Influence of increased nutrient supply on Microcystis aeruginosa at cellular and proteomic levels

Abstract

Various studies have observed that increased nutrient supply promotes the growth of bloom-forming cyanobacteria, but only a limited number of studies have investigated the influence of increased nutrient supply on bloom-forming cyanobacteria at the proteomic level. We investigated the cellular and proteomic responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to elevated nitrogen and phosphorus supply. Increased supply of both nutrients significantly promoted the growth of M. aeruginosa and the synthesis of chlorophyll a, protein, and microcystins. The release of microcystins and the synthesis of polysaccharides negatively correlated with the growth of M. aeruginosa under high nutrient levels. Overexpressed proteins related to photosynthesis, and amino acid synthesis, were responsible for the stimulatory effects of increased nutrient supply in M. aeruginosa. Increased nitrogen supply directly promoted cyanobacterial growth by inducing the overexpression of the cell division regulatory protein FtsZ. NtcA, that regulates gene transcription related to both nitrogen assimilation and microcystin synthesis, was overexpressed under the high nitrogen condition, which consequently induced overexpression of 2 microcystin synthetases (McyC and McyF) and promoted microcystin synthesis. Elevated nitrogen supply induced the overexpression of proteins involved in gas vesicle organization (GvpC and GvpW), which may increase the buoyancy of M. aeruginosa. Increased phosphorus level indirectly affected growth and the synthesis of cellular substances in M. aeruginosa through the mediation of differentially expressed proteins related to carbon and phosphorus metabolism. This study provides a comprehensive description of changes in the proteome of M. aeruginosa in response to an increased supply of 2 key nutrients.