Transcriptome profiling of a toxic dinoflagellate reveals a gene-rich protist and a potential impact on gene expression due to bacterial presence

Abundant mRNA m1A modification in dinoflagellates: a new layer of gene regulation

Dinoflagellates, a class of unicellular eukaryotic phytoplankton, exhibit minimal transcriptional regulation, representing a unique model for exploring gene expression. The biosynthesis, distribution, regulation, and function of mRNA N1-methyladenosine (m1A) remain controversial due to its limited presence in typical eukaryotic mRNA. This study provides a comprehensive map of m1A in dinoflagellate mRNA and shows that m1A, rather than N6-methyladenosine (m6A), is the most prevalent internal mRNA modification in various dinoflagellate species, with an asymmetric distribution along mature transcripts. In Amphidinium carterae, we identify 6549 m1A sites characterized by a non-tRNA T-loop-like sequence motif within the transcripts of 3196 genes, many of which are involved in regulating carbon and nitrogen metabolism. Enriched within 3'UTRs, dinoflagellate mRNA m1A levels negatively correlate with translation efficiency. Nitrogen depletion further decreases mRNA m1A levels. Our data suggest that distinctive patterns of m1A modification might influence the expression of metabolism-related genes through translational control.

Long-Read Sequencing Unlocks New Insights into the Amphidinium carterae Microbiome

Dinoflagellates are one of the largest groups of marine microalgae and exhibit diverse trophic strategies. Some dinoflagellates can produce secondary metabolites that are known to be toxic, which can lead to ecologically harmful blooms. Amphidinium carterae is one species of dinoflagellate that produces toxic compounds and is used as a model for dinoflagellate studies. The impact of the microbiome on A. carterae growth and metabolite synthesis is not yet fully understood, nor is the impact of bacterial data on sequencing and assembly. An antibiotic cocktail was previously shown to eliminate 16S amplification from the dinoflagellate culture. Even with drastically reduced bacterial numbers during antibiotic treatment, bacterial sequences were still present. In this experiment, we used novel Nanopore long-read sequencing techniques on A. carterae cultures to assemble 15 full bacterial genomes ranging from 2.9 to 6.0 Mb and found that the use of antibiotics decreased the percentage of reads mapping back to bacteria. We also identified shifts in the microbiome composition and identified a potentially deleterious bacterial species arising in the absence of the antibiotic treatment. Multiple antibiotic resistance genes were identified, as well as evidence that the bacterial population does not contribute to toxic secondary metabolite synthesis.

Genome-wide transcriptome analysis reveals the diversity and function of long non-coding RNAs in dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of phytoplankton, ranging from harmful bloom-forming microalgae to photosymbionts of coral reefs. Genome-scale data from dinoflagellates reveal atypical genomic features, extensive genomic divergence, and lineage-specific innovation of gene functions. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), known to regulate gene expression in eukaryotes, are largely unexplored in dinoflagellates. Here, using high-quality genome and transcriptome data, we identified 48039 polyadenylated lncRNAs in three dinoflagellate species: the coral symbionts Cladocopium proliferum and Durusdinium trenchii, and the bloom-forming species, Prorocentrum cordatum. These lncRNAs have fewer introns and lower G+C content than protein-coding sequences; 37 768 (78.6%) are unique with respect to sequence similarity. We classified all lncRNAs based on conserved motifs (k-mers) into distinct clusters, following properties of protein-binding and/or subcellular localisation. Interestingly, 3708 (7.7%) lncRNAs are differentially expressed under heat stress, algal lifestyle, and/or growth phase, and share co-expression patterns with protein-coding genes. Based on inferred triplex interactions between lncRNA and putative promoter regions, we identified 19 460 putative gene targets for 3721 lncRNAs; 907 genes exhibit differential expression under heat stress. These results reveal, for the first time, the diversity of lncRNAs in dinoflagellates and how lncRNAs may regulate gene expression as a heat-stress response in these ecologically important microbes.

Response of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum to exudates of the eelgrass Zostera marina

Biotic interactions are a key factor in the development of harmful algal blooms. Recently, a lower abundance of planktonic dinoflagellates has been reported in areas dominated by seagrass beds, suggesting a negative interaction between both groups of organisms. The interaction between planktonic dinoflagellates and marine phanerogams, as well as the way in which bacteria can affect this interaction, was studied in two experiments using a non-axenic culture of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum exposed to increasing additions of eelgrass (Zostera marina) exudates from old and young leaves and to the presence or absence of antibiotics. In these experiments, A. minutum abundance, growth rate and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm), as well as bacterial abundance, were measured every 48 h. Toxin concentration per cell was determined at the end of both experiments. Our results demonstrated that Z. marina exudates reduced A. minutum growth rate and, in one of the experiments, also the photosynthetic efficiency. These results are not an indirect effect mediated by the bacteria in the culture, although their growth modify the magnitude of the negative impact on the dinoflagellate growth rate. No clear pattern was observed in the variation of toxin production with the treatments.

Phylogeny and biogeography of the algal DMS-releasing enzyme in the global ocean

Phytoplankton produce the volatile dimethyl sulfide (DMS), an important infochemical mediating microbial interactions, which is also emitted to the atmosphere and affecting the global climate. Albeit the enzymatic source for DMS in eukaryotes was elucidated, namely a DMSP lyase (DL) called Alma1, we still lack basic knowledge regarding its taxonomic distribution. We defined unique sequence motifs which enable the identification of DL homologs (DLHs) in model systems and environmental populations. We used these motifs to predict DLHs in diverse algae by analyzing hundreds of genomic and transcriptomic sequences from model systems under stress conditions and from environmental samples. Our findings show that the DL enzyme is more taxonomically widespread than previously thought, as it is encoded by known algal taxa as haptophytes and dinoflagellates, but also by chlorophytes, pelagophytes and diatoms, which were conventionally considered to lack the DL enzyme. By exploring the Tara Oceans database, we showed that DLHs are widespread across the oceans and are predominantly expressed by dinoflagellates. Certain dinoflagellate DLHs were differentially expressed between the euphotic and mesopelagic zones, suggesting a functional specialization and an involvement in the metabolic plasticity of mixotrophic dinoflagellates. In specific regions as the Southern Ocean, DLH expression by haptophytes and diatoms was correlated with environmental drivers such as nutrient availability. The expanded repertoire of putative DL enzymes from diverse microbial origins and geographic niches suggests new potential players in the marine sulfur cycle and provides a foundation to study the cellular function of the DL enzyme in marine microbes.

Genomic conservation and putative downstream functionality of the phosphatidylinositol signalling pathway in the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis

The mutualistic cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis underpins the evolutionary success of stony corals and the persistence of coral reefs. However, a molecular understanding of the signalling events that lead to the successful establishment and maintenance of this symbiosis remains unresolved. For example, the phosphatidylinositol (PI) signalling pathway has been implicated during the establishment of multiple mutualistic and parasitic interactions across the kingdoms of life, yet its role within the cnidarian-dinoflagellate symbiosis remains unexplored. Here, we aimed to confirm the presence and assess the specific enzymatic composition of the PI signalling pathway across cnidaria and dinoflagellates by compiling 21 symbiotic anthozoan (corals and sea anemones) and 28 symbiotic dinoflagellate (Symbiodiniaceae) transcriptomic and genomic datasets and querying genes related to this pathway. Presence or absence of PI-kinase and PI-phosphatase orthologs were also compared between a broad sampling of taxonomically related symbiotic and non-symbiotic species. Across the symbiotic anthozoans analysed, there was a complete and highly conserved PI pathway, analogous to the pathway found in model eukaryotes. The Symbiodiniaceae pathway showed similarities to its sister taxon, the Apicomplexa, with the absence of PI 4-phosphatases. However, conversely to Apicomplexa, there was also an expansion of homologs present in the PI5-phosphatase and PI5-kinase groups, with unique Symbiodiniaceae proteins identified that are unknown from non-symbiotic unicellular organisms. Additionally, we aimed to unravel the putative functionalities of the PI signalling pathway in this symbiosis by analysing phosphoinositide (PIP)-binding proteins. Analysis of phosphoinositide (PIP)-binding proteins showed that, on average, 2.23 and 1.29% of the total assemblies of anthozoan and Symbiodiniaceae, respectively, have the potential to bind to PIPs. Enrichment of Gene Ontology (GO) terms associated with predicted PIP-binding proteins within each taxon revealed a broad range of functions, including compelling links to processes putatively involved in symbiosis regulation. This analysis establishes a baseline for current understanding of the PI pathway across anthozoans and Symbiodiniaceae, and thus a framework to target future research.

