Diatom Chaetoceros Neogracile Research Articles

Impact of polystyrene microplastics on the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of diatom Chaetoceros neogracile

The increasing prevalence of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments has raised concerns about its impact on marine life. Among the different types of microplastics, polystyrene microplastics (PSMPs) are one of the most commonly detected in aquatic systems. Chaetoceros neogracile (diatom) is an essential part of the marine food web and plays a critical role in nutrient cycling. This study aimed to monitor the ecotoxicological impact of PSMPs on diatoms and observe enzymatic interactions through molecular docking simulations. Results showed that diatom growth decreased with increasing concentrations and exposure time to PSMPs, and the lowest photosynthetic efficiency (Fv/Fm) value was observed after 72 and 96 h of exposure to 200 mg L−1 of PSMPs. High concentrations of PSMPs led to a decrease in chlorophyll a content (up to 64.4%) and protein content (up to 35.5%). Molecular docking simulations revealed potential interactions between PSMPs and the extrinsic protein in photosystem II protein of diatoms, suggesting a strong affinity between the two. These findings indicate a detrimental effect of PSMPs on the growth and photosynthetic efficiency of diatoms and highlight the need for further research on the impact of microplastics on marine microbial processes.

Lack of a Zn/Co substitution ability in the polar diatom Chaetoceros neogracileRS19

AbstractFunctional substitution of the essential trace metals zinc (Zn) and cobalt (Co) within metalloenzymes has been well documented in marine diatoms and is known to be prevalent among varying genera and species. In contrast to the majority of species studied to date, we find that the polar diatom Chaetoceros neogracile RS19, originally isolated from the Ross Sea, Antarctica, has a Zn requirement that cannot be met by Co and thus does not demonstrate a Zn/Co substitution ability as assessed by growth rate. We investigated this diatom's inability to use Co to alleviate Zn‐limited growth rates at the transporter, sensor/chaperone, and metalloenzyme level using metal quota and proteomic analyses of cultures grown over a range of Zn and Co availability. Analysis of total cellular metal quotas revealed that, although incapable of substitution, this diatom still actively assimilated dissolved Co. We furthermore observed distinct trends in the abundance levels of putative α and θ‐CAs, ZIP transporters, Zn fingers, and a Zn chaperone in response to increasing media Zn2+. Overall, Co appears to be transported into the cell, but not efficiently utilized by Zn metalloenzymes.

Nanoplastics exposure modulate lipid and pigment compositions in diatoms

The impact of nanoplastics (NP) using model polystyrene nanoparticles amine functionalized (PS–NH2) has been investigated on pigment and lipid compositions of the marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, at two growth phases using a low (0.05 μg mL−1) and a high (5 μg mL−1) concentrations for 96 h. Results evidenced an impact on pigment composition associated to the light-harvesting function and photoprotection mainly at exponential phase. NP also impacted lipid composition of diatoms with a re-adjustment of lipid classes and fatty acids noteworthy. Main changes upon NP exposure were observed in galactolipids and triacylglycerol’s at both growth phases affecting the thylakoids membrane structure and cellular energy reserve of diatoms. Particularly, exponential cultures exposed to high NP concentration showed an impairment of long chain fatty acids synthesis. Changes in pigment and lipid content of diatom’ cells revealed that algae physiology is determinant in the way cells adjust their thylakoid membrane composition to cope with NP contamination stress. Compositions of reserve and membrane lipids are proposed as sensitive markers to assess the impact of NP exposure, including at potential predicted environmental doses, on marine organisms.

