Project description:We used raw RNA-Seq data from the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria to analyze changes in gene expression in response to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) treatment. The aim of the present work was to unravel the UV-B-induced defense response in the lichen Lobaria pulmonaria based on physiological traits and transcriptional profiling. Here we analyzed gene expression in mycobionts (Lobaria pulmonaria) and photobionts (Symbiochloris reticulata) after 80 min daily application of UV-B treatment of Lobaria pulmonaria thalli for two weeks. Special attention was paid to the UV-B-induced expression of the genes encoding stress tolerance proteins (heat shock proteins, antioxidants, etc.) and enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of photoprotective metabolites.
Project description:The Lobaria pulmonaria holobiont consists of algal, fungal, cyanobacterial, and integrated diverse bacterial components and thrives in undisturbed, humid forests. We set out to investigate the role of the microbiome of L. pulmonaria in the adaptation of this ecologically sensitive lichen species to diverse climatic conditions. Our central hypothesis posited that microbiome composition and functionality aligns with continental-scale climatic parameters related to temperature and precipitation. In addition, we tested whether short-term weather dynamics, sampling season, and the genotypes of the fungal and algal partners influenced the variation in the lichen microbiome. Insights into compositional and functional changes within the microbiome were obtained using metaproteomics. Comparative examinations between Sub-Atlantic Lowland (SAL) and Alpine (ALP) regions unveiled the distinct impact of climate on microbiome functions.