ORCID
- Craig J. Dedman: 0000-0001-9217-4160
Abstract
Molecular mechanisms driving species-specific environmental sensitivity in coccolithophores are unclear but crucial in understanding species selection and adaptation to environmental change. This study examined proteomic and physiological changes in three species under varying pH conditions. We showed that changing pH drives intracellular oxidative stress and changes membrane potential. Upregulation in antioxidant, DNA repair and cell cycle-related protein-groups indicated oxidative damage across high (pH 8.8) and low pH (pH 7.6) compared to control pH (pH 8.2), and correlated with reduced growth rates. Upregulation of mitochondrial proteins suggested higher metabolite demand for restoring cellular homeostasis under pH-induced stress. Photosynthetic rates generally correlated with CO2 availability, driving higher net carbon fixation rates at low pH. The intracellular pH-buffering capacity of the coastal Chrysotila carterae and high metabolic adaptability in the bloom-forming Gephyrocapsa huxleyi will likely facilitate their adaptation to ocean acidification or artificial ocean alkalinisation. However, the pH sensitivity of the ancient open-ocean Coccolithus braarudii will possibly result in reduced growth and shrinking of its ecological niche.
Publication Date
2024-01-01
Publication Title
Marine Pollution Bulletin
Volume
209
ISSN
0025-326X
Keywords
Carbon dioxide, Coccolithophores, Ocean acidification, Oxidative stress, pH, Proteomics
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Chauhan, N., Dedman, C., Baldreki, C., Dowle, A., Larson, T., & Rickaby, R. (2024) 'Contrasting species-specific stress response to environmental pH determines the fate of coccolithophores in future oceans', Marine Pollution Bulletin, 209. Available at: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117136
