1
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Sheward RM, Poulton AJ, Young JR, de Vries J, Monteiro FM, Herrle JO. Cellular morphological trait dataset for extant coccolithophores from the Atlantic Ocean. Sci Data 2024; 11:720. [PMID: 38956105 PMCID: PMC11220069 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-024-03544-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Calcification and biomass production by planktonic marine organisms influences the global carbon cycle and fuels marine ecosystems. The major calcifying plankton group coccolithophores are highly diverse, comprising ca. 250-300 extant species. However, coccolithophore size (a key functional trait) and degree of calcification are poorly quantified, as most of our understanding of this group comes from a small number of species. We generated a novel reference dataset of coccolithophore morphological traits, including cell-specific data for coccosphere and cell size, coccolith size, number of coccoliths per cell, and cellular calcite content. This dataset includes observations from 1074 individual cells and represents 61 species from 25 genera spanning equatorial to temperate coccolithophore populations that were sampled during the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) 14 cruise in 2004. This unique dataset can be used to explore relationships between morphological traits (cell size and cell calcite) and environmental conditions, investigate species-specific and community contributions to pelagic carbonate production, export and plankton biomass, and inform and validate coccolithophore representation in marine ecosystem and biogeochemical models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosie M Sheward
- Institute for Geosciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Alex J Poulton
- The Lyell Centre for Earth and Marine Science, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jeremy R Young
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - Joost de Vries
- BRIDGE, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Fanny M Monteiro
- BRIDGE, School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Jens O Herrle
- Institute for Geosciences, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Biodiversity and Climate Research Centre (BIK-F), Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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2
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Chauhan N, Barton S, Zarkogiannis S, Rickaby REM. Light quality induces a shift in coccosphere morphology in Scyphosphaera apsteinii. JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH 2024; 46:383-386. [PMID: 39091695 PMCID: PMC11290244 DOI: 10.1093/plankt/fbae032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
The coccolithophore Schyphosphaera apsteinii produces distinct coccolith morphotypes and offers a unique insight into coccolith calcification, as the number of lopadoliths per cell increases under low light intensities. This study employs S. apsteinii to investigate the acclimated impact of light intensity and wavelength on cell physiology and coccosphere morphology. Our findings reveal a marked increase in lopadolith production when grown under reduced light intensity, with lower growth rates, higher chlorophyll concentration and elevated net photosynthetic rates. Reduced blue-light also caused an increase in lopadolith numbers, elevated chlorophyll concentrations and net photosynthetic rates. Conversely, such responses are less pronounced under reduced red-light. Moreover, reduced blue- and red-light treatments exhibited enhanced growth rates compared to the light-replete control, despite a reduction in light intensity. Our findings suggest that changes in light quality cause a shift in the coccosphere morphology, affecting cell physiology and potentially aiding light harvesting in S. apsteinii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishant Chauhan
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
| | - Samuel Barton
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
| | | | - Rosalind E M Rickaby
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, OX1 3AN, UK
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3
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Walker JM, Greene HJM, Moazzam Y, Quinn PD, Parker JE, Langer G. An uneven distribution of strontium in the coccolithophore Scyphosphaera apsteinii revealed by nanoscale X-ray fluorescence tomography. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2024; 26:966-974. [PMID: 38354057 DOI: 10.1039/d3em00509g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Coccolithophores are biogeochemically and ecologically important phytoplankton that produce a composite calcium carbonate-based exoskeleton - the coccosphere - comprised of individual platelets, known as coccoliths. Coccoliths are stunning examples of biomineralization; their formation featuring exceptional control over both biomineral chemistry and shape. Understanding how coccoliths are formed requires information about minor element distribution and chemical environment. Here, the first high-resolution 3D synchrotron X-ray fluorescence (XRF) mapping of a coccolith is presented, showing that the lopadoliths of Scyphosphaera apsteinii display stripes of different Sr concentration. The presence of Sr stripes is unaffected by elevated Sr in the culture medium, macro-nutrient concentration, and light intensity, indicating that the observed stripiness is an expression of the fundamental coccolith formation process in this species. Current Sr fractionation models, by contrast, predict an even Sr distribution and will have to be modified to account for this stripiness. Additionally, nano-XANES analyses show that Sr resides in a Ca site in the calcite lattice in both high and low Sr stripes, confirming a central assumption of current Sr fractionation models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica M Walker
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK.
| | - Hallam J M Greene
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK.