Genetic association of toxin production in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium minutum

Dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium are responsible for harmful algal blooms and produce paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs). Their very large and complex genomes make it challenging to identify the genes responsible for toxin synthesis. A family-based genomic association study was developed to determine the inheritance of toxin production in Alexandrium minutum and identify genomic regions linked to this production. We show that the ability to produce toxins is inheritable in a Mendelian way, while the heritability of the toxin profile is more complex. We developed the first dinoflagellate genetic linkage map. Using this map, several major results were obtained: 1. A genomic region related to the ability to produce toxins was identified. 2. This region does not contain any polymorphic sxt genes, known to be involved in toxin production in cyanobacteria. 3. The sxt genes, known to be present in a single cluster in cyanobacteria, are scattered on different linkage groups in A. minutum. 4. The expression of two sxt genes not assigned to any linkage group, sxtI and sxtG, may be regulated by the genomic region related to the ability to produce toxins. Our results provide new insights into the organization of toxicity-related genes in A. minutum, suggesting a dissociated genetic mechanism for the production of the different analogues and the ability to produce toxins. However, most of the newly identified genes remain unannotated. This study therefore proposes new candidate genes to be further explored to understand how dinoflagellates synthesize their toxins.

Gymnodinialimonas ceratoperidinii gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from rare marine dinoflagellate Ceratoperidinium margalefii

A bacterial strain, designated J12C1-MA-4^T, was isolated from liquid culture of the dinoflagellate Ceratoperidinium margalefii. The bacterium was Gram-negative, aerobic, and rod-shaped. Oxidase and catalase were positive. Optimal growth was observed at 30 °C, pH 7.0, in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and a 92 core gene set suggested that the strain J12C1-MA-4^T belongs to the family Rhodobacteraceae in the class Alphaproteobacteria and represents a taxon separated from other genera. 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain J12C1-MA-4^T showed high similarities to Loktanella ponticola KCTC 42133^T (95.7%), Pseudooctadecabacter jejudonensis KCTC 32525^T (95.5%) and Jannaschia helgolandensis KCTC 12191^T (95.3%). The genome length of strain J12C1-MA-4^T was 3,621,968 bp with a DNA G + C content of 64.48 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain J12C1-MA-4^T were summed feature 8 (comprising C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c) (> 10%). Phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylcholine (PC), phospholipids (PL), lipids 1 (L1) and aminolipid (AL) were shown to be the major polar lipids. The sole predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic features, we propose that strain J12C1-MA-4^T represent a novel species in the novel genus of the family Rhodobacteraceae, with the proposed name Gymnodinialimonas ceratoperidinii gen. nov., sp. nov.. The type strain is J12C1-MA-4^T (=KCTC 82770^T =GDMCC 1.2729^T).

Rapid protein evolution, organellar reductions, and invasive intronic elements in the marine aerobic parasite dinoflagellate Amoebophrya spp

BACKGROUND

Dinoflagellates are aquatic protists particularly widespread in the oceans worldwide. Some are responsible for toxic blooms while others live in symbiotic relationships, either as mutualistic symbionts in corals or as parasites infecting other protists and animals. Dinoflagellates harbor atypically large genomes (~ 3 to 250 Gb), with gene organization and gene expression patterns very different from closely related apicomplexan parasites. Here we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two early-diverging and co-occurring parasitic dinoflagellate Amoebophrya strains, to shed light on the emergence of such atypical genomic features, dinoflagellate evolution, and host specialization.

RESULTS

We sequenced, assembled, and annotated high-quality genomes for two Amoebophrya strains (A25 and A120), using a combination of Illumina paired-end short-read and Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT) MinION long-read sequencing approaches. We found a small number of transposable elements, along with short introns and intergenic regions, and a limited number of gene families, together contribute to the compactness of the Amoebophrya genomes, a feature potentially linked with parasitism. While the majority of Amoebophrya proteins (63.7% of A25 and 59.3% of A120) had no functional assignment, we found many orthologs shared with Dinophyceae. Our analyses revealed a strong tendency for genes encoded by unidirectional clusters and high levels of synteny conservation between the two genomes despite low interspecific protein sequence similarity, suggesting rapid protein evolution. Most strikingly, we identified a large portion of non-canonical introns, including repeated introns, displaying a broad variability of associated splicing motifs never observed among eukaryotes. Those introner elements appear to have the capacity to spread over their respective genomes in a manner similar to transposable elements. Finally, we confirmed the reduction of organelles observed in Amoebophrya spp., i.e., loss of the plastid, potential loss of a mitochondrial genome and functions.

CONCLUSION

These results expand the range of atypical genome features found in basal dinoflagellates and raise questions regarding speciation and the evolutionary mechanisms at play while parastitism was selected for in this particular unicellular lineage.

Cobalamin and microbial plankton dynamics along a coastal to offshore transect in the Eastern North Atlantic Ocean

Cobalamin (B12) is an essential cofactor that is exclusively synthesized by some prokaryotes while many prokaryotes and eukaryotes require an external supply of B12. The spatial and temporal availability of B12 is poorly understood in marine ecosystems. Field measurements of B12 along with a large set of ancillary biotic and abiotic factors were obtained during three oceanographic cruises in the NW Iberian Peninsula, covering different spatial and temporal scales. B12 concentrations were remarkably low (<1.5 pM) in all samples, being significantly higher at the subsurface Eastern North Atlantic Central Water than at shallower depths, suggesting that B12 supply in this water mass is greater than demand. Multiple regression models excluded B12 concentration as predictive variable for phytoplankton biomass or production, regardless of the presence of B12-requiring algae. Prokaryote production was the best predictor for primary production, and eukaryote community composition was better correlated with prokaryote community composition than with nutritional resources, suggesting that biotic interactions play a significant role in regulating microbial communities. Interestingly, co-occurrence network analyses based on 16S and 18S rRNA sequences allowed the identification of significant associations between potential B12 producers and consumers (e.g. Thaumarchaeota and Dynophyceae, or Amylibacter and Ostreococcus respectively), which can now be investigated using model systems in the laboratory.

Integrated omics unveil the secondary metabolic landscape of a basal dinoflagellate

BACKGROUND

Some dinoflagellates cause harmful algal blooms, releasing toxic secondary metabolites, to the detriment of marine ecosystems and human health. Our understanding of dinoflagellate toxin biosynthesis has been hampered by their unusually large genomes. To overcome this challenge, for the first time, we sequenced the genome, microRNAs, and mRNA isoforms of a basal dinoflagellate, Amphidinium gibbosum, and employed an integrated omics approach to understand its secondary metabolite biosynthesis.

RESULTS

We assembled the ~ 6.4-Gb A. gibbosum genome, and by probing decoded dinoflagellate genomes and transcriptomes, we identified the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase adenylation domain as essential for generation of specialized metabolites. Upon starving the cells of phosphate and nitrogen, we observed pronounced shifts in metabolite biosynthesis, suggestive of post-transcriptional regulation by microRNAs. Using Iso-Seq and RNA-seq data, we found that alternative splicing and polycistronic expression generate different transcripts for secondary metabolism.

CONCLUSIONS

Our genomic findings suggest intricate integration of various metabolic enzymes that function iteratively to synthesize metabolites, providing mechanistic insights into how dinoflagellates synthesize secondary metabolites, depending upon nutrient availability. This study provides insights into toxin production associated with dinoflagellate blooms. The genome of this basal dinoflagellate provides important clues about dinoflagellate evolution and overcomes the large genome size, which has been a challenge previously.

