Coccolithophores: Functional Biodiversity, Enzymes and Bioprospecting

Reid, Emma L.; Worthy, Charlotte A.; Probert, Ian; Ali, S. Twareque; Love, John; Napier, Johnathan A.; Littlechild, J.A.; Somerfield, Paul J.; Allen, Michael J.

doi:10.3390/md9040586

Cited by 8 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 20 publications

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“…Numbers of phosphate transporters and alkaline phosphatases, (Fig. 4) however, vary considerably from strain to strain, supporting previous observations of differences in phosphorus uptake and hydrolysis kinetics 22 . Genes for inorganic nitrogen uptake and assimilation (nitrate, nitrite and ammonium) and for acquisition and degradation of nitrogen-rich compounds (for example, urea) (Fig.…”

supporting

confidence: 71%

Pan genome of the phytoplankton Emiliania underpins its global distribution

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Kegel²,

Klute³

et al. 2013

Nature

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International audienceCoccolithophores have influenced the global climate for over 200 million years1. These marine phytoplankton can account for 20 per cent of total carbon fixation in some systems2. They form blooms that can occupy hundreds of thousands of square kilometres and are distinguished by their elegantly sculpted calcium carbonate exoskeletons (coccoliths), rendering them visible from space3. Although coccolithophores export carbon in the form of organic matter and calcite to the sea floor, they also release CO2 in the calcification process. Hence, they have a complex influence on the carbon cycle, driving either CO2 production or uptake, sequestration and export to the deep ocean4. Here we report the first haptophyte reference genome, from the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi strain CCMP1516, and sequences from 13 additional isolates. Our analyses reveal a pan genome (core genes plus genes distributed variably between strains) probably supported by an atypical complement of repetitive sequence in the genome. Comparisons across strains demonstrate that E. huxleyi, which has long been considered a single species, harbours extensive genome variability reflected in different metabolic repertoires. Genome variability within this species complex seems to underpin its capacity both to thrive in habitats ranging from the equator to the subarctic and to form large-scale episodic blooms under a wide variety of environmental conditions

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supporting

confidence: 71%

Pan genome of the phytoplankton Emiliania underpins its global distribution

Read

Kegel²,

Klute³

et al. 2013

Nature

Self Cite

464

456

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“…Our results are in line with those obtained by Reid et al . [ 49 ], where functional diversity based on enzyme activity assays of 52 strains of E . huxleyi showed no significant effects of strains grouped according to biogeographic origin.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic Variability in the Coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi

et al. 2016

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Coccolithophores are a vital part of oceanic phytoplankton assemblages that produce organic matter and calcium carbonate (CaCO3) containing traces of other elements (i.e. Sr and Mg). Their associated carbon export from the euphotic zone to the oceans' interior plays a crucial role in CO2 feedback mechanisms and biogeochemical cycles. The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi has been widely studied as a model organism to understand physiological, biogeochemical, and ecological processes in marine sciences. Here, we show the inter-strain variability in physiological and biogeochemical traits in 13 strains of E. huxleyi from various biogeographical provinces obtained from culture collections commonly used in the literature. Our results demonstrate that inter-strain genetic variability has greater potential to induce larger phenotypic differences than the phenotypic plasticity of single strains cultured under a broad range of variable environmental conditions. The range of variation found in physiological parameters and calcite Sr:Ca highlights the need to reconsider phenotypic variability in paleoproxy calibrations and model parameterizations to adequately translate findings from single strain laboratory experiments to the real ocean.

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“…The decline in APase activity at high CO 2 (1314 μatm) suggests that the competitive ability of E. huxleyi to acquire phosphorus may be compromised in future more “acidic” oceans. However, the ecological implications of physiological results should be carefully considered given the high degree of genetic diversity among E. huxleyi strains (Iglesias-Rodriguez et al, 2006), the marked differences between strain maximum activities (Xu et al, 2010; Reid et al, 2011), as well as synergies with other levels of ecological organization.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of nitrate and phosphate availability on Emiliania huxleyi (NZEH) physiology under different CO2 scenarios

Rouco¹,

Branson²,

Lebrato³

et al. 2013

Front. Microbiol.

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Growth and calcification of the marine coccolithophorid Emiliania huxleyi is affected by ocean acidification and macronutrients limitation and its response varies between strains. Here we investigated the physiological performance of a highly calcified E. huxleyi strain, NZEH, in a multiparametric experiment. Cells were exposed to different CO2 levels (ranging from 250 to 1314 μatm) under three nutrient conditions [nutrient replete (R), nitrate limited (-N), and phosphate limited (-P)]. We focused on calcite and organic carbon quotas and on nitrate and phosphate utilization by analyzing the activity of nitrate reductase (NRase) and alkaline phosphatase (APase), respectively. Particulate inorganic (PIC) and organic (POC) carbon quotas increased with increasing CO2 under R conditions but a different pattern was observed under nutrient limitation. The PIC:POC ratio decreased with increasing CO2 in nutrient limited cultures. Coccolith length increased with CO2 under all nutrient conditions but the coccosphere volume varied depending on the nutrient treatment. Maximum APase activity was found at 561 μatm of CO2 (pH 7.92) in -P cultures and in R conditions, NRase activity increased linearly with CO2. These results suggest that E. huxleyi's competitive ability for nutrient uptake might be altered in future high-CO2 oceans. The combined dataset will be useful in model parameterizations of the carbon cycle and ocean acidification.

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Coccolithophores: Functional Biodiversity, Enzymes and Bioprospecting

Cited by 8 publications

References 20 publications

Pan genome of the phytoplankton Emiliania underpins its global distribution

Pan genome of the phytoplankton Emiliania underpins its global distribution

Phenotypic Variability in the Coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi

The effect of nitrate and phosphate availability on Emiliania huxleyi (NZEH) physiology under different CO2 scenarios

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