- Department of Chemistry, University of Sheffield, Dainton Building, Brook Hill, Sheffield S3 7HF, UK
| | - Yousef Moazzam
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK.
| | - Paul D Quinn
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK.
| | - Julia E Parker
- Diamond Light Source, Harwell Science and Innovation Campus, Didcot, Oxfordshire, OX11 0DE, UK.
| | - Gerald Langer
- Institute of Environmental Science and Technology (ICTA), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Spain.
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4
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Bordiga M, Lupi C, Langer G, Gianoncelli A, Birarda G, Pollastri S, Bonanni V, Bedolla DE, Vaccari L, Gariani G, Cerino F, Cabrini M, Beran A, Zuccotti M, Fiorentino G, Zanoni M, Garagna S, Cobianchi M, Di Giulio A. Unexpected silicon localization in calcium carbonate exoskeleton of cultured and fossil coccolithophores. Sci Rep 2023; 13:7417. [PMID: 37150777 PMCID: PMC10164752 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Coccolithophores, marine calcifying phytoplankton, are important primary producers impacting the global carbon cycle at different timescales. Their biomineral structures, the calcite containing coccoliths, are among the most elaborate hard parts of any organism. Understanding the morphogenesis of coccoliths is not only relevant in the context of coccolithophore eco-physiology but will also inform biomineralization and crystal design research more generally. The recent discovery of a silicon (Si) requirement for crystal shaping in some coccolithophores has opened up a new avenue of biomineralization research. In order to develop a mechanistic understanding of the role of Si, the presence and localization of this chemical element in coccoliths needs to be known. Here, we document for the first time the uneven Si distribution in Helicosphaera carteri coccoliths through three synchrotron-based techniques employing X-ray Fluorescence and Infrared Spectromicroscopy. The enrichment of Si in specific areas of the coccoliths point to a targeted role of this element in the coccolith formation. Our findings mark a key step in biomineralization research because it opens the door for a detailed mechanistic understanding of the role Si plays in shaping coccolith crystals.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Bordiga
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - C Lupi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
| | - G Langer
- ICTA, Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), 08193, Bellaterra, Spain
| | - A Gianoncelli
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - G Birarda
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - S Pollastri
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - V Bonanni
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - D E Bedolla
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
- AREA Science Park, Padriciano 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - L Vaccari
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - G Gariani
- Elettra-Sincrotrone Trieste, Strada Statale 14, km 163.5 in Area Science Park, 34049, Trieste-Basovizza, Italy
| | - F Cerino
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - M Cabrini
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - A Beran
- National Institute of Oceanography and Applied Geophysics-OGS, Via Auguste Piccard 54, 34151, Trieste, Italy
| | - M Zuccotti
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - G Fiorentino
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Zanoni
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - S Garagna
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Lazzaro Spallanzani", University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 9, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - M Cobianchi
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
| | - A Di Giulio
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Pavia, Via Ferrata 1, 27100, Pavia, Italy
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5
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Langer G, Probert I, Cox MB, Taylor A, Harper GM, Brownlee C, Wheeler G. The Effect of cytoskeleton inhibitors on coccolith morphology in Coccolithus braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii. JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY 2023; 59:87-96. [PMID: 36380706 DOI: 10.1111/jpy.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The calcite platelets of coccolithophores (Haptophyta), the coccoliths, are among the most elaborate biomineral structures. How these unicellular algae accomplish the complex morphogenesis of coccoliths is still largely unknown. It has long been proposed that the cytoskeleton plays a central role in shaping the growing coccoliths. Previous studies have indicated that disruption of the microtubule network led to defects in coccolith morphogenesis in Emiliania huxleyi and Coccolithus braarudii. Disruption of the actin network also led to defects in coccolith morphology in E. huxleyi, but its impact on coccolith morphology in C. braarudii was unclear, as coccolith secretion was largely inhibited under the conditions used. A more detailed examination of the role of actin and microtubule networks is therefore required to address the wider role of the cytoskeleton in coccolith morphogenesis. In this study, we have examined coccolith morphology in C. braarudii and Scyphosphaera apsteinii following treatment with the microtubule inhibitors vinblastine and colchicine (S. apsteinii only) and the actin inhibitor cytochalasin B. We found that all cytoskeleton inhibitors induced coccolith malformations, strongly suggesting that both microtubules and actin filaments are instrumental in morphogenesis. By demonstrating the requirement for the microtubule and actin networks in coccolith morphogenesis in diverse species, our results suggest that both of these cytoskeletal elements are likely to play conserved roles in defining coccolith morphology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Langer
