01659nas a2200193 4500008004100000022001300041245008600054210006900140260001200209300001100221490000700232520104000239100001401279700002301293700002901316700002601345700002201371856007201393 2021 eng d a2589004200aDraft genome sequence of the Antarctic green alga Chlamydomonas sp. UWO2410 aDraft genome sequence of the Antarctic green alga IChlamydomonas c2021-02 a1020840 v243 a

Antarctica is home to an assortment of psychrophilic algae, which have evolved various survival strategies for coping with their frigid environments. Here, we explore Antarctic psychrophily by examining the ∼212 Mb draft nuclear genome of the green alga Chlamydomonas sp. UWO241, which resides within the water column of a perennially ice-covered, hypersaline lake. Like certain other Antarctic algae, UWO241 encodes a large number (≥37) of ice-binding proteins, putatively originating from horizontal gene transfer. Even more striking, UWO241 harbors hundreds of highly similar duplicated genes involved in diverse cellular processes, some of which we argue are aiding its survival in the Antarctic via gene dosage. Gene and partial gene duplication appear to be an ongoing phenomenon within UWO241, one which might be mediated by retrotransposons. Ultimately, we consider how such a process could be associated with adaptation to extreme environments but explore potential non-adaptive hypotheses as well.

1 aZhang, Xi1 aCvetkovska, Marina1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M.1 aHüner, Norman, P. A.1 aSmith, David, Roy uhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S258900422100052302573nas a2200265 4500008004100000022001400041245010400055210006900159260001200228300001400240490000700254520177600261653002002037653002102057653001502078653001702093653002402110653001202134653002502146100001202171700002002183700001602203700002902219856005902248 2019 eng d a0948-305500aDrivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in chemically stratified Antarctic lakes0 aDrivers of protistan community autotrophy and heterotrophy in ch c01/2019 a225 - 2390 v823 a

Single-celled, eukaryotic microorganisms, known as protists, are responsible for 2 important, yet opposing, metabolic activities within aquatic food webs. They are major primary producers and highly active predators in marine and fresh water systems. While genomics has accelerated in recent years for this taxonomically diverse group, our understanding of the metabolic capabilities of most protists remains limited. It is also poorly understood how protist trophic mode is affected by biotic and abiotic factors, and therefore it is difficult to predict how events such as global climate change will affect the balance between autotrophic and heterotrophic activities in protist communities. To address open questions regarding how protist metabolic versatility is influenced by their environment, we characterized the potential for carbon fixation versus organic carbon degradation using enzymatic assays (RubisCO and β-D-glucosaminidase, respectively) within the water columns of ice-covered lakes in McMurdo Dry Valleys (MDV), Antarctica. Steep physical and chemical gradients in the water columns, microorganism domination and minimal allochthonous inputs makes the MDV lakes uniquely suited to investigate environment-microbe interactions. Spatial trends in RubisCO and β-D-glucosaminidase activities were lake-specific and vertically stratified within the water columns. Moreover, bottom-up drivers controlling the activity of C-fixation vs. organic C-degradation among the MDV protist communities were distinct between the upper photic vs. the deep, aphotic zones. We conclude that differential controls over major C-cycling enzymes have important implications on the influence of environmental change on the carbon and nutrient cycles in the MDV lakes.

10aAntarctic lakes10aAquatic protists10aAutotrophy10aHeterotrophy10aMcMurdo Dry Valleys10aRubisCO10aβ-D-glucosaminidase1 aLi, Wei1 aDolhi-Binder, J1 aCariani, ZE1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M. uhttps://www.int-res.com/abstracts/ame/v82/n3/p225-239/00561nas a2200157 4500008004100000245012400041210006900165260001200234300001400246490000700260100001800267700002000285700002100305700002900326856004800355 2012 eng d00aDiversity and Expression of RubisCO Genes in a Perennially Ice-Covered Antarctic Lake during the Polar Night Transition0 aDiversity and Expression of RubisCO Genes in a Perennially IceCo c04/2012 a4358-43660 v781 aKong, Weidong1 aReam, David, C.1 aPriscu, John, C.1 aMorgan-Kiss, Rachael, M. uhttp://aem.asm.org/content/78/12/4358.short