Comparative Transcriptomics Reveals Distinct Gene Expressions of a Model Ciliated Protozoa Feeding on Bacteria-Free Medium, Digestible, and Digestion-Resistant Bacteria

Bacterivory is an important ecological function of protists in natural ecosystems. However, there are diverse bacterial species resistant to protistan digestion, which reduces the carbon flow to higher trophic levels. So far, a molecular biological view of metabolic processes in heterotrophic protists during predation of bacterial preys of different digestibility is still lacking. In this study, we investigated the growth performance a ciliated protozoan Tetrahymenathermophila cultivated in a bacteria-free Super Proteose Peptone (SPP) medium (control), and in the media mixed with either a digestion-resistant bacterial species (DRB) or a digestible strain of E. coli (ECO). We found the protist population grew fastest in the SPP and slowest in the DRB treatment. Fluorescence in situ hybridization confirmed that there were indeed non-digested, viable bacteria in the ciliate cells fed with DRB, but none in other treatments. Comparative analysis of RNA-seq data showed that, relative to the control, 637 and 511 genes in T. thermophila were significantly and differentially expressed in the DRB and ECO treatments, respectively. The protistan expression of lysosomal proteases (especially papain-like cysteine proteinases), GH18 chitinases, and an isocitrate lyase were upregulated in both bacterial treatments. The genes encoding protease, glycosidase and involving glycolysis, TCA and glyoxylate cycles of carbon metabolic processes were higher expressed in the DRB treatment when compared with the ECO. Nevertheless, the genes for glutathione metabolism were more upregulated in the control than those in both bacterial treatments, regardless of the digestibility of the bacteria. The results of this study indicate that not only bacterial food but also digestibility of bacterial taxa modulate multiple metabolic processes in heterotrophic protists, which contribute to a better understanding of protistan bacterivory and bacteria-protists interactions on a molecular basis.

Comparative transcriptomics of toxin synthesis genes between the non-toxin producing dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides and toxigenic Alexandrium pacificum

In the present study, we extensively characterized potential toxin-related genes, including polyketide synthase (PKS), saxitoxin (STX) and fatty acid synthase (FAS) from the non-toxin producing marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides, comparing to those of a toxigenic dinoflagellate Alexandrium pacificum. RNA sequencing revealed 50 and 271 PKS contigs from C. polykrikoides and A. pacificum, respectively. According to domain constitute and amino acid alteration, we further classified the dinoflagellate type I PKS genes into 4 sub-groups. Type III PKS was first identified in C. polykrikoides. Interestingly, we detected a large number (242 and 288) of homologs of 18 sxt genes from two studied dinoflagellates. Most of the eight key genes (sxtA, sxtB, sxtD, sxtG, sxtH/T, sxtI, sxtS and sxtU) for STX synthesis were detected in both dinoflatellates, whereas a core STX biosynthesis gene sxtG was not detected in C. polykrikoides. This may partially explain the absence of saxitoxin production in C. polykrikoides. In addition, we identified several type I and type II FAS genes, including FabD, FabF, FabG, FabH, FabI, and FabZ, whereas FabB was not found in C. polykrikoides. Overall, the numbers of the toxin-related genes in C. polykrikoides were less than that of A. pacificum. Phylogenetic analyses showed that type I PKS/FASs of dinoflagellates had close relationships with apicomplexans and bacteria. These suggest that the toxin-related PKS and sxt genes are commonly present in toxigenic and non-toxin producing dinoflagellates, and may be involved not only in the toxin synthesis, but also in other related molecular metabolic functions.

Biosynthesis of Saxitoxin in Marine Dinoflagellates: An Omics Perspective

Saxitoxin is an alkaloid neurotoxin originally isolated from the clam Saxidomus giganteus in 1957. This group of neurotoxins is produced by several species of freshwater cyanobacteria and marine dinoflagellates. The saxitoxin biosynthesis pathway was described for the first time in the 1980s and, since then, it was studied in more than seven cyanobacterial genera, comprising 26 genes that form a cluster ranging from 25.7 kb to 35 kb in sequence length. Due to the complexity of the genomic landscape, saxitoxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates remains unknown. In order to reveal and understand the dynamics of the activity in such impressive unicellular organisms with a complex genome, a strategy that can carefully engage them in a systems view is necessary. Advances in omics technology (the collective tools of biological sciences) facilitated high-throughput studies of the genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome of dinoflagellates. The omics approach was utilized to address saxitoxin-producing dinoflagellates in response to environmental stresses to improve understanding of dinoflagellates gene–environment interactions. Therefore, in this review, the progress in understanding dinoflagellate saxitoxin biosynthesis using an omics approach is emphasized. Further potential applications of metabolomics and genomics to unravel novel insights into saxitoxin biosynthesis in dinoflagellates are also reviewed.

Evidence That Inconsistent Gene Prediction Can Mislead Analysis of Dinoflagellate Genomes

Comparative algal genomics often relies on predicted genes from de novo assembled genomes. However, the artifacts introduced by different gene-prediction approaches, and their impact on comparative genomic analysis remain poorly understood. Here, using available genome data from six dinoflagellate species in the Symbiodiniaceae, we identified methodological biases in the published genes that were predicted using different approaches and putative contaminant sequences in the published genome assemblies. We developed and applied a comprehensive customized workflow to predict genes from these genomes. The observed variation among predicted genes resulting from our workflow agreed with current understanding of phylogenetic relationships among these taxa, whereas the variation among the previously published genes was largely biased by the distinct approaches used in each instance. Importantly, these biases affect the inference of homologous gene families and synteny among genomes, thus impacting biological interpretation of these data. Our results demonstrate that a consistent gene-prediction approach is critical for comparative analysis of dinoflagellate genomes.

Nuclear Gene Transformation in the Dinoflagellate Oxyrrhis marina

The lack of a robust gene transformation tool that allows proper expression of foreign genes and functional testing for the vast number of nuclear genes in dinoflagellates has greatly hampered our understanding of the fundamental biology in this ecologically important and evolutionarily unique lineage of microeukaryotes. Here, we report the development of a dinoflagellate expression vector containing various DNA elements from phylogenetically separate dinoflagellate lineages, an electroporation protocol, and successful expression of introduced genes in an early branching dinoflagellate, Oxyrrhis marina. This protocol, involving the use of Lonza's Nucleofector and a codon-optimized antibiotic resistance gene, has been successfully used to produce consistent results in several independent experiments for O. marina. It is anticipated that this protocol will be adaptable for other dinoflagellates and will allow characterization of many novel dinoflagellate genes.

Progress and promise of omics for predicting the impacts of climate change on harmful algal blooms

Climate change is predicted to increase the severity and prevalence of harmful algal blooms (HABs). In the past twenty years, omics techniques such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics have transformed that data landscape of many fields including the study of HABs. Advances in technology have facilitated the creation of many publicly available omics datasets that are complementary and shed new light on the mechanisms of HAB formation and toxin production. Genomics have been used to reveal differences in toxicity and nutritional requirements, while transcriptomics and proteomics have been used to explore HAB species responses to environmental stressors, and metabolomics can reveal mechanisms of allelopathy and toxicity. In this review, we explore how omics data may be leveraged to improve predictions of how climate change will impact HAB dynamics. We also highlight important gaps in our knowledge of HAB prediction, which include swimming behaviors, microbial interactions and evolution that can be addressed by future studies with omics tools. Lastly, we discuss approaches to incorporate current omics datasets into predictive numerical models that may enhance HAB prediction in a changing world. With the ever-increasing omics databases, leveraging these data for understanding climate-driven HAB dynamics will be increasingly powerful.

