Thermal transcriptome of Synechocystis in response to gradual heat stress
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ABSTRACT: Here we use a transcriptomic approach to investigate the molecular underpinnings of thermal stress in the model cyanobacteria species Synechocystis. We impose gradual heat stress by increasing the temperature in a stepwise fashion (1.5 °C h-1) from their optimal growth temperature of 30 °C to a maximum temperature of 46.5 °C over a period of 12h.
Project description:Iron is an essential cofactor in many metabolic reactions. Mechanisms controlling iron homeostasis need to respond to changes in extracellular conditions, but must also keep the concentration of intracellular iron under strict control, as free ferrous iron (Fe2+) can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species. Due to its role as redox carrier in photosynthesis, the iron quota in cyanobacteria is about 10 times higher than in model enterobacteria, but the molecular details how such high quota is tightly regulated have remained obscure. Here, we measured time-resolved gene expression changes after iron depletion in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 using a comprehensive microarray platform monitoring both protein-coding and non-coding transcripts. In total, 644 protein-coding genes were differentially expressed during the first 72h. Many of these proteins are associated with iron transport, photosynthesis or ATP synthesis. Comparing our data with three previous studies, we identified a core set of 28 genes involved in the iron stress response. Among them were genes encoding proteins important for assimilation of inorganic carbon, suggesting a previously unknown link between the carbon and iron regulatory networks. Nine of the 28 genes are of unknown function and constitute key targets for detailed functional analysis. Applying identical statistical and clustering criteria as for the protein-coding fraction, we also identified 10 small RNAs, 62 anti-sense RNAs, four 5M-bM-^@M-^YUTRs and 7 intergenic elements as likely to be involved in the iron regulatory network. Hence, our genome-wide profiling results indicate an unprecedented complexity in the iron-related regulatory network of cyanobacteria. We monitored iron limitation stress induced gene expression changes in the cyanobacterial model organism Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. We included a control sample without iron-stress (0h) and 5 samples from timepoints after stress induction (3h, 12h, 24h, 48h, 72h). Each timepoint was sampled from two independent biological replicates.
Project description:Stress represents a major factor negatively affecting fish welfare in aquaculture. The objective of the present study was to identify and evaluate informative indicators for the welfare of maraena whitefish (Coregonus maraena) exposed to inconvenient temperatures. The present study compares the physiological impact of either acute or gradual temperature rise from 18 °C to 24 °C on maraena whitefish in aquaculture. We analysed microarray-based transcriptome profiles in liver, spleen and kidney and identified a common set of diagnostic biomarkers each indicating thermal stress induced by acute or gradual temperature rise in the selected tissues. We identified common and unique tissue- and stress mode-specific pathways reflecting metabolic, cell signalling and immunologic crossroads to cope with thermal stress.
Project description:Comparative proteome analysis of the Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 (WT) and Hik28 deletion mutant under combined stress of low-/high- growth temperature and nitrogen stress to elucidate the stress response mechanism regulated by a two component system, Hik28.
Project description:Here we use a transcriptomic approach to investigate the molecular underpinnings of thermal stress in the model diatom species Phaeodactylum tricornutum. We expose cultures to high temperature (optimal +8°C) and follow changes in gene expression through time (over a 12 hour period) in comparison to optimal conditions (20 °C).
Project description:Photosystem II (PSII) is the most thermally sensitive component of photosynthesis. Thermal acclimation of this complex activity is likely to be critically important to the ability of photosynthetic organisms to tolerate temperature changes in the environment. We have analysed gene expression using whole-genome microarrays and monitored alterations in physiology during acclimation of PSII to elevated growth temperature in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. PSII acclimation is complete within 480 minutes of exposure to elevated temperature and is associated with a highly dynamic transcriptional response. 176 genes were identified and classified into seven distinct response profile groups. Response profiles suggest the existence of an early transient phase and a sustained phase to the acclimation response. The early phase was characterised by induction of general stress response genes, including heat shock proteins, which are likely to influence PSII thermal stability. The sustained phase consisted of acclimation-specific alterations that are involved in other cellular processes. Sustained responses included genes involved in phycobillisome structure and modification, photosynthesis, respiration, lipid metabolism and motility. Approximately 60% of genes with sustained altered expression levels have no known function. The potential role of differentially expressed genes in thermotolerance and acclimation is discussed. We have characterised the acclimation physiology of selected gene ‘knockouts’ to elucidate possible gene function in the response. All mutants show lower PSII rates under normal growth conditions. Basal PSII thermotolerance was affected by mutations in clpB1, cpcC2, hspA, htpG and slr1674. Final PSII thermotolerance was affected by mutations in cpcC2, hik34, hspA and hypA1, suggesting that these gene products play roles in long-term thermal acclimation of PSII.
