Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae
Abstract Background Microalgae, as major primary producers on Earth, are constantly exposed to oxidative stresses from various natural environments. These oxidative stresses often seriously threaten the productivity and species composition of microalgae. However, how microalgae resist oxidative stre...
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BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Plant Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06587-7 |
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| author | Ruihao Zhang Tengfei Xiao Baohua Zhu Chengxiang Kan Xing Chen Zihao Cao Yan Zhao Yun Li Guanpin Yang Kehou Pan |
| author_facet | Ruihao Zhang Tengfei Xiao Baohua Zhu Chengxiang Kan Xing Chen Zihao Cao Yan Zhao Yun Li Guanpin Yang Kehou Pan |
| author_sort | Ruihao Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Microalgae, as major primary producers on Earth, are constantly exposed to oxidative stresses from various natural environments. These oxidative stresses often seriously threaten the productivity and species composition of microalgae. However, how microalgae resist oxidative stress is still largely unknown. Results Here, we identified the carbohydrate metabolism intermediate uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) from the model microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum as a positive regulator in response to oxidative stresses. Under oxidative stresses induced by hydrogen peroxide and high temperature, exogenous addition of UDPG and overexpression of the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (UGPase), a key gene for intracellular UDPG synthesis, both increased oxidative stress tolerance in P. tricornutum. The algal cells mainly showed reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the content of malondialdehyde, and cell death rate, together with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. By contrast, the reduction of UDPG content in UGPase knockout strain resulted in aggravated oxidative damage. Physiological/biochemical evidence combined with transcriptomic and quantitative PCR analyses further showed that UDPG activated the upregulated expression of genes associated with photosynthesis under oxidative stress conditions and decreased oxidative stress damage to photosynthesis, which contributed to increase the photosynthetic activity and reduce the excitation pressure of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, and in turn inhibiting ROS production. Conclusions Our findings unveil that UDPG is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress response in P. tricornutum, providing a worthy target for improving stress tolerance in microalgae. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ec24573dbf72450fb906902ccbc57aa0 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1471-2229 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Plant Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-ec24573dbf72450fb906902ccbc57aa02025-08-20T02:11:09ZengBMCBMC Plant Biology1471-22292025-05-0125111810.1186/s12870-025-06587-7Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgaeRuihao Zhang0Tengfei Xiao1Baohua Zhu2Chengxiang Kan3Xing Chen4Zihao Cao5Yan Zhao6Yun Li7Guanpin Yang8Kehou Pan9Laoshan LaboratoryKey Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of EducationKey Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of EducationCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaKey Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of EducationKey Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of EducationCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaKey Laboratory of Mariculture (Ocean University of China), Ministry of EducationCollege of Marine Life Sciences, Ocean University of ChinaLaoshan LaboratoryAbstract Background Microalgae, as major primary producers on Earth, are constantly exposed to oxidative stresses from various natural environments. These oxidative stresses often seriously threaten the productivity and species composition of microalgae. However, how microalgae resist oxidative stress is still largely unknown. Results Here, we identified the carbohydrate metabolism intermediate uridine diphosphate glucose (UDPG) from the model microalga Phaeodactylum tricornutum as a positive regulator in response to oxidative stresses. Under oxidative stresses induced by hydrogen peroxide and high temperature, exogenous addition of UDPG and overexpression of the UDP-glucose pyrophosphorylase gene (UGPase), a key gene for intracellular UDPG synthesis, both increased oxidative stress tolerance in P. tricornutum. The algal cells mainly showed reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the content of malondialdehyde, and cell death rate, together with enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities. By contrast, the reduction of UDPG content in UGPase knockout strain resulted in aggravated oxidative damage. Physiological/biochemical evidence combined with transcriptomic and quantitative PCR analyses further showed that UDPG activated the upregulated expression of genes associated with photosynthesis under oxidative stress conditions and decreased oxidative stress damage to photosynthesis, which contributed to increase the photosynthetic activity and reduce the excitation pressure of the photosynthetic electron transport chain, and in turn inhibiting ROS production. Conclusions Our findings unveil that UDPG is involved in the regulation of oxidative stress response in P. tricornutum, providing a worthy target for improving stress tolerance in microalgae.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06587-7Phaeodactylum tricornutumUridine diphosphate glucoseEnvironmental stressesAntioxidant capacityPhotosynthesis |
| spellingShingle | Ruihao Zhang Tengfei Xiao Baohua Zhu Chengxiang Kan Xing Chen Zihao Cao Yan Zhao Yun Li Guanpin Yang Kehou Pan Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae BMC Plant Biology Phaeodactylum tricornutum Uridine diphosphate glucose Environmental stresses Antioxidant capacity Photosynthesis |
| title | Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| title_full | Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| title_fullStr | Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| title_short | Uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| title_sort | uridine diphosphate glucose confers oxidative stress tolerance in microalgae |
| topic | Phaeodactylum tricornutum Uridine diphosphate glucose Environmental stresses Antioxidant capacity Photosynthesis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06587-7 |
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