Resting cell formation in the marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

Guangning Wang, Lu Huang, Shanshan Zhuang, Fang Han, Qianqian Huang, Mengyuan Hao, Guifang Lin, Longnan Chen, Biying Shen, Feng Li, Xuesong Li, Changping Chen, Yahui Gao, Thomas Mock, Junrong Liang

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

5 Citations (SciVal)

Abstract

Resting cells represent a survival strategy employed by diatoms to endure prolonged periods of unfavourable conditions. In the oceans, many diatoms sink at the end of their blooming season and therefore need to endure cold and dark conditions in the deeper layers of the water column. How they survive these conditions is largely unknown. We conducted an integrative analysis encompassing methods from histology, physiology, biochemistry, and genetics to reveal the biological mechanism of resting-cell formation in the model diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. Resting-cell formation was triggered by a decrease in light and temperature with subsequent catabolism of storage compounds. Resting cells were characterised by an acidic and viscous cytoplasm and altered morphology of the chloroplast ultrastructure. The formation of resting cells in T. pseudonana is an energy demanding process required for a biophysical alteration of the cytosol and chloroplasts to endure the unfavourable conditions of the deeper ocean as photosynthetic organisms. However, most resting cells (> 90%) germinate upon return to favorable growth conditions.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1347-1360
Number of pages14
JournalNew Phytologist
Volume243
Issue number4
Early online date25 Feb 2024
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2024

Keywords

  • diatom
  • intracellular acidification
  • metabolic reprogramming
  • resting cell formation
  • stress resistance
  • viscous cytosol and chloroplasts

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