Abstract
Macronutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and silicon (Si) are essential for the productivity and distribution of diatoms in the ocean. Responses of diatoms to a particular macronutrient deficiency have been investigated, however, we know little about their common or specific responses to different macronutrients. Here, we investigated the physiology and quantitative proteomics of a diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana grown in nutrient-replete, N-, P-, and Si-deficient conditions. Cell growth was ceased in all macronutrient deficient conditions while cell volume and cellular C content under P- and Si-deficiencies increased. Contents of chlorophyll a, protein and cellular N decreased in both N- and P-deficient cells but chlorophyll a and cellular N increased in the Si-deficient cells. Cellular P content increased under N- and Si-deficiencies. Proteins involved in carbon fixation and photorespiration were down-regulated under all macronutrient deficiencies while neutral lipid synthesis and carbohydrate accumulation were enhanced. Photosynthesis, chlorophyll biosynthesis, and protein biosynthesis were down-regulated in both N- and P-deficient cells, while Si transporters, light-harvesting complex proteins, chloroplastic ATP synthase, plastid transcription and protein synthesis were up-regulated in the Si-deficient cells. Our results provided insights into the common and specific responses of T. pseudonana to different macronutrient deficiencies and identified specific proteins potentially indicating a particular macronutrient deficiency.