Polystyrene microbeads modulate the energy metabolism of the marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile

Due to the growing concern about the presence of microplastics (MP) in the environment, the number of studies evaluating the toxicity of these small persistent particles on different marine species has increased in recent years. Few studies have addressed their impact on marine phytoplankton, a subject of great concern since they are primary producers of the aquatic food web. The aim of this study is to unravel the cytotoxicity of 2.5 μg mL−1 unlabelled amino-modified polystyrene beads of different sizes (0.5 and 2 μm) on the marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile. In addition to traditional growth and photosynthesis endpoints, several physiological and biochemical parameters were monitored every 24 h in C. neogracile cells by flow cytometry during their exponential growth (72 h). Dynamic Light Scattering measurements revealed the strong aggregation and the negative charge of the beads assayed in the culture medium, which seemed to minimize particle interaction with cells and potentially associated impacts. Indeed, MP were not attached to the microalgal cell wall, as evidenced by scanning electron micrographs. Cell growth, morphology, photosynthesis, reactive oxygen species levels and membrane potential remained unaltered. However, exposure to MP significantly decreased the cellular esterase activity and the neutral lipid content. Microalgal oil bodies could serve as an energy source for maintaining a healthy cellular status. Thus, MP-exposed cells modulate their energy metabolism to properly acclimate to the stress conditions.

Do transparent exopolymeric particles (TEP) affect the toxicity of nanoplastics on Chaetoceros neogracile?

The potential presence of nanoplastics (NP) in aquatic environments represents a growing concern regarding their possible effects on aquatic organisms. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of polystyrene (PS) amino-modified particles (50 nm PSNH2) on the cellular and metabolic responses of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile cultures at two essential phases of the growth cycle, i.e. exponential (division) and stationary (storage) phases. Both cultures were exposed for 4 days to low (0.05 μg mL-1) and high (5 μg mL-1) concentrations of PS-NH2. Exposure to NP impaired more drastically the major cellular and physiological parameters during exponential phase than during the stationary phase. Only an increase in ROS production was observed at both culture phases following NP exposures. In exponential phase cultures, large decreases in chlorophyll content, esterase activity, cellular growth and photosynthetic efficiency were recorded upon NP exposure, which could have consequences on the diatoms life cycle and higher food-web levels. The observed differential responses to NP exposure according to culture phase could reflect i) the higher concentration of Transparent Exopolymer Particles (TEP) at stationary phase leading to NP aggregation and thus, probably minimizing NP effects, and/or ii) the fact that dividing cells during exponential phase may be intrinsically more sensitive to stress. This work evidenced the importance of algae physiological state for assessing the NP impacts with interactions between NP and TEP being one key factor affecting the fate of NP in algal media and their impact to algal' cells.

Usefulness of the euglenophyte Eutreptiella eupharyngea as a new diet alga for clam culture

Microalgae are an essential primary feed source in aquaculture. However, there is a deficiency of microalgae that can provide a stable supply of nutrient-rich feed at low water temperatures during the winter and spring. The aim of this study was to develop a new diet microalga that can grow well outdoors at low water temperatures and possesses the essential nutritive constituents. In laboratory experiments, the euglenophyte Eutreptiella eupharyngea grew well at water temperatures of 10–25 °C, but could not grow at 30 °C. In outdoor experiments, E. eupharyngea also grew well in mid-winter, and produced maximum cell densities of 3.2 × 105 cells mL−1 and 2.5 × 105 cells mL−1 at salinities of 25 and 30, respectively. During these experiments, water temperatures ranged from 4.0 to 20.3 °C, with a mean of 10.1 °C. The dietary effect of E. eupharyngea per dry weight on juvenile Ruditapes philippinarum of >1.5 mm shell length exceeded that of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile. These findings are attributable to the high nutritional value of E. eupharyngea as typified by its high protein and sugar content and high content ratio of n-3 fatty acids such as eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic acid and n-6 fatty acids such as arachidonic acid. This high nutritional value, combined with the species' high growth potential at low temperatures, means that E. eupharyngea may offer significant advantages as a new diet alga for the seed production of mollusks in late fall and spring.