The diversity and biogeography of microeukaryotes in the euphotic zone of the northwestern Pacific Ocean

Microeukaryotes are the key ecosystem drivers mediating marine productivity, the food web and biogeochemical cycles. The northwestern Pacific Ocean (NWPO), as one of the world's largest oligotrophic regions, remains largely unexplored regarding diversity and biogeography of microeukaryotes. Here, we investigated the community composition and geographical distribution of microeukaryotes collected from the euphotic zone of three different regions in the NWPO using high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rRNA gene and quantified the contributions of environmental factors on the distributions of microeukaryotes. The relative abundance of different group taxa, except for Ciliophora, presented distinct patterns in each region, and Metazoa and Dinoflagellata dominated the community, contributing approximately half of reads abundance. Spatial and environmental factors explained 66.01% of community variation in the NWPO. Temperature was the most important environmental factor significantly correlated with community structure. Bacterial biomass was also significantly correlated with microeukaryotic distribution, especially for Dinoflagellata and Diatomea. Network analysis showed strong correlations between microeukaryotic groups and free-living bacteria and different bacterial taxa were correlated with specific microeukaryotic groups, indicating that their interactions enabled microeukaryotic groups to adapt to diverse environments. This study provides a first glance at the diversity and geographical distribution of microeukaryotes in the NWPO and sheds light on the biotic and abiotic factors in shaping the microeukaryotic community in the ocean.

Transcriptome sequencing of a toxic dinoflagellate, Karenia mikimotoi subjected to stress from solar ultraviolet radiation

Solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is a stress factor in aquatic environments and may act directly or indirectly on orgnisms in the upper layers of the water column. However, UVR effects are usually species-specific and difficult to extrapolate. Here we use the HAB-forming, toxic dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi (which was found to be relatively resistant in previous studies) to investigate its transcriptional responses to a one-week UVR exposure. For this, batch cultures of K. mikimotoi were grown with and without UVR, and their transcriptomes (generated via RNAseq technology) were compared. RNA-seq generated 45.31 million reads, which were further assembled to 202600 unigenes (>300bp). Among these, ca. 61% were annotated with NCBI, NR, GO, KOG, PFAM, Swiss-Prot, and KEGG database. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 722 differentially expressed unigenes (DEGs, defined as being within a |log2 fold change| ≥ 2 and padj < 0.05) responding to solar UVR, which were only 0.36% of all unigenes. 716 unigenes were down-regulated, and only 6 unigenes were up-regulated in the UVR compared to non-UVR treatment. KEGG pathway further analysis revealed DEGs were involved in the different pathway; genes involved in the ribosome, endocytosis and steroid biosynthesis pathways were highly down-regulated, but this was not the case for those involved in the energy metabolisms (including photosynthesis, oxidative phosphorylation) which may contribute to the sustainable growth observed in UVR treatment. The up-regulated expression of both zinc-finger proteins (ZFPs) and ribosomal protein L11 (RPL11) may be one of the acclimated mechanisms against UVR. In addition, this work identified down-regulated genes involved in fatty acid degradation and the hydrophobic branched chain amino acids (e.g., Valine, leucine, and isoleucine), which act as structural components of cell membranes modulating lipid homeostasis or turnover. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the toxic dinoflagellate K. mikimotoi has limited transcriptomic regulation but confirms that it appears as a tolerant species in response to solar UVR. These findings expand current knowledge of gene expression in HAB-forming species in response to natural environment factors such as solar radiation.

Transcriptomic investigation into polyketide toxin synthesis in Ostreopsis (Dinophyceae) species

In marine ecosystems, dinoflagellates can become highly abundant and even dominant at times, despite their comparatively slow growth. Their ecological success may be related to their production of complex toxic polyketide compounds. Ostreopsis species produce potent palytoxin-like compounds (PLTX), which are associated with human skin and eye irritations, and illnesses through the consumption of contaminated seafood. To investigate the genetic basis of PLTX-like compounds, we sequenced and annotated transcriptomes from two PLTX-producing Ostreopsis species; O. cf. ovata, O. cf. siamensis, one non-PLTX producing species, O. rhodesae and compared them to a close phylogenetic relative and non-PLTX producer, Coolia malayensis. We found no clear differences in the presence or diversity of ketosynthase and ketoreductase transcripts between PLTX producing and non-producing Ostreopsis and Coolia species, as both groups contained >90 and > 10 phylogenetically diverse ketosynthase and ketoreductase transcripts, respectively. We report for the first-time type I single-, multi-domain polyketide synthases (PKSs) and hybrid non-ribosomal peptide synthase/PKS transcripts from all species. The long multi-modular PKSs were insufficient by themselves to synthesize the large complex polyether backbone of PLTX-like compounds. This implies that numerous PKS domains, including both single and multi-, work together on the biosynthesis of PLTX-like and other related polyketide compounds.

Omics Analysis for Dinoflagellates Biology Research

Dinoflagellates are important primary producers for marine ecosystems and are also responsible for certain essential components in human foods. However, they are also notorious for their ability to form harmful algal blooms, and cause shellfish poisoning. Although much work has been devoted to dinoflagellates in recent decades, our understanding of them at a molecular level is still limited owing to some of their challenging biological properties, such as large genome size, permanently condensed liquid-crystalline chromosomes, and the 10-fold lower ratio of protein to DNA than other eukaryotic species. In recent years, omics technologies, such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, have been applied to the study of marine dinoflagellates and have uncovered many new physiological and metabolic characteristics of dinoflagellates. In this article, we review recent application of omics technologies in revealing some of the unusual features of dinoflagellate genomes and molecular mechanisms relevant to their biology, including the mechanism of harmful algal bloom formations, toxin biosynthesis, symbiosis, lipid biosynthesis, as well as species identification and evolution. We also discuss the challenges and provide prospective further study directions and applications of dinoflagellates.

Assessing Transcriptional Responses to Light by the Dinoflagellate Symbiodinium

The control of transcription is poorly understood in dinoflagellates, a group of protists whose permanently condensed chromosomes are formed without histones. Furthermore, while transcriptomes contain a number of proteins annotated as transcription factors, the majority of these are cold shock domain proteins which are also known to bind RNA, meaning the number of true transcription factors is unknown. Here we have assessed the transcriptional response to light in the photosynthetic species Symbiodinium kawagutii. We find that three genes previously reported to respond to light using qPCR do not show differential expression using northern blots or RNA-Seq. Interestingly, global transcript profiling by RNA-Seq at LD 0 (dawn) and LD 12 (dusk) found only seven light-regulated genes (FDR = 0.1). qPCR using three randomly selected genes out of the seven was only able to validate differential expression of two. We conclude that there is likely to be less light regulation of gene expression in dinoflagellates than previously thought and suggest that transcriptional responses to other stimuli should also be more thoroughly evaluated in this class of organisms.

Diel transcriptional response of a California Current plankton microbiome to light, low iron, and enduring viral infection

Phytoplankton and associated microbial communities provide organic carbon to oceanic food webs and drive ecosystem dynamics. However, capturing those dynamics is challenging. Here, an in situ, semi-Lagrangian, robotic sampler profiled pelagic microbes at 4 h intervals over ~2.6 days in North Pacific high-nutrient, low-chlorophyll waters. We report on the community structure and transcriptional dynamics of microbes in an operationally large size class (>5 μm) predominantly populated by dinoflagellates, ciliates, haptophytes, pelagophytes, diatoms, cyanobacteria (chiefly Synechococcus), prasinophytes (chiefly Ostreococcus), fungi, archaea, and proteobacteria. Apart from fungi and archaea, all groups exhibited 24-h periodicity in some transcripts, but larger portions of the transcriptome oscillated in phototrophs. Periodic photosynthesis-related transcripts exhibited a temporal cascade across the morning hours, conserved across diverse phototrophic lineages. Pronounced silica:nitrate drawdown, a high flavodoxin to ferredoxin transcript ratio, and elevated expression of other Fe-stress markers indicated Fe-limitation. Fe-stress markers peaked during a photoperiodically adaptive time window that could modulate phytoplankton response to seasonal Fe-limitation. Remarkably, we observed viruses that infect the majority of abundant taxa, often with total transcriptional activity synchronized with putative hosts. Taken together, these data reveal a microbial plankton community that is shaped by recycled production and tightly controlled by Fe-limitation and viral activity.

