Characterization of calcium-dependent protein kinases involved in ROS signaling during fertilization in the red alga Bostrychia moritziana (Ceramiales, Rhodomelaceae)
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The interplay between calcium signaling and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is important in many cellular activities, yet its involvement in biological processes in red algae is mostly not studied. Fertilization in red algae is unique, and while it is known that ROS is a necessary signal, its producing and interplay with calcium and calcium-dependent protein kinases (CDPKs) is unknown. Through experimental assays, we visualized calcium influx and ROS accumulation during fertilization in the red alga Bostrychia moritziana. Through transcriptomics, five CDPK family genes were identified in B. moritziana, with structural analysis revealing variation in these homologs. Protein structure prediction shows similarities and differences in CDPK structures, likely reflecting their different roles in cellular processes. The regulatory role of CDPKs in ROS production was confirmed by the increased expression of CDPKs genes during fertilization. The inhibition experiments showed that reciprocal positive feedback between CDPK expression and ROS production, emphasizing the intricate regulatory mechanisms underlying calcium-dependent signaling pathways. The fertilization process of B. moritziana could also be an excellent model to study the role of CDPKs in the downstream signaling pathways of the interaction of calcium and ROS signaling.
Source: ALGAE
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
Award: G308099003
OpenAlex ID: W4405694669