Enhancement of dietary effect of Nannochloropsis sp. on juvenile Ruditapes philippinarum clams by alginate hydrolysates

The eustigmatophyte Nannochloropsis sp. can be produced on a large scale at low cost. However, its dietary usefulness for juvenile bivalves is less than that of other algae. Recently, we reported that growth of juveniles of the clam Ruditapes philippinarum was dramatically promoted by supplementing a diet of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile with alginate hydrolysates (AHs) at the concentration of 4mgL−1. In this study, we examined the effect of AHs on Nannochloropsis sp. as a clam diet. Ten-day rearing experiments in 500-mL beakers showed that AHs have a beneficial effect on clam culture regardless of water temperature. Shell growth in clams given AHs at the concentration of 4mgL−1 along with Nannochloropsis sp. at the concentration of 20×104 cells mL−1 was higher than in any other test groups at 15 or 25°C. In 20-day rearing experiments in 30-L tanks, the average shell length in the groups given AHs at the concentration of 4mgL−1 along with Nannochloropsis sp. at the concentration of 30×104 cells mL−1 was significantly greater than that in the groups given C. neogracile and Nannochloropsis sp. alone (P≪0.05). Furthermore, the total weight of clams given AHs at the concentration of 4mgL−1 along with Nannochloropsis sp. at the concentration of 30×104 cells mL−1 was greater than that in the group given only Nannochloropsis sp. (P≪0.05). Hence, the enhanced dietary effect of a combination of Nannochloropsis sp. and AHs will help to shorten the rearing time of R. philippinarum and to provide a stable supply of algal diet.

Identification and Characterization of an Isoform Antifreeze Protein from the Antarctic Marine Diatom, Chaetoceros neogracile and Suggestion of the Core Region.

Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) protecting the cells against freezing are produced in response to extremely low temperatures in diverse psychrophilic organisms, and they are encoded by multiple gene families. The AFP of Antarctic marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile is reported in our previous research, but like other microalgae, was considered to probably have additional genes coding AFPs. In this paper, we reported the cloning and characterization of additional AFP gene from C. neogracile (Cn-isoAFP). Cn-isoAFP protein is 74.6% identical to the previously reported Cn-AFP. The promoter sequence of Cn-isoAFP contains environmental stress responsive elements for cold, thermal, and high light conditions. Cn-isoAFP transcription levels increased dramatically when cells were exposed to freezing (−20 °C), thermal (10 °C), or high light (600 μmol photon m−2 s−1) stresses. The thermal hysteresis (TH) activity of recombinant Cn-isoAFP was 0.8 °C at a protein concentration of 5 mg/mL. Results from homology modeling and TH activity analysis of site-directed mutant proteins elucidated AFP mechanism to be a result of flatness of B-face maintained via hydrophobic interactions.

A metabolic profile in Ruditapes philippinarum associated with growth-promoting effects of alginate hydrolysates.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the growth-promoting effect of alginate hydrolysates (AHs) on the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum, and to verify the physiological change occurring within a living R. philippinarum stimulated by AHs. We show that growth of clams was dramatically promoted by supplementing a diet of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile with AHs at 4 mg/mL. Furthermore, metabolomics indicates that each state of starvation, food satiation, and sexual maturation have a characteristic pattern. In the groups given AHs in addition to C. neogracile in particular, excess carbohydrate was actively utilized for the development of reproductive tissue. In contrast, it appeared that clams in the groups given C. neogracile only were actively growing, utilizing their adequate carbohydrate resources. Meanwhile, the unfed groups have slowed growth because of the lack of an energy source. Hence, supplementation of AHs in addition to the algal diet may be an inexpensive way to shorten the rearing period of R. philippinarum. Moreover, metabolomics can evaluate the growth condition of R. philippinarum in a comprehensive way, and this approach is crucially important for not only the development of a mass culture method but also for the conservation of the clam resource in the field.