Interaction-Specific Changes in the Transcriptome of Polynucleobacter asymbioticus Caused by Varying Protistan Communities

We studied the impact of protist grazing and exudation on the growth and transcriptomic response of the prokaryotic prey species Polynucleobacter asymbioticus. Different single- and multi-species communities of chrysophytes were used to determine a species-specific response to the predators and the effect of chrysophyte diversity. We sequenced the mRNA of Pn. asymbioticus in communities with three single chrysophyte species (Chlorochromonas danica, Poterioochromonas malhamensis and Poteriospumella lacustris) and all combinations. The molecular responses of Pn. asymbioticus significantly changed in the presence of predators with different trophic modes and combinations of species. In the single-species samples we observed significant differences related to the relative importance of grazing and exudation in the protist-bacteria interaction, i.e., to the presence of either the heterotrophic Ps. lacustris or the mixotrophic C. danica. When grazing dominates the interaction, as in the presence of Ps. lacustris, genes acting in stress response are up-regulated. Further genes associated with transcription and translation are down-regulated indicating a reduced growth of Pn. asymbioticus. In contrast, when the potential use of algal exudates dominates the interaction, genes affiliated with iron transport are up-regulated. Rapid phototrophic growth of chrysophytes, with a high demand on soluble iron, could thus lead to iron-limitation and cause changes in the iron metabolism of Pn. asymbioticus. Additionally, we observe a benefit for Pn. asymbioticus from a more diverse protistan community, which could be due to shifts in the relative importance of phototrophy in the mixotrophic chrysophytes when competing for food with other species. Our study highlights the importance of biotic interactions and the specificity of such interactions, in particular the differential effect of grazing and algal exudation in the interaction of bacteria with mixotrophic protists.

Ubiquitin fusion proteins in algae: implications for cell biology and the spread of photosynthesis

Background

The process of gene fusion involves the formation of a single chimeric gene from multiple complete or partial gene sequences. Gene fusion is recognized as an important mechanism by which genes and their protein products can evolve new functions. The presence-absence of gene fusions can also be useful characters for inferring evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Results

Here we show that the nuclear genomes of two unrelated single-celled algae, the cryptophyte Guillardia theta and the chlorarachniophyte Bigelowiella natans, possess an unexpected diversity of genes for ubiquitin fusion proteins, including novel arrangements in which ubiquitin occupies amino-terminal, carboxyl-terminal, and internal positions relative to its fusion partners. We explore the evolution of the ubiquitin multigene family in both genomes, and show that both algae possess a gene encoding an ubiquitin-nickel superoxide dismutase fusion protein (Ubiq-NiSOD) that is widely but patchily distributed across the eukaryotic tree of life – almost exclusively in phototrophs.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that ubiquitin fusion proteins are more common than currently appreciated; because of its small size, the ubiquitin coding region can go undetected when gene predictions are carried out in an automated fashion. The punctate distribution of the Ubiq-NiSOD fusion across the eukaryotic tree could serve as a beacon for the spread of plastids from eukaryote to eukaryote by secondary and/or tertiary endosymbiosis.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12864-018-5412-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Distinctive Nuclear Features of Dinoflagellates with A Particular Focus on Histone and Histone-Replacement Proteins

Dinoflagellates are important eukaryotic microorganisms that play critical roles as producers and grazers, and cause harmful algal blooms. The unusual nuclei of dinoflagellates "dinokaryon" have led researchers to investigate their enigmatic nuclear features. Their nuclei are unusual in terms of their permanently condensed nucleosome-less chromatin, immense genome, low protein to DNA ratio, guanine-cytosine rich methylated DNA, and unique mitosis process. Furthermore, dinoflagellates are the only known group of eukaryotes that apparently lack histone proteins. Over the course of evolution, dinoflagellates have recruited other proteins, e.g., histone-like proteins (HLPs), from bacteria and dinoflagellates/viral nucleoproteins (DVNPs) from viruses as histone substitutes. Expression diversity of these nucleoproteins has greatly influenced the chromatin structure and gene expression regulation in dinoflagellates. Histone replacement proteins (HLPs and DVNPs) are hypothesized to perform a few similar roles as histone proteins do in other eukaryotes, i.e., gene expression regulation and repairing DNA. However, their role in bulk packaging of DNA is not significant as low amounts of proteins are associated with the gigantic genome. This review intends to summarize the discoveries encompassing unique nuclear features of dinoflagellates, particularly focusing on histone and histone replacement proteins. In addition, a comprehensive view of the evolution of dinoflagellate nuclei is presented.

Core genes in diverse dinoflagellate lineages include a wealth of conserved dark genes with unknown functions

Dinoflagellates are a diverse group of unicellular primary producers and grazers that exhibit some of the most remarkable features known among eukaryotes. These include gigabase-sized nuclear genomes, permanently condensed chromosomes and highly reduced organelle DNA. However, the genetic inventory that allows dinoflagellates to thrive in diverse ecological niches is poorly characterised. Here we systematically assess the functional capacity of 3,368,684 predicted proteins from 47 transcriptome datasets spanning eight dinoflagellate orders. We find that 1,232,023 proteins do not share significant sequence similarity to known sequences, i.e. are "dark". Of these, we consider 441,006 (13.1% of overall proteins) that are found in multiple taxa, or occur as alternative splice variants, to comprise the high-confidence dark proteins. Even with unknown function, 43.3% of these dark proteins can be annotated with conserved structural features using an exhaustive search against available data, validating their existence and importance. Furthermore, these dark proteins and their putative homologs are largely lineage-specific and recovered in multiple taxa. We also identified conserved functions in all dinoflagellates, and those specific to toxin-producing, symbiotic, and cold-adapted lineages. Our results demonstrate the remarkable divergence of gene functions in dinoflagellates, and provide a platform for investigations into the diversification of these ecologically important organisms.

Shifting metabolic priorities among key protistan taxa within and below the euphotic zone

A metatranscriptome study targeting the protistan community was conducted off the coast of Southern California, at the San Pedro Ocean Time-series station at the surface, 150 m (oxycline), and 890 m to link putative metabolic patterns to distinct protistan lineages. Comparison of relative transcript abundances revealed depth-related shifts in the nutritional modes of key taxonomic groups. Eukaryotic gene expression in the sunlit surface environment was dominated by phototrophs, such as diatoms and chlorophytes, and high abundances of transcripts associated with synthesis pathways (e.g., photosynthesis, carbon fixation, fatty acid synthesis). Sub-euphotic depths (150 and 890 m) exhibited strong contributions from dinoflagellates and ciliates, and were characterized by transcripts relating to digestion or intracellular nutrient recycling (e.g., breakdown of fatty acids and V-type ATPases). These transcriptional patterns underlie the distinct nutritional modes of ecologically important protistan lineages that drive marine food webs, and provide a framework to investigate trophic dynamics across diverse protistan communities.

Exploring dinoflagellate biology with high-throughput proteomics

Dinoflagellates are notorious for their ability to form the harmful algal blooms known as "red tides," yet the mechanisms underlying bloom formation remain poorly understood. Despite recent advances in nucleic acid sequencing, which have generated transcriptomes from a wide range of species exposed to a variety of different conditions, measuring changes in RNA levels have not generally produced great insight into dinoflagellate cell biology or environmental physiology, nor do we have a thorough grasp on the molecular events underpinning bloom formation. Not only is the transcriptomic response of dinoflagellates to environmental change generally muted, but there is a markedly low degree of congruency between mRNA expression and protein expression in dinoflagellates. Herein we discuss the application of high-throughput proteomics to the study of dinoflagellate biology. By profiling the cellular protein complement (the proteome) instead of mRNA (the transcriptome), the biomolecular events that underlie the changes of phenotypes can be more readily evaluated, as proteins directly determine the structure and the function of the cell. Recent advances in proteomics have seen this technique become a high-throughput method that is now able to provide a perspective different from the more commonly employed nucleic acid sequencing. We suggest that the time is ripe to exploit these new technologies in addressing the many mysteries of dinoflagellate biology, such as how the symbiotic dinoflagellate inhabiting reef corals acclimate to increases in temperature, as well as how harmful algal blooms are initiated at the sub-cellular level. Furthermore, as dinoflagellates are not the only eukaryotes that demonstrate muted transcriptional responses, the techniques addressed within this review are amenable to a wide array of organisms.

