Fatty acid production and associated gene pathways are altered by increased salinity and dimethyl sulfoxide treatments during cryopreservation of Symbiodinium pilosum (Symbiodiniaceae)

In this study, we investigated the role of increased salinity on FA production and the genes involved in FA biosynthesis and degradation pathways during the cryopreservation of Symbiodinium pilosum. Overall, there was a twofold increase in mass of FAs produced by S. pilosum after being cultured in medium with increased salinity (54 parts per thousand; ppt). Dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) led to a ninefold increase of FAs in standard salinity (SS) treatment, compared to a fivefold increase in increased salinity (IS) treatments. The mass of the FA classes returned to baseline during recovery. Transcriptomic analyses showed an acyl carrier protein gene was significantly upregulated after Me2SO treatment in the SS cultures. Cytochrome P450 reductase genes were significantly down regulated after Me2SO addition in SS treatment preventing FA degradation. These changes in the expression of FA biosynthesis and degradation genes contributed to more FAs in SS treated isolates. Understanding how increased salinity changes FA production and the roles of specific genes in regulating FA pathways will help improve current freezing protocols for Symbiodiniaceae and other marine microalgae.PMID:38301952 | DOI:10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104855

Source: Cryobiology - February 1, 2024 Category: Biology Authors: Joseph K Kihika John K Pearman Susanna A Wood Lesley L Rhodes Kirsty F Smith Matthew R Miller Juliette Butler Ken G Ryan Source Type: research