Manipulation of Ion/Electron Carrier Genes In The Model Diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum Enables Its Growth Under Lethal Acidic Stress

We previously identified three upregulated genes in the low-pH adapted model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum: ferredoxin (PtFDX), cation/proton antiporter (PtCPA), and HCO3- transporter (PtSCL4-2). Here, we individually overexpressed these genes in P. tricornutum to investigate their respective roles in resisting acidic stress. Transcriptomics was conducted to compare WT and transgenic strains in non-stressed condition (pH8.0) and inhibitory pH condition (pH5.0).