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Ian Probert
- Station Biologique de Roscoff, 29680, Roscoff, France
| | - Madison B Cox
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403-591, USA
| | - Alison Taylor
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, 28403-591, USA
| | - Glenn M Harper
- Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Glen Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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6
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Ratcliffe S, Meyer EM, Walker CE, Knight M, McNair HM, Matson PG, Iglesias-Rodriguez D, Brzezinski M, Langer G, Sadekov A, Greaves M, Brownlee C, Curnow P, Taylor AR, Wheeler GL. Characterization of the molecular mechanisms of silicon uptake in coccolithophores. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:315-330. [PMID: 36397254 PMCID: PMC10098502 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Coccolithophores are an important group of calcifying marine phytoplankton. Although coccolithophores are not silicified, some species exhibit a requirement for Si in the calcification process. These species also possess a novel protein (SITL) that resembles the SIT family of Si transporters found in diatoms. However, the nature of Si transport in coccolithophores is not yet known, making it difficult to determine the wider role of Si in coccolithophore biology. Here, we show that coccolithophore SITLs act as Na+ -coupled Si transporters when expressed in heterologous systems and exhibit similar characteristics to diatom SITs. We find that CbSITL from Coccolithus braarudii is transcriptionally regulated by Si availability and is expressed in environmental coccolithophore populations. However, the Si requirement of C. braarudii and other coccolithophores is very low, with transport rates of exogenous Si below the level of detection in sensitive assays of Si transport. As coccoliths contain only low levels of Si, we propose that Si acts to support the calcification process, rather than forming a structural component of the coccolith itself. Si is therefore acting as a micronutrient in coccolithophores and natural populations are only likely to experience Si limitation in circumstances where dissolved silicon (DSi) is depleted to extreme levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Erin M Meyer
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
| | - Charlotte E Walker
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Michael Knight
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Heather M McNair
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Paul G Matson
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Debora Iglesias-Rodriguez
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
| | - Mark Brzezinski
- Department of Ecology Evolution and Marine Biology and the Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, California, USA
- Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island, USA
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gerald Langer
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Aleksey Sadekov
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, Ocean Graduate School, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Mervyn Greaves
- The Godwin Laboratory for Palaeoclimate Research, Department of Earth Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
| | - Paul Curnow
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Alison R Taylor
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina, USA
| | - Glen L Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, UK
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7
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Langer G, Taylor AR, Walker CE, Meyer EM, Ben Joseph O, Gal A, Harper GM, Probert I, Brownlee C, Wheeler GL. Role of silicon in the development of complex crystal shapes in coccolithophores. THE NEW PHYTOLOGIST 2021; 231:1845-1857. [PMID: 33483994 DOI: 10.1111/nph.17230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The development of calcification by the coccolithophores had a profound impact on ocean carbon cycling, but the evolutionary steps leading to the formation of these complex biomineralized structures are not clear. Heterococcoliths consisting of intricately shaped calcite crystals are formed intracellularly by the diploid life cycle phase. Holococcoliths consisting of simple rhombic crystals can be produced by the haploid life cycle stage but are thought to be formed extracellularly, representing an independent evolutionary origin of calcification. We use advanced microscopy techniques to determine the nature of coccolith formation and complex crystal formation in coccolithophore life cycle stages. We find that holococcoliths are formed in intracellular compartments in a similar manner to heterococcoliths. However, we show that silicon is not required for holococcolith formation and that the requirement for silicon in certain coccolithophore species relates specifically to the process of crystal morphogenesis in heterococcoliths. We therefore propose an evolutionary scheme in which the lower complexity holococcoliths represent an ancestral form of calcification in coccolithophores. The subsequent recruitment of a silicon-dependent mechanism for crystal morphogenesis in the diploid life cycle stage led to the emergence of the intricately shaped heterococcoliths, enabling the formation of the elaborate coccospheres that underpin the ecological success of coccolithophores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald Langer
