The genome and phenome of the green alga Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3007 reveal adaptive traits for desert acclimatization

Abstract

To investigate the phenomic and genomic traits that allow green algae to survive in deserts, we characterized a ubiquitous species, Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3007, which we isolated from multiple locations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Metabolomic analyses of Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3007 indicated that the alga accumulates a broad range of carbon sources, including several desiccation tolerance-promoting sugars and unusually large stores of palmitate. Growth assays revealed capacities to grow in salinities from zero to 60 g/L and to grow heterotrophically on >40 distinct carbon sources. Assembly and annotation of genomic reads yielded a 52.5 Mbp genome with 8153 functionally annotated genes. Comparison with other sequenced green algae revealed unique protein families involved in osmotic stress tolerance and saccharide metabolism that support phenomic studies. Our results reveal the robust and flexible biology utilized by a green alga to successfully inhabit a desert coastline.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.25783.001

Large-scale genome sequencing reveals the driving forces of viruses in microalgal evolution

“…Because Trebouxiophytes, like Chloroidium, can use a wide variety of carbon sources for heterotrophic growth (Nelson et al, 2017), and viruses have been known to transfer carbohydrate-acting genes to their hosts (Van Etten et al, 2017), we searched for viral-associated carbohydrate-acting genes in the Chloroidium sp. UTEX3077 genome (Nelson et al, 2019).…”

Potential for Heightened Sulfur-Metabolic Capacity in Coastal Subtropical Microalgae

“…WS7 ), and other freshwater green microalgae Chloroidium sp . UTEX3077 (Nelson et al., 2017), Chlorella variabilis NC64A, and Coccomyxa subellipsoidea clustered together, indicating a relatively similar HMM functional match profile (Figure 3). Dunaliella species were the exception to this clustering based on phylogenetic affinities, as they clustered with marine strains including diatom (Bacillariophyceae) and picoeukaryotic, oceanic ( Ostreococcus and Micromonas ) species.…”

High-Throughput Metabolic Profiling for Model Refinements of Microalgae

“…Further, as the nutritional requirements of most microalgae are not known, this platform can be used to define these rapidly. Nelson et al 43 had successfully applied these methods to identify new compounds that support the growth of the microalgae Chloroidium sp. UTEX 3007 and used the obtained information to define the species entry metabolites, which, unlike Chlamydomonas, include 40 different carbon sources.…”