Transcriptomic analysis to find out abiotic stress related genes and pathways in Ulva prolifera

Adaptation to climate change is crucial for marine life as these changes have profound effects on marine organisms. We investigated genetical mechanism underlying the tolerance of Ulva prolifera (Chlorophyta), a marine macroalgae, to combine effects of high temperature and high light intensity stress. In total, 81,729 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the control and treatment groups. At the mRNA level, the upregulated DEGs were enriched in the spliceosome, ribosome, proteasome, and peroxisome pathways. Genes linked to the spliceosome pathway played a crucial role in the ability of U. prolifera to adapt to challenging situations across all the comparison groups. Additionally, genes and pathways associated with ribosomes, proteasomes, and peroxisomes were significantly increased in response to elevated temperature and light intensity stress. Autophagy was only upregulated in response to stress after 24 hours, not after 48 hours. These results provide new insights into the molecular responses of U. prolifera to high temperature and light stress conditions.