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Alison R Taylor
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28403-591, USA
| | - Charlotte E Walker
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Erin M Meyer
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, NC, 28403-591, USA
| | - Oz Ben Joseph
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Assaf Gal
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 7610001, Israel
| | - Glenn M Harper
- Plymouth Electron Microscopy Centre, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, PL4 8AA, UK
| | - Ian Probert
- FR2424 Sorbonne University / CNRS, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Roscoff, 29680, France
| | - Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Glen L Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, PL1 2PB, UK
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8
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Brownlee C, Langer G, Wheeler GL. Coccolithophore calcification: Changing paradigms in changing oceans. Acta Biomater 2021; 120:4-11. [PMID: 32763469 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.07.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2020] [Accepted: 07/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Coccolithophores represent a major component of the marine phytoplankton and contribute to the bulk of biogenic calcite formation on Earth. These unicellular protists produce minute calcite scales (coccoliths) within the cell, which are secreted to the cell surface. Individual coccoliths and their arrangements on the cell surface display a wide range of morphological variations. This review explores some of the recent evidence that points to similarities and differences in the mechanisms of calcification, focussing on the transport mechanisms that bring substrates to, and remove products from the site of calcification, together with new findings on factors that regulate coccolith morphology. We argue that better knowledge of these mechanisms and their variations is needed to inform more generally how different species of coccolithophore are likely to respond to changes in ocean chemistry. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Coccolithophores, minute single celled phytoplankton are the major producers of biogenic carbonate on Earth. They also represent an important component of the ocean's biota and contribute significantly to global carbon fluxes. Coccolithophores produce intricate calcite scales (coccoliths) internally that they secrete onto their external surface. This review presents some recent key findings on the mechanisms underlying the production of coccoliths. It also considers the factors that regulate the rate of production as well as the variety of shapes of individual coccoliths and their arrangements at the cell surface. Understanding these processes is needed to allow better predictions of how coccolithophores may respond to changing ocean chemistry associated with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK; School of Ocean and Earth Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, UK.
| | - Gerald Langer
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
| | - Glen L Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth PL1 2PB, UK
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9
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Walker J, Marzec B, Ozaki N, Clare D, Nudelman F. Morphological development of Pleurochrysis carterae coccoliths examined by cryo-electron tomography. J Struct Biol 2020; 210:107476. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jsb.2020.107476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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10
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Gafar NA, Eyre BD, Schulz KG. A comparison of species specific sensitivities to changing light and carbonate chemistry in calcifying marine phytoplankton. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2486. [PMID: 30792404 PMCID: PMC6385225 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-38661-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccolithophores are unicellular marine phytoplankton and important contributors to global carbon cycling. Most work on coccolithophore sensitivity to climate change has been on the small, abundant bloom-forming species Emiliania huxleyi and Gephyrocapsa oceanica. However, large coccolithophore species can be major contributors to coccolithophore community production even in low abundances. Here we fit an analytical equation, accounting for simultaneous changes in CO2 and light intensity, to rates of photosynthesis, calcification and growth in Scyphosphaera apsteinii. Comparison of responses to G. oceanica and E. huxleyi revealed S. apsteinii is a low-light adapted species and, in contrast, becomes more sensitive to changing environmental conditions when exposed to unfavourable CO2 or light. Additionally, all three species decreased their light requirement for optimal growth as CO2 levels increased. Our analysis suggests that this is driven by a drop in maximum rates and, in G. oceanica, increased substrate uptake efficiency. Increasing light intensity resulted in a higher proportion of muroliths (plate-shaped) to lopadoliths (vase shaped) and liths became richer in calcium carbonate as calcification rates increased. Light and CO2 driven changes in response sensitivity and maximum rates are likely to considerably alter coccolithophore community structure and productivity under future climate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha A Gafar
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.