Project description:Photoautotrophic cyanobacteria assimilate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source for producing useful bioproducts. However, harvesting the cells from their liquid media is a major bottleneck in the process. Thus, an easy-to-harvest method, such as auto-flocculation, is desirable. Here, we found that cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 co-flocculated with a natural fungal contamination in the presence of the antibiotic erythromycin (EM) but not without EM. The fungi in the co-flocculated biomass were isolated and found to consist of five species with the filamentous Purpureocillium lilacinum and Aspergillus protuberus making up 71% of the overall fungal population. The optimal co-cultivation for flocculation was an initial 5 mg (fresh weight) of fungi, an initial cell density of Synechocystis of 0.2 OD730, 10 µM EM, and 14 days of cultivation in 100 mL of BG11 medium with no organic compound. This yielded 248 ± 28 mg/L of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculated biomass from 560 ± 35 mg/L of total biomass, a 44 ± 2 % biomass flocculation efficiency. Furthermore, the EM treated Synechocystis cells in the Synechocystis-fungi flocculate had a normal cell color and morphology, while those in the axenic suspension exhibited strong chlorosis. Thus, the occurrence of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculation was mediated by EM, and the co-flocculation with the fungi helped Synechocystis to alleviate the negative effect of EM. Transcriptomic analysis of suspended and flocculated (with the fungi) Synechocystis cells suggested that the EM-mediated co-flocculation was a result of down-regulation of the minor pilin genes and up-regulation of several genes including the chaperone gene for pilin regulation, the S-layer protein genes, the exopolysaccharide-polymerization gene, and the genes for signaling proteins involved in cell attachment and abiotic-stress responses. The EM treatment may be applied in the co-culture between other cyanobacteria and fungi to mediate cell bio-flocculation.
Project description:Photoautotrophic cyanobacteria assimilate the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide as their sole carbon source for producing useful bioproducts. However, harvesting the cells from their liquid media is a major bottleneck in the process. Thus, an easy-to-harvest method, such as auto-flocculation, is desirable. Here, we found that cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 co-flocculated with a natural fungal contamination in the presence of the antibiotic erythromycin (EM) but not without EM. The fungi in the co-flocculated biomass were isolated and found to consist of five species with the filamentous Purpureocillium lilacinum and Aspergillus protuberus making up 71% of the overall fungal population. The optimal co-cultivation for flocculation was an initial 5 mg (fresh weight) of fungi, an initial cell density of Synechocystis of 0.2 OD730, 10 µM EM, and 14 days of cultivation in 100 mL of BG11 medium with no organic compound. This yielded 248 ± 28 mg/L of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculated biomass from 560 ± 35 mg/L of total biomass, a 44 ± 2 % biomass flocculation efficiency. Furthermore, the EM treated Synechocystis cells in the Synechocystis-fungi flocculate had a normal cell color and morphology, while those in the axenic suspension exhibited strong chlorosis. Thus, the occurrence of the Synechocystis-fungi flocculation was mediated by EM, and the co-flocculation with the fungi helped Synechocystis to alleviate the negative effect of EM. Transcriptomic analysis of suspended and flocculated (with the fungi) Synechocystis cells suggested that the EM-mediated co-flocculation was a result of down-regulation of the minor pilin genes and up-regulation of several genes including the chaperone gene for pilin regulation, the S-layer protein genes, the exopolysaccharide-polymerization gene, and the genes for signaling proteins involved in cell attachment and abiotic-stress responses. The EM treatment may be applied in the co-culture between other cyanobacteria and fungi to mediate cell bio-flocculation.
Project description:The protein abundance of Synechocystis in response to the given copper-iron combination was examined, then followed by comparative proteomic analyses to reveal the proteins associated with copper and iron stress. These data would provide a theoretical basis for understanding the relationship between copper and iron in cyanobacteria at the protein level and shed light on the role of these two metal elements in energy metabolism and biomass accumulation of cyanobacteria.