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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Artículo científico |
| Language: | en |
| Published: |
Nature communications
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41238538/ |
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Table of Contents:
- Conserved genetic markers reveal widespread diatom sexual reproduction in the global ocean. Bilcke, Gust Campese, Lucia Annunziata, Rossella Amadei Martínez, Luz Borgonuovo, Camilla Rijsdijk, Nadine Chaerle, Peter Van den Berge, Koen D'hondt, Sofie Iudicone, Daniele Montresor, Marina Ferrante, Maria Immacolata Vandepoele, Klaas Vyverman, Wim Diatoms Reproduction Genetic Markers Oceans and Seas Transcriptome Phytoplankton Gene Expression Profiling Salinity Metagenome Seawater Sexual reproduction is a nearly universal characteristic of the eukaryotic life cycle, yet it is rarely observed in natural populations of micro-eukaryotes. Sex is particularly relevant for diatoms, a key group of marine and freshwater phytoplankton, where sexual reproduction counters a progressive cell size reduction due to cellular division. Here, we leveraged controlled sex transcriptome experiments of four diatom species to develop a robust method for in situ monitoring of sexual reproduction events. The resulting panel of conserved marker genes was validated for specificity and sensitivity using metatranscriptomic profiling of a natural estuarine community undergoing massive sexual reproduction of multiple species in response to increased salinity. Analysis of metatranscriptomic data linked with Metagenome-Assembled Genomes from the Tara Oceans expedition revealed widespread and coordinated expression of these markers across nine diatom genera, complemented by observations of sexual stages in automated imaging resources. Our results reveal that diatom sexual reproduction is more widespread in the global ocean than previously thought, encompassing both dominant bloom-forming species and rare taxa. Our panel of markers to detect sexual reproduction in natural environments paves the road to better understand the interplay between endogenous and environmental controls of this pivotal process, essential for the diatoms' evolutionary success.