2020, Glen Wheeler, The Marine Biological Association of the UK (MBA) Coccolithus braarudii life cycle protein mass spectrometry

Coccolithophores are crucial for marine biogeochemical cycling. However, much of their physiology remains poorly understood, particularly their elusive haplo-diplontic life cycle. We aimed to characterise differences between HET and HOL Coccolithus braarudii by carrying out protein mass spectrometry of both life phases. We found that the proteome was substantially different and characterized novel physiological mechanisms.

颗石藻（Coccolithophores）在海洋生物地球化学循环中发挥关键作用。然而，其多数生理机制仍未得到充分阐明，尤其是其难以捉摸的单倍二倍体生活周期。本研究通过对两个生活阶段的样本开展蛋白质质谱（protein mass spectrometry）分析，旨在解析布鲁氏钙板金藻（Coccolithus braarudii）HET与HOL阶段之间的差异。研究发现，二者的蛋白质组（proteome）存在显著差异，并揭示了全新的生理机制。