Relationship of proteomic variation and toxin synthesis in the dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense CI01 under phosphorus and inorganic nitrogen limitation

Xi Wen Jiang, Jing Wang, Yue Gao, Leo Lai Chan, Paul Kwan Sing Lam, Ji Dong Gu*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs) are originated from cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, including Alexandrium tamarense, the common dinoflagellate species. In this study, a toxic dinoflagellate strain of A. tamarense CI01 was selected for studying the PSTs’ concentration and the related protein variation during the whole cell cycle under different nutrient conditions. High-performance liquid chromatography, 2-D DIGE and Western blotting were used collectively for protein profiling and identification. Results showed that the toxin content was suppressed under nitrogen limiting condition, but enhanced in phosphorous limiting medium. Based on the results of proteomics analysis, 7 proteins were discovered to be related to the PSTs biosynthesis of A. tamarense CI01, including S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase, ornithine cyclodeaminase, argininosuccinate synthase, methyluridine methyltransferase cystine ABC transporter, phosphoserine phosphatase, argininosuccinate synthase and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, which corresponds to the metabolism of the methionine, cysteine, ornithine, arginine and proline. Moreover, some photosynthesis relating proteins also increased their expression during PST synthesis period in A. tamarense CI01, such as phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, chloroplast phosphoglycerate kinase, peridinin-chlorophyll α-binding protein, Mg2+ transporter protein and chloroplast phosphoglycerate kinase. The above findings are in support of our hypothesis that these proteins are involved in toxin biosynthesis of A. tamarense CI01, but cause-and-effect mechanisms need to be investigated in further studies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1744-1753
Number of pages10
JournalEcotoxicology
Volume24
Issue number7-8
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Oct 2015
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Alexandrium tamarense
  • Cell cycle
  • Nutrient condition
  • PSTs
  • Toxin synthesis protein

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