| | - Bradley D Eyre
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Kai G Schulz
- Centre for Coastal Biogeochemistry, School of Environment Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
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11
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Blueprints for the Next Generation of Bioinspired and Biomimetic Mineralised Composites for Bone Regeneration. Mar Drugs 2018; 16:md16080288. [PMID: 30127281 PMCID: PMC6117730 DOI: 10.3390/md16080288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2018] [Revised: 08/16/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Coccolithophores are unicellular marine phytoplankton, which produce intricate, tightly regulated, exoskeleton calcite structures. The formation of biogenic calcite occurs either intracellularly, forming ‘wheel-like’ calcite plates, or extracellularly, forming ‘tiled-like’ plates known as coccoliths. Secreted coccoliths then self-assemble into multiple layers to form the coccosphere, creating a protective wall around the organism. The cell wall hosts a variety of unique species-specific inorganic morphologies that cannot be replicated synthetically. Although biomineralisation has been extensively studied, it is still not fully understood. It is becoming more apparent that biologically controlled mineralisation is still an elusive goal. A key question to address is how nature goes from basic building blocks to the ultrafine, highly organised structures found in coccolithophores. A better understanding of coccolithophore biomineralisation will offer new insight into biomimetic and bioinspired synthesis of advanced, functionalised materials for bone tissue regeneration. The purpose of this review is to spark new interest in biomineralisation and gain new insight into coccolithophores from a material science perspective, drawing on existing knowledge from taxonomists, geologists, palaeontologists and phycologists.
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12
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Skeffington AW, Scheffel A. Exploiting algal mineralization for nanotechnology: bringing coccoliths to the fore. Curr Opin Biotechnol 2018; 49:57-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.copbio.2017.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/25/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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13
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The role of the cytoskeleton in biomineralisation in haptophyte algae. Sci Rep 2017; 7:15409. [PMID: 29133928 PMCID: PMC5684398 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-15562-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of calcium carbonate by coccolithophores (haptophytes) contributes significantly to global biogeochemical cycling. The recent identification of a silicifying haptophyte, Prymnesium neolepis, has provided new insight into the evolution of biomineralisation in this lineage. However, the cellular mechanisms of biomineralisation in both calcifying and silicifying haptophytes remain poorly understood. To look for commonalities between these two biomineralisation systems in haptophytes, we have determined the role of actin and tubulin in the formation of intracellular biomineralised scales in the coccolithophore, Coccolithus braarudii and in P. neolepis. We find that disruption of the actin network interferes with secretion of the biomineralised elements in both C. braarudii and P. neolepis. In contrast, disruption of the microtubule network does not prevent secretion of the silica scales in P. neolepis but results in production of abnormally small silica scales and also results in the increased formation of malformed coccoliths in C. braarudii. We conclude that the cytoskeleton plays a crucial role in biomineralisation in both silicifying and calcifying haptophytes. There are some important similarities in the contribution of the cytoskeleton to these different forms of biomineralisation, suggesting that common cellular mechanisms may have been recruited to perform similar roles in both lineages.
