Regulation and integration of membrane transport in marine diatoms

Diatoms represent one of the most successful groups of marine phytoplankton and are major contributors to ocean biogeochemical cycling. They have colonized marine, freshwater and ice environments and inhabit all regions of the World's oceans, from poles to tropics. Their success is underpinned by a remarkable ability to regulate their growth and metabolism during nutrient limitation and to respond rapidly when nutrients are available. This requires precise regulation of membrane transport and nutrient acquisition mechanisms, integration of nutrient sensing mechanisms and coordination of different transport pathways. This review outlines transport mechanisms involved in acquisition of key nutrients (N, C, P, Si, Fe) by marine diatoms, illustrating their complexity, sophistication and multiple levels of control.

Automated summary

Diatoms are highly successful marine phytoplankton and play a crucial role in ocean biogeochemical cycling. They inhabit various marine, freshwater, and ice environments across the globe. Their success is attributed to their ability to regulate growth and metabolism in response to nutrient availability. This review highlights the transport mechanisms involved in nutrient acquisition (N, C, P, Si, Fe) by marine diatoms, emphasizing their complexity, sophistication, and multi-level control.