Effect of diet quality on mussel biomarker responses to pollutants

The effect of the quality of two microalgal species on select biological and biochemical responses used as indicators of pollution were assessed. Mussels were conditioned for 6 weeks with the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile and the dinoflagellate Heterocapsa triquetra, chosen for being two clearly different types of primary production quality that differ in both biometric and biochemical characteristics. After dietary conditioning, the mussels were exposed to a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, fluoranthene (FLU), for 1 week followed by 1 week of depuration. Results showed higher FLU accumulation in mussels fed on C. neogracile compared to those fed on H. triquetra. Concomitantly, a greater impact of this toxicant was observed in the biomarker responses of mussels fed on C. neogracile. These mussels showed an increase in the percentage of dead hemocytes, an activation of phagocytosis and ROS production of hemocytes after exposure. Some enzymatic activities also increased upon FLU exposure (superoxide dismutase −SOD-, catalase −CAT-, and glutathione reductases −GR-) and after depuration (glutathione-s-transferase −GST-). Results suggest that FLU exposure as well as food quality influence biomarker responses, with higher values of SOD, CAT and GR in non-exposed mussels fed on C. neogracile. In addition, upon exposure to the same FLU concentration, GR response varied according to dietary conditioning, suggesting that diet could act as a confounding factor in biomarker responses to pollution. Consequently, trophic conditions should be considered in marine pollution monitoring programs for a better interpretation of biomarker responses.

Use of response surface methodology to determine optimum diets for Venerupis corrugata larvae: effects of ration and microalgal assemblages

Microalgal quantity and quality are major factors affecting bivalve larval growth. Effects of ration using bi-specific diet assemblages with varying proportions of the flagellate Isochrysis galbana and the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile were evaluated on Venerupis corrugata larval development. Response surface methodology was used to determine the optimal ration and better proportions of flagellate and diatom in the microalgal diet at different phases of larval development (early larva (<190μm, 10days), 12days, early pediveliger (15days) and young postlarvae (26days)). Maximum growth was obtained on day 10 for a diet of 22.5cellsμL−1 of I. galbana, which suggests that C. neogracile was not ingested or digested by early larvae. On day 12 a maximum in the experimental domain was predicted for a diet of 22.5cellsμL−1 of I. galbana and the lowest concentration of C. neogracile tested (30cellsμL−1), as C. neogracile reduced growth of the larvae at higher concentrations. On day 15, maximum growth was found at 42.6cellsμL−1 of C. neogracile and 27.9cellsμL−1 of I. galbana. During metamorphosis and early postlarval growth optimal ration was 70cellsμL−1 of a bi-specific diet in similar proportions to that previous stage of development. This novel approach to study bivalve larval nutrition allows the quality and quantity of the optimal diet to be determined. Statement of relevanceThis study is really relevant to the field of bivalve larval production because it defines the quality and quantity of the optimal diet for larvae of the clam Venerupis corrugata. The information provided in this paper has great applicability for clam larval production in commercial hatcheries.

Interactions between microplastics and phytoplankton aggregates: Impact on their respective fates

Plastic debris are resistant to degradation, and therefore tend to accumulate in marine environment. Nevertheless recent estimations of plastic concentrations at the surface of the ocean were lower than expected leading the communities to seek new sinks. Among the different processes suggested we chose to focus on the transport of microplastics from the surface to deeper layers of the ocean via phytoplankton aggregates that constitute most of the sinking flux. Interactions between microplastics and aggregates were studied by building a new device: the flow-through roller tank that mimics the behaviour of laboratory made aggregates sinking through a dense layer of microplastics. Three types of aggregates formed from two different algae species (the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, the cryptophyte Rhodomonas salina and a mix) were used as model. With their frustule made of biogenic silica which is denser than the organic matter, diatom aggregates sunk faster than R. salina aggregates. Diatom aggregates were on average bigger and stickier while aggregates from R. salina were smaller and more fragile. With higher concentrations measured in R. salina aggregates, all model-aggregates incorporated and concentrated microplastics, substantially increasing the microplastic sinking rates from tenths to hundreds of metres per day. Our results clearly show that marine aggregates can be an efficient sink for microplastics by influencing their vertical distribution in the water column. Furthermore, despite the high plastic concentrations tested, our study opens new questions regarding the impact of plastics on sedimentation fluxes in oceans. As an effect of microplastic incorporation, the sinking rates of diatom aggregates strongly decreased meanwhile the sinking rates of cryptophyte aggregates increased.