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Hermoso M, Lefeuvre B, Minoletti F, de Rafélis M. Extreme strontium concentrations reveal specific biomineralization pathways in certain coccolithophores with implications for the Sr/Ca paleoproductivity proxy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185655. [PMID: 29036179 PMCID: PMC5642888 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of the coccolith biominerals by a group of marine algae (the Coccolithophores) offers fascinating research avenues both from the biological and geological sides. It is surprising how biomineralisation by a key phytoplanktonic group remains underconstrained, yet is influential on ocean alkalinity and responsible for the built up of our paleoclimatic archive over the last 200 Myrs. Here, we report two close relative coccolith taxa exhibiting substantial bioaccumulation of strontium: Scyphosphaera and Pontosphaera grown in the laboratory or retrieved from Pliocene sediments. This strontium enrichment relative to calcium is one order of magnitude greater than reported in other coccoliths of the orders Isochrysidales and Coccolithales, and extends well beyond established controls on Sr/Ca ratios by temperature and growth rate. We discuss this prominent vital effect in relation with possible specific uptake of strontium relative to calcium from the extracellular environment to the coccolith vesicle in coccolithophores excreting very large scale coccoliths. The report of Sr-rich biominerals challenges our current understanding of the cellular acquisition and intracellular trafficking of alkaline earth cations in phytoplanktonic calcifying eukaryotic algae. The presence of Sr-rich coccolith species in the geological record has to be quantitatively considered in future Sr/Ca-based palaeoceanographic reconstruction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaël Hermoso
- Institut de Sciences de la Terre de Paris (UMR 7193), Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Paris, France
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Lefeuvre
- Institut de Sciences de la Terre de Paris (UMR 7193), Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Fabrice Minoletti
- Institut de Sciences de la Terre de Paris (UMR 7193), Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Marc de Rafélis
- Géosciences Environnements Toulouse (UMR 5563 GET), Université de Toulouse III Paul Sabatier, CNRS, Toulouse, France
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Taylor AR, Brownlee C, Wheeler G. Coccolithophore Cell Biology: Chalking Up Progress. ANNUAL REVIEW OF MARINE SCIENCE 2017; 9:283-310. [PMID: 27814031 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-marine-122414-034032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Coccolithophores occupy a special position within the marine phytoplankton because of their production of intricate calcite scales, or coccoliths. Coccolithophores are major contributors to global ocean calcification and long-term carbon fluxes. The intracellular production of coccoliths requires modifications to cellular ultrastructure and metabolism that are surveyed here. In addition to calcification, which appears to have evolved with a diverse range of functions, several other remarkable features that likely underpin the ecological and evolutionary success of coccolithophores have recently been uncovered. These include complex and varied life cycle strategies related to abiotic and biotic interactions as well as a range of novel metabolic pathways and nutritional strategies. Together with knowledge of coccolithophore genetic and physiological variability, these findings are beginning to shed new light on species diversity, distribution, and ecological adaptation. Further advances in genetics and functional characterization at the cellular level will likely to lead to a rapid increase in this understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Taylor
- Department of Biology and Marine Biology, University of North Carolina Wilmington, Wilmington, North Carolina 28403;
| | - Colin Brownlee
- Marine Biological Association, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom; ,
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, National Oceanography Centre, University of Southampton, Southampton SO14 3ZH, United Kingdom
| | - Glen Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, Plymouth PL1 2PB, United Kingdom; ,
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Marron AO, Ratcliffe S, Wheeler GL, Goldstein RE, King N, Not F, de Vargas C, Richter DJ. The Evolution of Silicon Transport in Eukaryotes. Mol Biol Evol 2016; 33:3226-3248. [PMID: 27729397 PMCID: PMC5100055 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msw209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Biosilicification (the formation of biological structures from silica) occurs in diverse eukaryotic lineages, plays a major role in global biogeochemical cycles, and has significant biotechnological applications. Silicon (Si) uptake is crucial for biosilicification, yet the evolutionary history of the transporters involved remains poorly known. Recent evidence suggests that the SIT family of Si transporters, initially identified in diatoms, may be widely distributed, with an extended family of related transporters (SIT-Ls) present in some nonsilicified organisms. Here, we identify SITs and SIT-Ls in a range of eukaryotes, including major silicified lineages (radiolarians and chrysophytes) and also bacterial SIT-Ls. Our evidence suggests