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Transcriptome analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis in Dunaliella salina under red and blue light

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Abstract

The quality of light is an important abiotic factor that aff ects the growth and development of photosynthetic organisms. In this study, we exposed the unicellular green alga Dunaliella salina to red (660 nm) and blue (450 nm) light and analyzed the cell growth, total carotenoid content, and transcriptomes. The growth of D. salina was enhanced by illumination with red light, whereas blue light was not able to promote the algal growth. In contrast, the total carotenoid content increased under both red and blue light. The RNA of D. salina was sequenced and the transcriptomic response of algal cells to red and blue light was investigated. Six transcripts encoding for the blue light receptor cryptochrome were identifi ed, and transcripts involved in the carotenoid metabolism were up-regulated under both red and blue light. Transcripts encoding for photoprotective enzymes related to the scavenging of reactive oxygen species were up-regulated under blue light. The present transcriptomic study provides a more comprehensive understanding of carotenoid biosynthesis in D. salina under diff erent wavelengths of light.

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Abbreviations

BL:

blue light

Cbr:

carotene biosynthesis-related protein

DEG:

differentially expressed genes

GPX:

glutathione peroxidase

LCY:

lycopene β-cyclase

LED:

light-emitting diode

PSY:

phytoene synthase

RL:

red light

ROS:

reactive oxygen species

SOD:

superoxide dismutase

WL:

white light

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Experimental Marine Biology, Institute of Oceanology, Center for Ocean Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Yuanxiang Li, Xuehua Cai, Wenhui Gu & Guangce Wang

  2. Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology, Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266071, China

    Yuanxiang Li, Xuehua Cai, Wenhui Gu & Guangce Wang

  3. College of Earth Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Yuanxiang Li & Xuehua Cai

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  1. Yuanxiang Li
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  2. Xuehua Cai
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  3. Wenhui Gu
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  4. Guangce Wang
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Guangce Wang.

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Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 41506188), the China Nantong Municipal Applied Basic Research Program (No. MS12017025-2), and the Tianjin Demonstration Project for Innovative Development of Marine Economy (No. BHSF2017-21)

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Li, Y., Cai, X., Gu, W. et al. Transcriptome analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis in Dunaliella salina under red and blue light. J. Ocean. Limnol. 38, 177–185 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-019-9064-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-019-9064-2

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