Influence of one selectedTisochrysis luteastrain rich in lipids onCrassostrea gigaslarval development and biochemical composition

Effects of a remarkably high overall lipid Tisochrysis lutea strain (T+) upon gross biochemical composition, fatty acid (FA), sterol and lipid class composition of Crassostrea gigas larvae were evaluated and compared with a normal strain of Tisochrysis lutea (T) and the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile (Cg). In a first experiment, the influence of different single diets (T, T+ and Cg) and a bispecific diet (TCg) was studied, whereas, effects of monospecific diets (T and T+) and bispecific diets (TCg and T+Cg) were evaluated in a second experiment. The strain T+ was very rich in triglycerides (TAG: 93–95% of total neutral lipids), saturated FA (45%), monounsaturated FA (31–33%) and total fatty acids (4.0–4.7 pg cell−1). Larval oyster survival and growth rate were positively correlated with 18:1n-7 and 20:1n-7, in storage lipids (SL), and negatively related to 14:0, 18:1n-9, 20:1n-9, 20:4n-6 and trans-22-dehydrocholesterol in membrane lipids (ML). Surprisingly, only the essential fatty acid 20:5n-3 in SL was correlated positively with larval survival. Correlations suggest that physiological disruption by overabundance of TAG, FFA and certain fatty acids in larvae fed T+ was largely responsible for the poor performance of these larvae. ‘High-lipid’ strains of microalgae, without regard to qualitative lipid composition, do not always improve bivalve larval performance.

An intracellular antifreeze protein from an Antarctic microalga that responds to various environmental stresses.

The structure and function of the Antarctic marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile antifreeze protein (Cn-AFP), as well as its expression levels and characteristics of the ice-binding site, were analyzed in the present study. In silico analysis revealed that the Cn-AFP promoter contains both light- and temperature-responsive elements. Northern and Western blot analyses demonstrated that both Cn-AFP transcript and protein expression were strongly and rapidly stimulated by freezing, as well as temperature and high light stress. Immunogold labeling revealed that Cn-AFP is preferentially localized to the intracellular space near the chloroplast membrane. Recombinant Cn-AFP had clear antifreeze activity. Protein-folding simulation was used to predict the putative ice-binding sites in Cn-AFP, and site-directed mutagenesis of the Cn-AFP b-face confirmed their identification.

Frozen assembly of gold nanoparticles for rapid analysis of antifreeze protein activity

We report the novel activity-based detection of antifreeze protein (AFP), also known as ice-binding protein (IBP), using freeze-labile gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) in order to overcome labor-intensive and low throughput issues of the current method based on thermal hysteresis (TH). Upon the addition of either CnAFP from the Antarctic diatom Chaetoceros neogracile or LeIBP from the Arctic yeast Leucosporidium sp. to mercaptosuccinic acid-capped AuNP, the self-assembly of AuNPs was highly inhibited after a freezing/thawing cycle, leading to no color change in the AuNP solution. As a result, the aggregation parameter (E520/E650) of AuNP presented the rapid detection of both the concentration-dependent activity and stability of two AFPs with high sensitivity, where the detection range was 100-fold lower than that of the TH-based method. We suggest that our newly developed method is very suitable for simple and high-throughput measurement of AFP activity.

Isolation of mitochondrial and plastid ftsZ genes and analysis of the organelle targeting sequence in the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile (Diatoms, Bacillariophyceae)

SUMMARYMitochondria and plastids multiply by division in eukaryotic cells. Recently, the eukaryotic homolog of the bacterial cell division protein FtsZ was identified and shown to play an important role in the organelle division process inside the inner membrane. To explore the evolution of FtsZ proteins, and to accumulate data on the protein import system in mitochondria and plastids of the red algal lineage, one mitochondrial and three plastid ftsZ genes were isolated from the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, whose plastids were acquired by secondary endosymbiotic uptake of a red alga. Protein import into organelles depends on the N‐terminal organelle targeting sequences. N‐terminal bipartite presequences consisting of an endoplasmic reticulum signal peptide and a plastid transit peptide are required for protein import into diatom plastids. To characterize the organelle targeting peptides of C. neogracile, we observed the localization of each green fluorescent protein‐tagged predicted organelle targeting peptide in cultured tobacco cells and diatom cells. Our data suggested that each targeting sequences functioned both in tobacco cultured cells and diatom cells.