Circadian and irradiance effects on expression of antenna protein genes and pigment contents in dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense (Dinophycae)

PCP and acpPC are the two major antennae proteins that bind pigments in peridinin-containing dinoflagellates. The relationship between antennae proteins and cellular pigments at molecular level is still poorly understood. Here we identified and characterized the two antennae protein genes in dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense under different light conditions. The mature PCP protein was 32 kDa, while acpPC was a polyprotein each of 19 kDa. Both genes showed higher expression under low light than under high light, suggesting their possible role in a low light adaptation mechanism. The two genes showed differential diel expression rhythm, with PCP being more highly expressed in the dark than in the light period and acpPC the other way around. HPLC analysis of cellular pigments indicated a diel change of chlorophyll c2, but invariability of other pigments. A stable peridinin: chlorophyll a pigment ratio was detected under different light intensities and over the diel cycle, although the diadinoxanthin:chlorophyll a ratio increased significantly with light intensity. The results suggest that 1) PCP and acpPC genes are functionally distinct, 2) PCP and acpPC can function under low light as an adaptive mechanism in P. donghaiense, 3). the ratios of diadinoxanthin:chlorophyll a and peridinin: chlorophyll a can potentially be used as an indicator of algal photophysiological status and a pigment signature respectively under different light conditions in P. donghaiense.

Translation and Translational Control in Dinoflagellates

Dinoflagellates are unicellular protists that feature a multitude of unusual nuclear features, including large genomes, packaging of DNA without histones, and multiple gene copies organized as tandem gene arrays. Furthermore, all dinoflagellate mRNAs experience trans-splicing with a common 22-nucleotide splice leader (SL) sequence. These features challenge some of the concepts and assumptions about the regulation of gene expression derived from work on model eukaryotes such as yeasts and mammals. Translational control in the dinoflagellates, based on extensive study of circadian bioluminescence and by more recent microarray and transcriptome analyses, is now understood to be a crucial element in regulating gene expression. A picture of the translation machinery of dinoflagellates is emerging from the recent availability of transcriptomes of multiple dinoflagellate species and the first complete genome sequences. The components comprising the translational control toolkit of dinoflagellates are beginning to take shape and are outlined here.

Strategies and ecological roles of algicidal bacteria

In both freshwater and marine ecosystems, phytoplankton are the most dominant primary producers, contributing substantially to aquatic food webs. Algicidal bacteria that can associate to microalgae from the phytoplankton have the capability to control the proliferation and even to lyse them. These bacteria thus play an important role in shaping species composition in pelagic environments. In this review, we discuss and categorise strategies used by algicidal bacteria for the attack on microalgae. We highlight the complex regulation of algicidal activity and defence responses that govern alga-bacteria interactions. We also discuss how algicidal bacteria impact algal physiology and metabolism and survey the existing algicidal metabolites and enzymes. The review illustrates that the ecological role of algicidal bacteria is not yet fully understood and critically discusses the challenges in obtaining ecologically relevant data.

6.0 K microarray reveals differential transcriptomic responses in the dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum exposed to polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB)

Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) have toxic effects on algae; however, their molecular genomic responses have not been sufficiently elucidated. Here, we evaluated genome-scaled responses of the dinoflagellate alga Prorocentrum minimum exposed to an EDC, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), using a 6.0 K microarray. Based on two-fold change cut-off, we identified that 609 genes (∼10.2%) responded to the PCB treatment. KEGG pathway analysis showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were related to ribosomes, biosynthesis of amino acids, spliceosomes, and cellular processes. Many DEGs were involved in cell cycle progression, apoptosis, signal transduction, ion binding, and cellular transportation. In contrast, only a few genes related to photosynthesis and oxidative stress were expressed in response to PCB exposure. This was supported by that fact that there were no obvious changes in the photosynthetic efficiency and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. These results suggest that PCB might not cause chloroplast and oxidative damage, but could lead to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. In addition, various signal transduction and transport pathways might be disrupted in the cells, which could further contribute to cell death. These results expand the genomic understanding of the effects of EDCs on this dinoflagellate protist.

Glucose-Induced Trophic Shift in an Endosymbiont Dinoflagellate with Physiological and Molecular Consequences

Interactions between the dinoflagellate endosymbiont Symbiodinium and its cnidarian hosts (e.g. corals, sea anemones) are the foundation of coral-reef ecosystems. Carbon flow between the partners is a hallmark of this mutualism, but the mechanisms governing this flow and its impact on symbiosis remain poorly understood. We showed previously that although Symbiodinium strain SSB01 can grow photoautotrophically, it can grow mixotrophically or heterotrophically when supplied with Glc, a metabolite normally transferred from the alga to its host. Here we show that Glc supplementation of SSB01 cultures causes a loss of pigmentation and photosynthetic activity, disorganization of thylakoid membranes, accumulation of lipid bodies, and alterations of cell-surface morphology. We used global transcriptome analyses to determine if these physiological changes were correlated with changes in gene expression. Glc-supplemented cells exhibited a marked reduction in levels of plastid transcripts encoding photosynthetic proteins, although most nuclear-encoded transcripts (including those for proteins involved in lipid synthesis and formation of the extracellular matrix) exhibited little change in their abundances. However, the altered carbon metabolism in Glc-supplemented cells was correlated with modest alterations (approximately 2x) in the levels of some nuclear-encoded transcripts for sugar transporters. Finally, Glc-bleached SSB01 cells appeared unable to efficiently populate anemone larvae. Together, these results suggest links between energy metabolism and cellular physiology, morphology, and symbiotic interactions. However, the results also show that in contrast to many other organisms, Symbiodinium can undergo dramatic physiological changes that are not reflected by major changes in the abundances of nuclear-encoded transcripts and thus presumably reflect posttranscriptional regulatory processes.

Transcriptomic Analyses of Scrippsiella trochoidea Reveals Processes Regulating Encystment and Dormancy in the Life Cycle of a Dinoflagellate, with a Particular Attention to the Role of Abscisic Acid

Due to the vital importance of resting cysts in the biology and ecology of many dinoflagellates, a transcriptomic investigation on Scrippsiella trochoidea was conducted with the aim to reveal the molecular processes and relevant functional genes regulating encystment and dormancy in dinoflagellates. We identified via RNA-seq 3,874 (out of 166,575) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between resting cysts and vegetative cells; a pause of photosynthesis (confirmed via direct measurement of photosynthetic efficiency); an active catabolism including β-oxidation, glycolysis, glyoxylate pathway, and TCA in resting cysts (tested via measurements of respiration rate); 12 DEGs encoding meiotic recombination proteins and members of MEI2-like family potentially involved in sexual reproduction and encystment; elevated expressions in genes encoding enzymes responding to pathogens (chitin deacetylase) and ROS stress in cysts; and 134 unigenes specifically expressed in cysts. We paid particular attention to genes pertaining to phytohormone signaling and identified 4 key genes regulating abscisic acid (ABA) biosynthesis and catabolism, with further characterization based on their full-length cDNA obtained via RACE-PCR. The qPCR results demonstrated elevated biosynthesis and repressed catabolism of ABA during the courses of encystment and cyst dormancy, which was significantly enhanced by lower temperature (4 ± 1°C) and darkness. Direct measurements of ABA using UHPLC-MS/MS and ELISA in vegetative cells and cysts both fully supported qPCR results. These results collectively suggest a vital role of ABA in regulating encystment and maintenance of dormancy, akin to its function in seed dormancy of higher plants. Our results provided a critical advancement in understanding molecular processes in resting cysts of dinoflagellates.

