Abstract
Salinity is one of the significant factors that affect growth and cellular metabolism, including photosynthesis and lipid accumulation, in microalgae and higher plants. Microchloropsis gaditana CCMP526 can acclimatize to different salinity levels by accumulating compatible solutes, carbohydrates, and lipids as energy storage molecules. We used proteomics to understand the molecular basis for acclimation of M. gaditana to increased salinity levels [55 and 100 PSU (practical salinity unit)]. Correspondence analysis was used for the identification of salinity-responsive proteins (SRPs). The highest number of salinity-induced proteins was observed in 100 PSU. Gene ontology enrichment analysis revealed a separate path of acclimation for cells exposed to 55 and 100 PSU. Osmolyte and lipid biosynthesis were upregulated in hypersaline conditions. Concomitantly, lipid oxidation pathways were also upregulated in hypersaline conditions, providing acetyl-CoA for energy metabolism through the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Carbon fixation and photosynthesis were tightly regulated, while chlorophyll biosynthesis was affected in hypersaline conditions. Importantly, temporal proteome analysis of salinity-induced M. gaditana revealed vital SRPs which could be used for engineering salinity resilient microalgal strains for improved productivity in hypersaline culture conditions.