Open AccessMeta-Omics Reveals Genetic Flexibility of Diatom Nitrogen Transporters in Response to Environmental Changes
Author(s) -
Greta Busseni,
Fabio Rocha Jimenez Vieira,
Alberto Amato,
Éric Pelletier,
Juan José Pierella Karlusich,
Maria Immacolata Ferrante,
Patrick Wincker,
Alessandra Rogato,
Chris Bowler,
Remo Sanges,
Luigi Maiorano,
Maurizio Chiurazzi,
Maurizio Ribera d’Alcalà,
Luigi Caputi,
Daniele Iudicone
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular biology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.637
H-Index - 218
eISSN - 1537-1719
pISSN - 0737-4038
DOI - 10.1093/molbev/msz157
Subject(s) - biology , diatom , phytoplankton , trait , ecology , evolutionary biology , nutrient , computer science , programming language
Diatoms (Bacillariophyta), one of the most abundant and diverse groups of marine phytoplankton, respond rapidly to the supply of new nutrients, often out-competing other phytoplankton. Herein, we integrated analyses of the evolution, distribution, and expression modulation of two gene families involved in diatom nitrogen uptake (DiAMT1 and DiNRT2), in order to infer the main drivers of divergence in a key functional trait of phytoplankton. Our results suggest that major steps in the evolution of the two gene families reflected key events triggering diatom radiation and diversification. Their expression is modulated in the contemporary ocean by seawater temperature, nitrate, and iron concentrations. Moreover, the differences in diversity and expression of these gene families throughout the water column hint at a possible link with bacterial activity. This study represents a proof-of-concept of how a holistic approach may shed light on the functional biology of organisms in their natural environment.