Lowering pO2 Interacts with Photoperiod to Alter Physiological Performance of the Coastal Diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana

Exacerbating deoxygenation is extensively affecting marine organisms, with no exception for phytoplankton. To probe these effects, we comparably explored the growth, cell compositions, photosynthesis, and transcriptome of a diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana under a matrix of pO(2) levels and Light:Dark cycles at an optimal growth light. The growth rate (mu) of T. pseudonana under a 8:16 L:D cycle was enhanced by 34% by low pO(2) but reduced by 22% by hypoxia. Under a 16:8 L:D cycle, however, the mu decreased with decreasing pO(2) level. The cellular Chl a content decreased with decreasing pO(2) under a 8:16 L:D cycle, whereas the protein content decreased under a 16:8 L:D cycle. The prolonged photoperiod reduced the Chl a but enhanced the protein contents. The lowered pO(2) reduced the maximal PSII photochemical quantum yield (F-V/F-M), photosynthetic oxygen evolution rate (Pn), and respiration rate (Rd) under the 8:16 or 16:8 L:D cycles. Cellular malondialdehyde (MDA) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were higher under low pO(2) than ambient pO(2) or hypoxia. Moreover, the prolonged photoperiod reduced the F-V/F-M and Pn among all three pO(2) levels but enhanced the Rd, MDA, and SOD activity. Transcriptome data showed that most of 26 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) that mainly relate to photosynthesis, respiration, and metabolism were down-regulated by hypoxia, with varying expression degrees between the 8:16 and 16:8 L:D cycles. In addition, our results demonstrated that the positive or negative effect of lowering pO(2) upon the growth of diatoms depends on the pO(2) level and is mediated by the photoperiod.

Automated summary

This study investigates the effects of oxygen levels and light:dark cycles on the growth, cell composition, photosynthesis, and transcriptome of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. The results show that the impact of low oxygen concentration on diatom growth is determined by the oxygen level and is influenced by the photoperiod. Additionally, various cellular processes such as photosynthesis, respiration, and metabolism are affected by oxygen availability and light conditions, with differential gene expression patterns observed under different oxygen levels and light:dark cycles.