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Role of Autophagy in Haematococcus lacustris Cell Growth under Salinity

Authors :
Daria A. Zharova
Alexandra N. Ivanova
Irina V. Drozdova
Alla I. Belyaeva
Olga N. Boldina
Olga V. Voitsekhovskaja
Elena V. Tyutereva
Source :
Plants, Vol 11, Iss 2, p 197 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
MDPI AG, 2022.

Abstract

The microalga Haematococcus lacustris (formerly H. pluvialis) is able to accumulate high amounts of the carotenoid astaxanthin in the course of adaptation to stresses like salinity. Technologies aimed at production of natural astaxanthin for commercial purposes often involve salinity stress; however, after a switch to stressful conditions, H. lacustris experiences massive cell death which negatively influences astaxanthin yield. This study addressed the possibility to improve cell survival in H. lacustris subjected to salinity via manipulation of the levels of autophagy using AZD8055, a known inhibitor of TOR kinase previously shown to accelerate autophagy in several microalgae. Addition of NaCl in concentrations of 0.2% or 0.8% to the growth medium induced formation of autophagosomes in H. lacustris, while simultaneous addition of AZD8055 up to a final concentration of 0.2 µM further stimulated this process. AZD8055 significantly improved the yield of H. lacustris cells after 5 days of exposure to 0.2% NaCl. Strikingly, this occurred by acceleration of cell growth, and not by acceleration of aplanospore formation. The level of astaxanthin synthesis was not affected by AZD8055. However, cytological data suggested a role of autophagosomes, lysosomes and Golgi cisternae in cell remodeling during high salt stress.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
22237747
Volume :
11
Issue :
2
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Plants
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.136e27c91dbe4f65ad4e04c9fef944ea
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11020197