The impact of elevated CO₂ on Prochlorococcus and microbial interactions with 'helper' bacterium Alteromonas.

ABSTRACT: Prochlorococcus is a globally important marine cyanobacterium that lacks the gene catalase and relies on 'helper' bacteria such as Alteromonas to remove reactive oxygen species. Increasing atmospheric CO₂ decreases the need for carbon concentrating mechanisms and photorespiration in phytoplankton, potentially altering their metabolism and microbial interactions even when carbon is not limiting growth. Here, Prochlorococcus (VOL4, MIT9312) was co-cultured with Alteromonas (strain EZ55) under ambient (400 p.p.m.) and elevated CO₂ (800 p.p.m.). Under elevated CO₂, Prochlorococcus had a significantly longer lag phase and greater apparent die-offs after transfers suggesting an increase in oxidative stress. Whole-transcriptome analysis of Prochlorococcus revealed

SUBMITTER: Hennon GM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5776468 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature