Liang Wensheng, Gao Xiang, She Yang, Jing Xin, Yuan Xiaolong, Zhu Derui
School of Food and Biological Engineering, Shaanxi University of Science & Technology, Xi'an 710021, China.
Research Center of Basic Medical Science, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China.
Microorganisms. 2025 Apr 14;13(4):903. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13040903.
In drylands, microalgae dwelling in the biocrust are inevitably confronted with nitrogen deficiency and desiccation stress, despite the protection afforded by the soil biological complex. However, the environmental adaptive features and mechanisms of these microalgae remain largely unknown. In this study, we explored the adaptive changes of a biocrust-derived unicellular microalga, sp. WL1 (Eustigmatophyceae), in the face of long-term nitrogen deficiency. Attention was focused on the alterations in cell wall properties and the associated desiccation resistance. After exposure to long-term nitrogen deficiency, the cell walls of sp. WL1 thickened substantially, accompanied by enhanced rigidity and an improvement in desiccation resistance. In contrast, sp. WL1 cells cultivated under nitrogen-replete conditions were highly vulnerable to desiccation stress. Additional cell wall alterations after nitrogen starvation included distinct surface sculpturing, variations in monosaccharide composition, and changes in functional groups. Collectively, this study provides valuable insights into the survival strategies of biocrust-derived microalgae in nitrogen-deficient dryland environments.
在干旱地区，尽管土壤生物复合体提供了保护，但生活在生物土壤结皮中的微藻不可避免地面临氮素缺乏和干旱胁迫。然而，这些微藻的环境适应特征和机制在很大程度上仍不清楚。在本研究中，我们探究了一种源自生物土壤结皮的单细胞微藻——WL1藻种（硅藻纲）在长期氮素缺乏情况下的适应性变化。研究重点关注细胞壁特性的改变以及相关的抗旱性。在长期氮素缺乏条件下，WL1藻种的细胞壁显著增厚，同时硬度增强，抗旱性提高。相比之下，在氮素充足条件下培养的WL1藻种细胞对干旱胁迫高度敏感。氮饥饿后细胞壁的其他变化包括明显的表面形态、单糖组成的变化以及官能团的改变。总的来说，本研究为源自生物土壤结皮的微藻在缺氮干旱环境中的生存策略提供了有价值的见解。
