Gene expression changes in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi after 500 generations of selection to ocean acidification.

Lohbeck, Kai T., Riebesell, Ulf and Reusch, Thorsten B.H. (2014) Gene expression changes in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi after 500 generations of selection to ocean acidification. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 281 (1786). p. 20140003. DOI 10.1098/rspb.2014.0003.

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Supplementary data:

Abstract

Coccolithophores are unicellular marine algae that produce biogenic calcite scales and substantially contribute to marine primary production and carbon export to the deep ocean. Ongoing ocean acidification particularly impairs calcifying organisms, mostly resulting in decreased growth and calcification. Recent studies revealed that the immediate physiological response in the coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi to ocean acidification may be partially compensated by evolutionary adaptation, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms are currently unknown. Here, we report on the expression levels of 10 candidate genes putatively relevant to pH regulation, carbon transport, calcification and photosynthesis in E. huxleyi populations short-term exposed to ocean acidification conditions after acclimation (physiological response) and after 500 generations of high CO2 adaptation (adaptive response). The physiological response revealed downregulation of candidate genes, well reflecting the concomitant decrease of growth and calcification. In the adaptive response, putative pH regulation and carbon transport genes were up-regulated, matching partial restoration of growth and calcification in high CO2-adapted populations. Adaptation to ocean acidification in E. huxleyi likely involved improved cellular pH regulation, presumably indirectly affecting calcification. Adaptive evolution may thus have the potential to partially restore cellular pH regulatory capacity and thereby mitigate adverse effects of ocean acidification.

Document Type: Article
Additional Information: WOS:000336784500009
Keywords: adaptation; calcification; gene expression; ocean acidification; phytoplankton
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB3 Marine Ecology > FB3-EV Marine Evolutionary Ecology
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB2 Marine Biogeochemistry > FB2-BI Biological Oceanography
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Royal Society of London
Projects: BIOACID, Future Ocean
Date Deposited: 16 May 2014 07:54
Last Modified: 05 Apr 2019 08:30
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/24557

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