Integrated Multi-omics Mechanism of Optimal Temperatures for Dolichospermum flos-aquae
Abstract
Temperature fluctuations pose significant challenges for cyanobacterial survival and proliferation. Dolichospermum flos-aquae, a nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium, exhibits distinct adaptive strategies under varying temperature conditions. In this study, we employed a multi-omics approach to systematically investigate the role of fatty acids in Dolichospermum flos-aquae’s temperature adaptation. Growth rate analysis identified 25°C as the optimal temperature, with 15°C and 29°C selected for comparative experiments.Fatty acid profiling revealed a temperature-dependent pattern in saturated and unsaturated fatty acid composition. Transcriptomic analysis and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) identified key regulatory modules involved in lipid metabolism, photosynthesis, and stress responses. Functional enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) highlighted significant pathways related to membrane lipid remodeling, amino acid biosynthesis, and transcriptional regulation. Notably, genes with transcription factors (TFs) were found to regulate temperature adaptation process of Dolichospermum flos-aquae, suggesting a complex genetic network underlying temperature adaptation. To validate the physiological role of fatty acids, exogenous fatty acid supplementation experiments were conducted. The results demonstrated that specific long-chain and unsaturated fatty acids significantly enhanced growth at non-optimal temperatures, further confirming their role in thermal adaptation. This study provides novel insights into the temperature adaptation mechanisms of D. flos-aquae, emphasizing the interplay between fatty acid metabolism and transcriptional regulation. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for predicting cyanobacterial responses to climate change and developing strategies for harmful algal bloom control. Keywords: Dolichospermum flos-aquae, cyanobacterial blooms, temperature adaptation, fatty acids, multi-omics analysis
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Zhang, Tianyue (2025). Integrated Multi-omics Mechanism of Optimal Temperatures for Dolichospermum flos-aquae. Master's thesis, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/32939.
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