Bioinspired cell silicification of the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum and its effects on cell metabolism

Biosilicification enhances the mechanical strength and chemical stability of organisms. Diatoms are the natural model for studying cell silicification, with the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum being known as the only species that could transition from non-silicified cells to silicified cells under environmental stress. In this study, single-cell sequencing was employed to investigate the wild-type P. tricornutum strain (WT-Pt) without cell silicification and the engineered strain (SG-Pt) with silicified cells. Our results indicate that SG-Pt exhibits clearly cellular clustering and enhanced iron metabolic function compared to WT-Pt. Genetically modified diatoms exhibit a distribution of silica shells and altered morphology, while wild-type diatoms lack silica shell distribution and have spindle-shaped morphology. Single-cell sequencing of different morphological cells from the same species is conducted to explore their distinct physiological states.