SingaporeDepartment of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G1Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 117543 Singapore, SingaporeDepartment of Mathematical and Statistical Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2G1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, SCEN 601, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USADepartment of Physics, National University of Singapore, 117542 SingaporeTemasek Life Sciences Laboratory, 117604 SingaporeDiatoms are ancestrally photosynthetic microalgae. However, some underwent a major evolutionary transition, losing photosynthesis to become obligate heterotrophs. The molecular and physiological basis for this transition is unclear. Here, we isolate and characterize new strains of non-photosynthetic diatoms from the coastal waters of Singapore. These diatoms occupy diverse ecological niches and display glucose-mediated catabolite repression, a classical feature of bacterial and fungal heterotrophs. Live-cell imaging reveals deposition of secreted extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). Diatoms moving on pre-existing EPS trails (runners) move faster than those laying new trails (blazers). This leads to cell-to-cell coupling where runners can push blazers to make them move faster. Calibrated micropipettes measure substantial single-cell pushing forces, which are consistent with high-order myosin motor cooperativity. Collisions that impede forward motion induce reversal, revealing navigation-related force sensing. Together, these data identify aspects of metabolism and motility that are likely to promote and underpin diatom heterotrophy.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.230148non-photosynthetic diatomheterotrophygliding motilitymechanosensingforce generation |
| spellingShingle | Peng Zheng Kayo Kumadaki Christopher Quek Zeng Hao Lim Yonatan Ashenafi Zhi Ting Yip Jay Newby Andrew J. Alverson Yan Jie Gregory Jedd Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom Open Biology non-photosynthetic diatom heterotrophy gliding motility mechanosensing force generation |
| title | Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom |
| title_full | Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom |
| title_fullStr | Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom |
| title_short | Cooperative motility, force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non-photosynthetic diatom |
| title_sort | cooperative motility force generation and mechanosensing in a foraging non photosynthetic diatom |
| topic | non-photosynthetic diatom heterotrophy gliding motility mechanosensing force generation |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rsob.230148 |
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