Genome-wide identification of chitinase genes in Thalassiosira pseudonana and analysis of their expression under abiotic stresses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The nitrogen-containing polysaccharide chitin is the second most abundant biopolymer on earth and is found in the cell walls of diatoms, where it serves as a scaffold for biosilica deposition. Diatom chitin is an important source of carbon and nitrogen in the marine environment, but surprisingly little is known about basic chitinase metabolism in diatoms.

Results

Here, we identify and fully characterize 24 chitinase genes from the model centric diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana. We demonstrate that their expression is broadly upregulated under abiotic stresses, despite the fact that chitinase activity itself remains unchanged, and we discuss several explanations for this result. We also examine the potential transcriptional complexity of the intron-rich T. pseudonan

SUBMITTER: Cheng H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7874618 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature