A Phosphate starvation response gene (psr1-like) is present in Micromonas pusilla and other marine algae and coordinates the metabolic response to phosphate deficiency

ABSTRACT: Both marine phytoplankton and terrestrial plants have to deal with limited bioavailability of the key life nutrient, phosphate. In freshwater algae and plants, a phosphate starvation response gene (psr1) has been characterized, which encodes for a transcription factor that regulates the metabolic response to phosphate deficiency. This study describes a psr1-like gene present in Micromonas pusilla and other prasinophytes as well as the haptophyte, Emiliana huxleyi. The metabolic response of M. pusilla to P-deficiency, as described from targeted and untargeted metabolomics techniques, was characteristic of an algal response to nutrient limitation with an increase in polyunsaturated fatty acids. The levels of many central metabolites, such as amino acids, vitamins, nucleosides, decreased in response to P-deficiency, with a few notable exceptions including malate, aspartate, glutamate, guanine and xanthine. Additionally, genes involved in the metabolic pathways associated with the elevated metabolites share a significant motif in their intron regions, which may be the regulatory element where the psr1 gene product binds. Results form the present study taken together with data from the literature suggests that M. pusilla, other prasionophytes and E. huxleyi, may be physiologically well poised to take advantage of a future ocean with lower nutrient levels and increased levels of pCO2.

INSTRUMENT(S): TSQ Vantage (Thermo Scientific), 7T LTQ FT Ultra, Thermo Fisher Scientific

SUBMITTER: Cara Fiore 

PROVIDER: MTBLS295 | MetaboLights | 2016-02-01

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights