Investigation on the quantitative proteomic responses of bloom-forming Cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa to phosphorus depletion and starvation by the method of isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ)

Microcystis aeruginosa cells were treated with phosphorus repletion, depletion and starvation. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantitation (iTRAQ) proteomic method was employed to explore to the effects of phosphorus limitation on Microcystis aeruginosa cells at the protein level. This investigation would contribute to the understanding of global cellular responses of Microcystis to phosphorus limitation and provide theoretical basis for deciding whether it is an effective way to control Microcystis blooms by phosphorus reduction.