| Title: | Light intensity and spectral composition drive reproductive success in the marine benthic diatom Seminavis robusta |
| Author(s): | Bilcke G; Van Craenenbroeck L; Castagna A; Osuna-Cruz CM; Vandepoele K; Sabbe K; De Veylder L; Vyverman W; |
| Address: | "Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. VIB Center for Plant Systems Biology, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. Department of Applied Mathematics, Computer Science and Statistics, Ghent University, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. Bioinformatics Institute Ghent, Ghent University, Technologiepark 71, 9052, Ghent, Belgium. Protistology and Aquatic Ecology, Department of Biology, Ghent University, Krijgslaan 281 S8, 9000, Ghent, Belgium. wim.vyverman@ugent.be" |
| DOI: | 10.1038/s41598-021-92838-0 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 2045-2322 (Electronic) 2045-2322 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "The properties of incident light play a crucial role in the mating process of diatoms, a group of ecologically important microalgae. While species-specific requirements for light intensity and photoperiod have been observed in several diatom species, little is known about the light spectrum that allows sexual reproduction. Here, we study the effects of spectral properties and light intensity on the initiation and progression of sexual reproduction in the model benthic diatom Seminavis robusta. We found that distinct stages of the mating process have different requirements for light. Vigorous mating pair formation occurred under a broad range of light intensities, ranging from 10 to 81 microE m(-2) s(-1), while gametogenesis and subsequent stages were strongly affected by moderate light intensities of 27 microE m(-2) s(-1) and up. In addition, light of blue or blue-green wavelengths was required for the formation of mating pairs. Combining flow cytometric analysis with expression profiling of the diatom-specific cyclin dsCyc2 suggests that progression through a blue light-dependent checkpoint in the G1 cell cycle phase is essential for induction of sexual reproduction. Taken together, we expand the current model of mating in benthic pennate diatoms, which relies on the interplay between light, cell cycle and sex pheromone signaling" |
| Keywords: | Cell Cycle Checkpoints/radiation effects Diatoms/genetics/metabolism/*physiology/*radiation effects Light Photoperiod Reproduction Sex Attractants/metabolism; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBilcke, Gust Van Craenenbroeck, Lore Castagna, Alexandre Osuna-Cruz, Cristina Maria Vandepoele, Klaas Sabbe, Koen De Veylder, Lieven Vyverman, Wim eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2021/09/04 Sci Rep. 2021 Sep 2; 11(1):17560. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-92838-0" |
