Transcriptomic Responses of Four Pelagophytes to Nutrient (N, P) and Light Stress

Pelagophytes are abundant picophytoplankton within open ocean ecosystems and the causative algae of harmful brown tide blooms in estuaries. The physiological capabilities facilitating ecological success pelagophytes these diverse remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated transcriptional response two coastal ( Aureococcus anophagefferens Aureoumbra lagunensis ) Pelagococcus subviridis Pelagomonas calceolata to conditions commonly found marine where they thrive: low concentrations nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), or light. OrthoMCL was used generate a total 62,653 orthologous groups (OGs) with only small fraction OGs (2,776 4.4%) being shared among all four pelagophytes. Of OGs, 8% were significantly differentially under N, P, light majority associated energy lipid metabolism. Distinct responses included increased abundance transcripts encoding phosphate transporters pyrophosphatase expression suite organic nitrogen-degrading enzymes N ), flavodoxins relative ferredoxins lysophospholipase light, both increases decreases selenoproteins except . Collectively, this study provides new information on expressed gene compliment characterized taxa demonstrates that possess combination unique features likely facilitate their adaptation distinct environmental conditions.