Proteomic insights into the molecular response of Sargassum vulgare to
acidification at volcanic CO2 vents
Abstract
Ocean acidification is impacting marine life all over the world.
Understanding how species are able to cope with the changes of seawater
carbonate chemistry represents a challenging issue. We addressed this
topic using underwater CO2 vents that naturally acidify some marine
areas occurring off the island of Ischia. There, the brown alga
Sargassum vulgare dominates the most acidified area, showing a pH value
of 6.7, comparable to future, i.e. 2300, acidification scenarios. The
novelty of the present study is the characterization of the S. vulgare
proteome as response to ocean acidification. A total of 584 and 535
proteins were characterized in populations grown on current pH and
acidified sites, respectively. 507 Proteins were significantly expressed
in samples from both sites: 41 proteins were either up-regulated or
exclusively present under acidified conditions, whereas 108 proteins
were either down-regulated in the acidified site or present only under
control conditions. Functionally, a decrease in proteins related to
transcription and translation, and ER/Golgi trafficking and vesicular
transport was observed under acidification. The up-regulated proteins
are involved in the photosynthetic process and stress response. In
addition, aminoacids metabolism was affected, which was reflected in
their levels. Analyses of other metabolites revealed variations in the
levels of some fatty acids and phenols. Overall, the results obtained by
proteomics and metabolites analysis, integrated with previous
transcriptomic, physiological and biochemical studies, have allowed to
delineate the molecular strategies adopted by S. vulgare to grow in
future acidified environments.