Quantitative Proteomic Analysis Reveals the Key Molecular Events Driving Phaeocystis globosa Bloom and Dissipation

Abstract

Phaeocystis globosa is a marine-bloom-forming haptophyte with a polymorphic life cycle alternating between free-living cells and a colonial morphotype, that produces high biomass and impacts ecological structure and function. The mechanisms of P. globosa bloom formation have been extensively studied, and various environmental factors are believed to trigger these events. However, little is known about the intrinsic biological processes that drive the bloom process, and the mechanisms underlying P. globosa bloom formation remain enigmatic. Here, we investigated a P. globosa bloom occurring along the Chinese coast and compared the proteomes of in situ P. globosa colonies from bloom and dissipation phases using a tandem mass tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomic approach. Among the 5540 proteins identified, 191 and 109 proteins displayed higher abundances in the bloom and dissipation phases, respectively. The levels of proteins involved in photosynthesis, pigment metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and matrix substrate biosynthesis were distinctly different between these two phases. Ambient nitrate is a key trigger of P. globosa bloom formation, while the enhanced light harvest and multiple inorganic carbon-concentrating mechanisms support the prosperousness of colonies in the bloom phase. Additionally, colonies in the bloom phase have greater carbon fixation potential, with more carbon and energy being fixed and flowing toward the colonial matrix biosynthesis. Our study revealed the key biological processes underlying P. globosa blooms and provides new insights into the mechanisms behind bloom formation.

Early Warning of Red Tide of Phaeocystis globosa Based on Phycocyanin Concentration Retrieval in Qinzhou Bay, China

“…At this point, the particle's position represents the optimally initialized weights and thresholds for BPNN [35,36]. This process can be expressed by Equations ( 7) and (8).…”

Assessment of Eutrophication Characteristics and Evaluation of the First-Generation Eutrophication Model in the Nearshore Waters of Shantou City

“…In the four red tide incidents, the dominant species in the first two occurrences were spherical brown dinoflagellates, which are a widely distributed group of phytoplankton in the ocean and one of the main harmful algal species in China's coastal waters in recent years. The nitrate content in the environment is an important stimulative factor for the formation of spherical brown dinoflagellate blooms, and the combined effect of various carbon enrichment mechanisms within the cells is a crucial condition for the outbreak of these blooms [48]. When nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients are abundant, spherical brown dinoflagellates cannot gain a competitive advantage.…”