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Bet hedging in a unicellular microalga

Author

Listed:
  • Si Tang

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Yaqing Liu

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Jianming Zhu

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Xueyu Cheng

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Lu Liu

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Katrin Hammerschmidt

    (Kiel University)

  • Jin Zhou

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

  • Zhonghua Cai

    (Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School
    Tsinghua Shenzhen International Graduate School)

Abstract

Understanding how organisms have adapted to persist in unpredictable environments is a fundamental goal in biology. Bet hedging, an evolutionary adaptation observed from microbes to humans, facilitates reproduction and population persistence in randomly fluctuating environments. Despite its prevalence, empirical evidence in microalgae, crucial primary producers and carbon sinks, is lacking. Here, we report a bet-hedging strategy in the unicellular microalga Haematococcus pluvialis. We show that isogenic populations reversibly diversify into heterophenotypic mobile and non-mobile cells independently of environmental conditions, likely driven by stochastic gene expression. Mobile cells grow faster but are stress-sensitive, while non-mobile cells prioritise stress resistance over growth. This is due to shifts from growth-promoting activities (cell division, photosynthesis) to resilience-promoting processes (thickened cell wall, cell enlargement, aggregation, accumulation of antioxidant and energy-storing compounds). Our results provide empirical evidence for bet hedging in a microalga, indicating the potential for adaptation to current and future environmental conditions and consequently conservation of ecosystem functions.

Suggested Citation

  • Si Tang & Yaqing Liu & Jianming Zhu & Xueyu Cheng & Lu Liu & Katrin Hammerschmidt & Jin Zhou & Zhonghua Cai, 2024. "Bet hedging in a unicellular microalga," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46297-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46297-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Hubertus J. E. Beaumont & Jenna Gallie & Christian Kost & Gayle C. Ferguson & Paul B. Rainey, 2009. "Experimental evolution of bet hedging," Nature, Nature, vol. 462(7269), pages 90-93, November.
    2. Martin Ackermann & Bärbel Stecher & Nikki E. Freed & Pascal Songhet & Wolf-Dietrich Hardt & Michael Doebeli, 2008. "Self-destructive cooperation mediated by phenotypic noise," Nature, Nature, vol. 454(7207), pages 987-990, August.
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