Toward understanding of cyanophage resistance in the bloom-forming cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
Start Date
25-5-2022 12:15 PM
End Date
25-5-2022 12:30 PM
Abstract
Interactions between cyanobacteria and cyanophages often lead to the formation of resistant sub-populations. However, the resistance mechanisms in cyanobacteria, in particular in filamentous freshwater species, remain poorly investigated. In this study, we have investigated proteome differences between cyanophage (vb_AlphaS-CL131) susceptible Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and its evolved resistant isolates by means of two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectroscopy identification of differentially expressed protein spots.
The growth rate and photosystem II performance of both sub-populations were similar. Despite the fact that small proteomic differences were expected, the two sub-populations differed in the expression of more than 40 proteins (a change of 2 to 10-fold). A functional analysis documented that the resistant sub-population had significantly upregulated metabolic pathways crucial for cell functioning, in particular: aminoacid and protein biosynthesis pathways and carbon metabolism (Glucose metabolism, Krebs cycle). Furthermore, enhanced expression of iron uptake porins has been found, suggesting the importance of iron import during phage infection.
This first ever determination of cyanobacterial proteomes from sub-populations resistant and susceptible to a cyanophage showed, that the resistance mechanisms in freshwater filamentous cyanobacteria include large-scale modifications of the basic cellular metabolism. This may have significant ecological implications for host-phage interactions which strongly affect population and bloom dynamics.
Toward understanding of cyanophage resistance in the bloom-forming cyanobacteria Aphanizomenon flos-aquae
Interactions between cyanobacteria and cyanophages often lead to the formation of resistant sub-populations. However, the resistance mechanisms in cyanobacteria, in particular in filamentous freshwater species, remain poorly investigated. In this study, we have investigated proteome differences between cyanophage (vb_AlphaS-CL131) susceptible Aphanizomenon flos-aquae and its evolved resistant isolates by means of two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) and mass spectroscopy identification of differentially expressed protein spots.
The growth rate and photosystem II performance of both sub-populations were similar. Despite the fact that small proteomic differences were expected, the two sub-populations differed in the expression of more than 40 proteins (a change of 2 to 10-fold). A functional analysis documented that the resistant sub-population had significantly upregulated metabolic pathways crucial for cell functioning, in particular: aminoacid and protein biosynthesis pathways and carbon metabolism (Glucose metabolism, Krebs cycle). Furthermore, enhanced expression of iron uptake porins has been found, suggesting the importance of iron import during phage infection.
This first ever determination of cyanobacterial proteomes from sub-populations resistant and susceptible to a cyanophage showed, that the resistance mechanisms in freshwater filamentous cyanobacteria include large-scale modifications of the basic cellular metabolism. This may have significant ecological implications for host-phage interactions which strongly affect population and bloom dynamics.