Proteomic profiles of the Antarctic diatom Fragilariopsis cylindrus under varying iron and manganese conditions

ABSTRACT: Fragilariopsis cylindrus is an abundant diatom species in the Southern Ocean, where low iron and manganese availability constrain microbial growth and biogeochemical cycles. The molecular mechanisms used by polar diatoms including F. cylindrus to cope with trace metal limitations remain largely unexplored. Here we present phenotypic characterizations and high resolution proteomics profiles of F. cylindrus grown under controlled iron (low, medium, high) and manganese (low, high) conditions that reflect those observed in the Southern Ocean. Using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry, we quantified over 8,000 unique proteins with high reproducibility. We captured diverse metabolic responses related to photosynthesis, elemental transport and intracellular trafficking, and protein synthesis. We show that several canonical iron stress response proteins (e.g., phytotransferrin) are consistently identified under low iron conditions, and identify additional useful iron and manganese stress biomarkers that could be explored in field measurements. Our data also support the notion that one flavodoxin copy in F. cylindrus is iron responsive and one is not. This dataset is a valuable resource for understanding trace metal physiology in polar diatoms, and provides a way for connecting molecular responses with expressed phenotypes and biogeochemical activity in the ocean.

INSTRUMENT(S):

ORGANISM(S): Fragilariopsis Cylindrus Ccmp1102

SUBMITTER: Loay Jabre  

LAB HEAD: Dr. Erin Bertrand

PROVIDER: PXD067269 | Pride | 2026-05-25

REPOSITORIES: Pride