Transcriptome analysis reveals regulation of gene expression during photoacclimation to high irradiance levels in Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae). Transcriptome analysis reveals regulation of gene expression during photoacclimation to high irradiance levels in Dunaliella salina (Chlorophyceae)

The unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina is an attractive model organism for studying photoacclimation responses. Changes in irradiance levels during cell growth affect the organization and structure of the photosystem and the pigments composition. We sequenced the RNA of D. salina to investigate the transcriptomic response of the organism after transitioning from normal light conditions to higher light intensity. Specific transcripts encoding for enzymes involved in photosynthesis were down-regulated, whereas genes involved in the metabolism of carotenoid and triacylglycerol were up-regulated. Genes encoding for photoprotective enzymes related to reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and to the xanthophyll cycle were also up-regulated at higher irradiance levels. The present transcriptomic study would assist in the comprehensive understanding of photoacclimation mechanisms of D. salina. Overall design: 9 biological samples, each condition in triplicates. Please note that the microalgae Dunaliella Salina used in our study was conserved at Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. It has been identified, and its related research results have been published in Algal Research (Zheng, Zhenbing, et al. 'The enhancement of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway maybe involved in resolving imbalance between photosystem I and II in Dunaliella salina.' Algal Research 26(2017).)

单细胞绿藻盐生杜氏藻（Dunaliella salina）是研究光适应响应的理想模式生物。细胞生长过程中光照强度的变化会影响光合系统的组织结构与色素组成。本研究对盐生杜氏藻的RNA进行测序，以探究其从正常光照条件转换至高光强度后的转录组响应。编码参与光合作用的酶的特异性转录本表达下调，而类胡萝卜素与三酰甘油代谢相关基因的表达则上调。在高光强度下，参与活性氧（ROS）清除及叶黄素循环的光保护酶编码基因同样呈现上调表达。本项转录组研究有助于全面解析盐生杜氏藻的光适应机制。
实验总体设计：共设置9个生物学样本，每组条件设置三次生物学重复。
请注意，本研究使用的微藻盐生杜氏藻（Dunaliella salina）保藏于中国科学院海洋研究所。该藻株已完成物种鉴定，相关研究成果已发表于Algal Research（Zheng, Zhenbing等，《The enhancement of the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway maybe involved in resolving imbalance between photosystem I and II in Dunaliella salina》，Algal Research 26(2017)）。