Martin, S. F., Doherty, M. K., Chirnside, E., Tammireddy, S. R., Liu, J., LeBihan, T. and Whitfield, P. D. (2020) Surviving starvation: proteomic and lipidomic profiling of nutrient deprivation in the smallest known free-living eukaryote. Metabolites, 10(7), 273. (doi: 10.3390/metabo10070273) (PMID:32635273)
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Abstract
Marine phytoplankton, comprising cyanobacteria, micro- and pico-algae are key to photosynthesis, oxygen production and carbon assimilation on Earth. The unicellular green picoalga Ostreococcus tauri holds a key position at the base of the green lineage of plants, which makes it an interesting model organism. O. tauri has adapted to survive in low levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in the open ocean and also during rapid changes in the levels of these nutrients in coastal waters. In this study, we have employed untargeted proteomic and lipidomic strategies to investigate the molecular responses of O. tauri to low-nitrogen and low-phosphorus environments. In the absence of external nitrogen, there was an elevation in the expression of ammonia and urea transporter proteins together with an accumulation of triglycerides. In phosphate-limiting conditions, the expression levels of phosphokinases and phosphate transporters were increased, indicating an attempt to maximise scavenging opportunities as opposed to energy conservation conditions. The production of betaine lipids was also elevated, highlighting a shift away from phospholipid metabolism. This finding was supported by the putative identification of betaine synthase in O. tauri. This work offers additional perspectives on the complex strategies that underpin the adaptive processes of the smallest known free-living eukaryote to alterations in environmental conditions.
| Item Type: | Articles |
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| Additional Information: | This research was funded by the Centre for Systems Biology at Edinburgh (CSBE), which is a Centre for Integrative Systems Biology (CISB) funded by BBSRC and EPSRC (reference BB/D019621/1 for S.F.M., E.S.-C., J.L. and T.L.B.). M.K.D., S.R.T. and P.D.W. gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the European Regional Development Fund, Scottish Funding Council and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. |
| Status: | Published |
| Refereed: | Yes |
| Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: | Whitfield, Professor Phil |
| Authors: | Martin, S. F., Doherty, M. K., Chirnside, E., Tammireddy, S. R., Liu, J., LeBihan, T., and Whitfield, P. D. |
| College/School: | College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity |
| Journal Name: | Metabolites |
| Publisher: | MDPI |
| ISSN: | 2218-1989 |
| ISSN (Online): | 2218-1989 |
| Copyright Holders: | Copyright © 2020 The Authors |
| First Published: | First published in Metabolites 10(7):273 |
| Publisher Policy: | Reproduced under a Creative Commons licence |
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