Refining Transcriptome Gene Catalogs by MS-Validation of Expressed Proteins

Protein sequence identification by tandem mass spectroscopy (LC-MS/MS) identifies thousands of protein sequences even in complex mixtures, and provides valuable insight into the biological functions of different cells. For non-model organisms, transcriptomes are generally used to allow peptide identification, an important addition to their use as a gene catalog allowing the potential metabolic activities of cells to be determined. We used LC-MS/MS data to identify which of the six possible reading frames in the transcriptome was actually used by the cell to make protein, and asked whether this would have an impact on downstream analyses using the dataset. We combined results from several LC-MS/MS experiments designed to identify peptide sequences in extracts from the dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedra using a 74 655-sequence transcriptome. We compiled a list of 6628 translated nucleic acid sequences that contained the ensemble of peptide matches (termed MS-validated sequences) and assessed the similarity in downstream analyses between this data set and the 6628 nucleic acid sequences from which they were derived. When compared with BLASTx analyses of the DNA sequences, the MS-validated protein-sequences-analyzed using BLASTp showed differences in gene ontology, had more identified BLAST hits, and contained more KEGG pathway enzymes. The MS-validated protein sequences also differ from datasets containing longest open reading frame (ORF) protein sequences. We also note a poor correlation between the levels of protein and mRNA abundance, a comparison not previously performed for dinoflagellates. The differences observed between analyses of MS-validated protein sequence and nucleic acid sequence datasets suggest use of the former may provide a more accurate representation of cellular capacity than the latter. Developing MS-validated protein sequence datasets may also speed interpretation of MS-MS spectra in bottom up proteomics experiments.

Signatures of adaptation and symbiosis in genomes and transcriptomes of Symbiodinium

Symbiodinium is best-known as the photosynthetic symbiont of corals, but some clades are symbiotic in other organisms or include free-living forms. Identifying similarities and differences among these clades can help us understand their relationship with corals, and thereby inform on measures to manage coral reefs in a changing environment. Here, using sequences from 24 publicly available transcriptomes and genomes of Symbiodinium, we assessed 78,389 gene families in Symbiodinium clades and the immediate outgroup Polarella glacialis, and identified putative overrepresented functions in gene families that (1) distinguish Symbiodinium from other members of Order Suessiales, (2) are shared by all of the Symbiodinium clades for which we have data, and (3) based on available information, are specific to each clade. Our findings indicate that transmembrane transport, mechanisms of response to reactive oxygen species, and protection against UV radiation are functions enriched in all Symbiodinium clades but not in P. glacialis. Enrichment of these functions indicates the capability of Symbiodinium to establish and maintain symbiosis, and to respond and adapt to its environment. The observed differences in lineage-specific gene families imply extensive genetic divergence among clades. Our results provide a platform for future investigation of lineage- or clade-specific adaptation of Symbiodinium to their environment.

A Novel Cyclophilin B Gene in the Red Tide Dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides: Molecular Characterizations and Transcriptional Responses to Environmental Stresses

The marine dinoflagellate Cochlodinium polykrikoides is one of the most common ichthyotoxic species that causes harmful algal blooms (HABs), which leads to ecological damage and huge economic loss in aquaculture industries. Cyclophilins (CYPs) belong to the immunophilin superfamily, and they may play a role in the survival mechanisms of the dinoflagellate in stress environments. In the present study, we identified a novel cyclophilin gene from C. polykrikoides and examined physiological and gene transcriptional responses to biocides copper sulphate (CuSO₄) and sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). The full length of CpCYP was 903 bp, ranging from the dinoflagellate splice leader (DinoSL) sequence to the polyA tail, comprising a 639 bp ORF, a 117 bp 5′-UTR, and a 147 bp 3′-UTR. Motif and phylogenetic comparisons showed that CpCYP was affiliated to group B of CYP. In biocide stressors, cell counts, chlorophyll a, and photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) of C. polykrikoides were considerably decreased in both exposure time- and dose-dependent manners. In addition, CpCYP gene expression was significantly induced after 24 h exposure to the biocide-treated stress conditions. These results indicate an effect of the biocides on the cell physiology and expression profile of CpCYP, suggesting that the gene may play a role in environmental stress responses.

Identification of unique microbiomes associated with harmful algal blooms caused by Alexandrium fundyense and Dinophysis acuminata

Biotic interactions dominate plankton communities, yet the microbial consortia associated with harmful algal blooms (HABs) have not been well-described. Here, high-throughput amplicon sequencing of ribosomal genes was used to quantify the dynamics of bacterial (16S) and phytoplankton assemblages (18S) associated with blooms and cultures of two harmful algae, Alexandrium fundyense and Dinophysis acuminata. Experiments were performed to assess changes in natural bacterial and phytoplankton communities in response to the filtrate from cultures of these two harmful algae. Analysis of prokaryotic sequences from ecosystems, experiments, and cultures revealed statistically unique bacterial associations with each HAB. The dinoflagellate, Alexandrium, was strongly associated with multiple genera of Flavobacteria including Owenweeksia spp., Maribacter spp., and individuals within the NS5 marine group. While Flavobacteria also dominated Dinophysis-associated communities, the relative abundance of Alteromonadales bacteria strongly co-varied with Dinophysis abundances during blooms and Ulvibacter spp. (Flavobacteriales) and Arenicella spp. (Gammaproteobacteria) were associated with cells in culture. Eukaryotic sequencing facilitated the discovery of the endosymbiotic, parasitic dinoflagellate, Amoebophrya spp., that had not been regionally described but represented up to 17% of sequences during Alexandrium blooms. The presence of Alexandrium in field samples and in experiments significantly altered the relative abundances of bacterial and phytoplankton by both suppressing and promoting different taxa, while this effect was weaker in Dinophysis. Experiments specifically revealed a negative feedback loop during blooms whereby Alexandrium filtrate promoted the abundance of the parasite, Amoebophrya spp. Collectively, this study demonstrates that HABs formed by Alexandrium and Dinophysis harbor unique prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiomes that are likely to, in turn, influence the dynamics of these HABs.

Use of Antibiotics for Maintenance of Axenic Cultures of Amphidinium carterae for the Analysis of Translation

Most dinoflagellates in culture are bacterized, complicating the quantification of protein synthesis, as well as the analysis of its regulation. In bacterized cultures of Amphidinium carterae Hulbert, up to 80% of protein synthetic activity appears to be predominantly bacterial based on responses to inhibitors of protein synthesis. To circumvent this, axenic cultures of A. carterae were obtained and shown to respond to inhibitors of protein synthesis in a manner characteristic of eukaryotes. However, these responses changed with time in culture correlating with the reappearance of bacteria. Here we show that culture with kanamycin (50 μg/mL), carbenicillin (100 μg/mL), and streptomycin sulfate (50 μg/mL) (KCS), but not 100 units/mL of penicillin and streptomycin (PS), prevents the reappearance of bacteria and allows A. carterae protein synthesis to be quantified without the contribution of an associated bacterial community. We demonstrate that A. carterae can grow in the absence of a bacterial community. Furthermore, maintenance in KCS does not inhibit the growth of A. carterae cultures but slightly extends the growth phase and allows accumulation to somewhat higher saturation densities. We also show that cultures of A. carterae maintained in KCS respond to the eukaryotic protein synthesis inhibitors cycloheximide, emetine, and harringtonine. Establishment of these culture conditions will facilitate our ability to use polysome fractionation and ribosome profiling to study mRNA recruitment. Furthermore, this study shows that a simple and fast appraisal of the presence of a bacterial community in A. carterae cultures can be made by comparing responses to cycloheximide and chloramphenicol rather than depending on lengthier culture-based assessments.

Bacterial transcriptome remodeling during sequential co-culture with a marine dinoflagellate and diatom

In their role as primary producers, marine phytoplankton modulate heterotrophic bacterial activities through differences in the types and amounts of organic matter they release. This study investigates the transcriptional response of bacterium Ruegeria pomeroyi, a member of the Roseobacter clade known to affiliate with diverse phytoplankton groups in the ocean, during a shift in phytoplankton taxonomy. The bacterium was initially introduced into a culture of the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense, and then experienced a change in phytoplankton community composition as the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana gradually outcompeted the dinoflagellate. Samples were taken throughout the 30-day experiment to track shifts in bacterial gene expression informative of metabolic and ecological interactions. Transcriptome data indicate fundamental differences in the exometabolites released by the two phytoplankton. During growth with the dinoflagellate, gene expression patterns indicated that the main sources of carbon and energy for R. pomeroyi were dimethysulfoniopropionate (DMSP), taurine, methylated amines, and polyamines. During growth with the diatom, dihydroxypropanesulfonate (DHPS), xylose, ectoine, and glycolate instead appeared to fuel the bulk of bacterial metabolism. Expression patterns of genes for quorum sensing, gene transfer agent, and motility suggest that bacterial processes related to cell communication and signaling differed depending on which phytoplankton species dominated the co-culture. A remodeling of the R. pomeroyi transcriptome implicating more than a quarter of the genome occurred through the change in phytoplankton regime.