that the symmetrical 10-transmembrane-domain SIT structure has independently evolved multiple times via duplication and fusion of 5-transmembrane-domain SIT-Ls. We also identify a second gene family, similar to the active Si transporter Lsi2, that is broadly distributed amongst siliceous and nonsiliceous eukaryotes. Our analyses resolve a distinct group of Lsi2-like genes, including plant and diatom Si-responsive genes, and sequences unique to siliceous sponges and choanoflagellates. The SIT/SIT-L and Lsi2 transporter families likely contribute to biosilicification in diverse lineages, indicating an ancient role for Si transport in eukaryotes. We propose that these Si transporters may have arisen initially to prevent Si toxicity in the high Si Precambrian oceans, with subsequent biologically induced reductions in Si concentrations of Phanerozoic seas leading to widespread losses of SIT, SIT-L, and Lsi2-like genes in diverse lineages. Thus, the origin and diversification of two independent Si transporter families both drove and were driven by ancient ocean Si levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan O Marron
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom .,Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Ratcliffe
- School of Biochemistry, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Bristol, University Walk, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Glen L Wheeler
- Marine Biological Association, The Laboratory, Citadel Hill, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Raymond E Goldstein
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Nicole King
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA
| | - Fabrice Not
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France
| | - Colomban de Vargas
- CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France
| | - Daniel J Richter
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA.,CNRS, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France.,Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie (UPMC) Paris 06, UMR 7144, Station Biologique de Roscoff, Place Georges Teissier, Roscoff, France
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A role for diatom-like silicon transporters in calcifying coccolithophores. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10543. [PMID: 26842659 PMCID: PMC4742977 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomineralization by marine phytoplankton, such as the silicifying diatoms and calcifying coccolithophores, plays an important role in carbon and nutrient cycling in the oceans. Silicification and calcification are distinct cellular processes with no known common mechanisms. It is thought that coccolithophores are able to outcompete diatoms in Si-depleted waters, which can contribute to the formation of coccolithophore blooms. Here we show that an expanded family of diatom-like silicon transporters (SITs) are present in both silicifying and calcifying haptophyte phytoplankton, including some globally important coccolithophores. Si is required for calcification in these coccolithophores, indicating that Si uptake contributes to the very different forms of biomineralization in diatoms and coccolithophores. Significantly, SITs and the requirement for Si are absent from highly abundant bloom-forming coccolithophores, such as Emiliania huxleyi. These very different requirements for Si in coccolithophores are likely to have major influence on their competitive interactions with diatoms and other siliceous phytoplankton.
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Brownlee C, Wheeler GL, Taylor AR. Coccolithophore biomineralization: New questions, new answers. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2015; 46:11-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2015.10.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2015] [Revised: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 10/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Proteomic analysis of skeletal organic matrix from the stony coral Stylophora pistillata. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:3788-93. [PMID: 23431140 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1301419110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
It has long been recognized that a suite of proteins exists in coral skeletons that is critical for the oriented precipitation of calcium carbonate crystals, yet these proteins remain poorly characterized. Using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of proteins extracted from the cell-free skeleton of the hermatypic coral, Stylophora pistillata, combined with a draft genome assembly from the cnidarian host cells of the same species, we identified 36 coral skeletal organic matrix proteins. The proteome of the coral skeleton contains an assemblage of adhesion and structural proteins as well as two highly acidic proteins that may constitute a unique coral skeletal organic matrix protein subfamily. We compared the 36 skeletal organic matrix protein sequences to genome and transcriptome data from three other corals, three additional invertebrates, one vertebrate, and three single-celled organisms. This work represents a unique extensive proteomic analysis of biomineralization-related proteins in corals from which we identify a biomineralization "toolkit," an organic scaffold upon which aragonite crystals can be deposited in specific orientations to form a phenotypically identifiable structure.
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