De novo transcriptome of the non-saxitoxin producing Alexandrium tamutum reveals new insights on harmful dinoflagellates

Many dinoflagellates species, especially of the Alexandrium genus, produce a series of toxins with tremendous impacts on human and environmental health, as well as economies. We present the full-transcriptome of the dinoflagellate A. tamutum in both control and phosphate starvation conditions. Phosphate starvation was selected because known to induce toxin production for other Alexandrium spp. RNA-seq data were used for in silico identification of transcripts that can be involved in the synthesis of toxic compounds. Results gave new insights on toxic microalgae, toxin production and environmental monitoring.

许多甲藻（Dinoflagellates）物种，尤其是亚历山大藻属（Alexandrium）物种，可产生一系列毒素，对人类健康、生态环境及经济发展均造成显著危害。本研究提供了塔姆亚历山大藻（Alexandrium tamutum，简写为A. tamutum）在正常培养（对照组）与磷饥饿条件下的全长转录组数据。选择磷饥饿处理条件，是由于已有研究证实该条件可诱导其他亚历山大藻属物种产生毒素。本研究利用RNA测序（RNA-seq）数据，通过in silico（计算机模拟分析）预测了可能参与有毒化合物合成的转录本。本研究结果为有毒微藻、毒素合成机制及环境监测领域提供了全新的研究视角。