Molecular mechanism of glucose-6-phosphate utilization in the dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi

Phosphorus (P) is an essential nutrient for marine phytoplankton as for other living organisms, and the preferred form, dissolved inorganic phosphate (DIP), is often quickly depleted in the sunlit layer of the ocean. Phytoplankton have developed mechanisms to utilize organic forms of P (DOP). Hydrolysis of DOP to release DIP by alkaline phosphatase is believed to be the most common mechanism of DOP utilization. Little effort has been made, however, to understand other potential molecular mechanisms of utilizing different types of DOP. This study investigated the bioavailability of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) and its underlying molecular mechanism in the dinoflagellate Karenia mikimotoi. Suppression Subtraction Hybridization (SSH) was used to identify genes up- and down-regulated during G6P utilization compared to DIP condition. The results showed that G6P supported the growth and yield of K. mikimotoi as efficiently as DIP. Neither DIP release nor AP activity was detected in the cultures grown in G6P medium, however, suggesting direct uptake of G6P. SSH analysis and RT-qPCR results showed evidence of metabolic modifications, particularly that mitochondrial ATP synthase f1gamma subunit and thioredoxin reductase were up-regulated while diphosphatase and pyrophosphatase were down-regulated in the G6P cultures. All the results indicate that K. mikimotoi has developed a mechanism other than alkaline phosphatase to utilize G6P.

Comparative proteomic studies of a Scrippsiella acuminata bloom with its laboratory-grown culture using a 15N-metabolic labeling approach

Comparative proteomic analysis was carried out using cells isolated from a natural bloom of Scrippsiella acuminata (formerly Scrippsiella trochoidea) in the early bloom (EB) and late bloom (LB) stages as well as with laboratory-grown cultures of cells isolated from the bloom in early growth (EG) and late growth (LG) stages. For quantitative proteomics, LG cells were grown for 20 generations in the presence of ¹⁵N as a reference (i.e. common denominator) for all comparison. In comparisons with early growth laboratory grown cells (EG/LG), nearly 64% of proteins identified had similar abundance levels, with the remaining 36% mostly more abundant in EG cells. Calvin cycle, amino acid metabolism, chlorophyll biosynthesis and transcription/translation were among the up-regulated processes. Cells from the early bloom (EB/LG) had a greater abundance of transporters and enzymes related to light harvesting and oxidative phosphorylation, while the abundance of these proteins decreased in late bloom cells (LB/LG). All natural bloom samples showed either constant or lower abundance levels of enzymes involved in sugar synthesis and glycolytic pathways compared to laboratory grown cells. Our results represent the first examination of the proteomic changes in the development of a natural dinoflagellate bloom. Importantly, our results demonstrate that the proteome of cells grown in the laboratory is distinctively different from cells in a natural bloom.

Transcriptomic and microRNAomic profiling reveals multi-faceted mechanisms to cope with phosphate stress in a dinoflagellate

Although gene regulation can occur at both transcriptional and epigenetic (microRNA) levels, combined transcriptomic and microRNAomic responses to environmental stress are still largely unexplored for marine plankton. Here, we conducted transcriptome and microRNAome sequencing for Prorocentrum donghaiense to understand the molecular mechanisms by which this dinoflagellate copes with phosphorus (P) deficiency. Under P-depleted conditions, G1/S specific cyclin gene was markedly downregulated, consistent with growth inhibition, and genes related to dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) hydrolysis, carbon fixation, nitrate assimilation, glycolysis, and cellular motility were upregulated. The elevated expression of ATP-generating genes (for example, rhodopsin) and ATP-consuming genes suggests some metabolic reconfiguration towards accelerated ATP recycling under P deficiency. MicroRNAome sequencing revealed 17 microRNAs, potentially regulating 3268 protein-coding genes. Functional enrichment analysis of these microRNA-targeted genes predicted decreases in sulfatide (sulfolipid) catabolism under P deficiency. Strikingly, we detected a significant increase in sulfolipid sulfatide content (but not in sulphoquinovosyldiacylglycerol content) and its biosynthesis gene expression, indicating a different sulfolipid-substituting-phospholipid mechanism in this dinoflagellate than other phytoplankters studied previously. Taken together, our integrative transcriptomic and microRNAomic analyses show that enhanced DOP utilization, accelerated ATP cycling and repressed sulfolipid degradation constitute a comprehensive strategy to cope with P deficiency in a model dinoflagellate.

Genome complexity of harmful microalgae

During the past decade, next generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have provided new insights into the diversity, dynamics, and metabolic pathways of natural microbial communities. But, these new techniques face challenges related to the genome size and level of genome complexity of the species under investigation. Moreover, the coverage depth and the short-read length achieved by NGS based approaches also represent a major challenge for assembly. These factors could limit the use of these high-throughput sequencing methods for species lacking a reference genome and characterized by a high level of complexity. In the present work, the evolutionary history, mainly consisting of gene transfer events from bacteria and unicellular eukaryotes to microalgae, including harmful species, is discussed and reviewed as it relates to NGS application in microbial communities, with a particular focus on harmful algal bloom species and dinoflagellates. In the context of genetic population studies, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), an NGS based approach, could be used for the discovery and analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The NGS technologies are still relatively new and require further improvement. Specifically, there is a need to develop and standardize tools and approaches to handle large data sets, which have to be used for the majority of HAB species characterized by evolutionary highly dynamic genomes.

Condition-specific RNA editing in the coral symbiont Symbiodinium microadriaticum

RNA editing is a rare post-transcriptional event that provides cells with an additional level of gene expression regulation. It has been implicated in various processes including adaptation, viral defence and RNA interference; however, its potential role as a mechanism in acclimatization has just recently been recognised. Here, we show that RNA editing occurs in 1.6% of all nuclear-encoded genes of Symbiodinium microadriaticum, a dinoflagellate symbiont of reef-building corals. All base-substitution edit types were present, and statistically significant motifs were associated with three edit types. Strikingly, a subset of genes exhibited condition-specific editing patterns in response to different stressors that resulted in significant increases of non-synonymous changes. We posit that this previously unrecognised mechanism extends this organism's capability to respond to stress beyond what is encoded by the genome. This in turn may provide further acclimatization capacity to these organisms, and by extension, their coral hosts.

Genomes of coral dinoflagellate symbionts highlight evolutionary adaptations conducive to a symbiotic lifestyle

Despite half a century of research, the biology of dinoflagellates remains enigmatic: they defy many functional and genetic traits attributed to typical eukaryotic cells. Genomic approaches to study dinoflagellates are often stymied due to their large, multi-gigabase genomes. Members of the genus Symbiodinium are photosynthetic endosymbionts of stony corals that provide the foundation of coral reef ecosystems. Their smaller genome sizes provide an opportunity to interrogate evolution and functionality of dinoflagellate genomes and endosymbiosis. We sequenced the genome of the ancestral Symbiodinium microadriaticum and compared it to the genomes of the more derived Symbiodinium minutum and Symbiodinium kawagutii and eukaryote model systems as well as transcriptomes from other dinoflagellates. Comparative analyses of genome and transcriptome protein sets show that all dinoflagellates, not only Symbiodinium, possess significantly more transmembrane transporters involved in the exchange of amino acids, lipids, and glycerol than other eukaryotes. Importantly, we find that only Symbiodinium harbor an extensive transporter repertoire associated with the provisioning of carbon and nitrogen. Analyses of these transporters show species-specific expansions, which provides a genomic basis to explain differential compatibilities to an array of hosts and environments, and highlights the putative importance of gene duplications as an evolutionary mechanism in dinoflagellates and Symbiodinium.