What Makes Microorganisms Succussed in Red-Shifted Light Environments – a Differential Expression Analysis

Micro-algae, freshwater or marine, play a vital role in the aquatic ecosystem. As primary producers, the effect light has on these organisms is critical. While acclimation to light intensities has been well established, the effect the light spectrum has on these organisms is insufficiently studied. Understanding how micro-algae acclimate to different wavelengths will further our knowledge of these organisms and the ecosystems that rely on them. Here we examine a red-shifted natural environment, a peat lake in Northern Israel. By comparing the meta-transcriptomes from two light environments, one with the entire light spectrum available and another with most of the available light in the red wavelengths, we explore the cellular functions and proteins that allow micro-algae to succeed in a red-dominant light environment. Our analysis shows that 49% of the variance (Dimension 1; PCA) can be explained by the difference in light environments. Enriched root categories that highly contribute to this component can be found under the COG categories: Energy production and conversion (C), Inorganic transport and metabolism (P), Signal transduction mechanisms (T), and others. These categories may hint at different success strategies when dealing with distinct light environments.