Moderate warming rewires one-third of microalga's genes, study finds
This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.
Researchers found that the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii alters the activity of about one-third of its protein-coding genes in response to moderate temperature changes. The study, published in The Plant Cell, suggests far-reaching consequences for aquatic ecosystems and soil. The team is from the University of Jena and Leibniz-HKI.
The Study
Scientists from the Cluster of Excellence Balance of the Microverse at Friedrich Schiller University Jena and the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology—Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI) demonstrated for the first time that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii rewires the activity of about one-third of its protein-coding genes under moderate warming. The findings were published in the journal The Plant Cell. The study provides the first comprehensive view of gene expression changes in a microalga under temperature stress.
Ecological Implications
The altered gene activity affects key metabolic pathways, including photosynthesis and lipid metabolism. Such changes could disrupt aquatic food webs and soil nutrient cycles, as microalgae are primary producers. The researchers warn that even moderate climate warming may have cascading effects on ecosystems that depend on these organisms.
What's Next
The team plans to investigate how other microalgae species respond to similar temperature shifts. It remains unclear whether these genetic changes are reversible or could lead to long-term evolutionary adaptations.
1 source
Moderate warming rewires one-third of microalga's genes, study finds