A New Insight into Allelopathic Effects of Alexandrium minutum on Photosynthesis and Respiration of the Diatom Chaetoceros neogracile Revealed by Photosynthetic-performance Analysis and Flow Cytometry

The allelopathic effects of Alexandrium minutum, a toxic dinoflagellate, on the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile were evaluated using unialgal cultures evaluated by flow cytometry (FCM) and photosynthetic-performance analysis. Using FCM, we demonstrated that red chlorophyll fluorescence, relative cell size (Forward scatter of blue laser light, FSC) and cell complexity (Side scatter, 90°-angle scatter of blue laser light, SSC) significantly and rapidly decreased in C. neogracile cells exposed to A. minutum. Cells of C. neogracile exposed to A. minutum had fewer active photosynthetic reaction centers and sharply decreased photosynthetic efficiency. These effects were intensified with advancing A. minutum batch culture age and cell density. The supernatant of A. minutum contained the majority of the putative allelopathic compounds, and the biological activity of these compounds remained active less than 9h after release. This paper describes for the first time specific effects of allelochemicals produced by A. minutum on the photosynthetic apparatus of microalgal target cells. The biochemical composition of A. minutum allelopathic agents, however, remains unknown and still needs to be investigated.

Evolution of Antifreeze Protein Genes in the Diatom Genus Fragilariopsis: Evidence for Horizontal Gene Transfer, Gene Duplication and Episodic Diversifying Selection

Hypotheses about horizontal transfer of antifreeze protein genes to ice-living diatoms were addressed using two different statistical methods available in the program Prunier. The role of diversifying selection in driving the differentiation of a set of antifreeze protein genes in the diatom genus Fragilariopsis was also investigated. Four horizontal gene transfer events were identified. Two of these took place between two major eukaryote lineages, that is from the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile to the copepod Stephos longipes and from a basidiomycete clade to a monophyletic group, consisting of the diatom species Fragilariopsis curta and Fragilariopsis cylindrus. The remaining two events included transfers from an ascomycete lineage to the proteobacterium Stigmatella aurantiaca and from the proteobacterium Polaribacter irgensii to a group composed of 4 proteobacterium species. After the Fragilariopsis lineage acquired the antifreeze protein gene from the basidiomycetes, it duplicated and went through episodic evolution, characterized by strong positive selection acting on short segments of the branches in the tree. This selection pattern suggests that the paralogs differentiated functionally over relatively short time periods. Taken together, the results obtained here indicate that the group of antifreeze protein genes considered here have a complex evolutionary history.

Particulate-dissolved transformations as a sink for semi-labile dissolved organic matter: Chemical characterization of high molecular weight dissolved and surface-active organic matter in seawater and in diatom cultures

Chemical characterizations of high molecular weight dissolved organic matter (HMW DOM) have shown that a compositionally well-defined family of acylated polysaccharides (APS) contributes a large fraction of DOM in the surface ocean. One process that might affect APS cycling is physical removal by aggregation. To investigate the importance of this mechanism, we compared the chemical composition and transparent exopolymer particle (TEP) abundances of seawater HMW DOM with surface-active organic matter (SAOM) that accumulates as standing sea surface foam during intense wind events. We further simulated the aggregation of SAOM using bubble-adsorption of HMW DOM isolated from laboratory cultures of the diatom Chaetoceros neogracile. 1H-NMR spectroscopy and molecular-level analysis of natural and laboratory-produced HMW DOM and SAOM show important contributions from polysaccharides, acetate, and aliphatic organic matter and similar yields and distributions of neutral sugars after hydrolysis. Microbial degradation of Chaetoceros neogracile DOM removes proteins and mannose-rich polysaccharides to produce HMW DOM with spectral and molecular-level characteristics that resemble seawater APS. These results imply that APS and hydrolysable sugars are resistant to microbial degradation over the time frame of our degradation experiment (40 days). As revealed by 1H-NMR spectroscopy and by the neutral monosaccharide data, there are important similarities in the composition of APS in HMW DOM and natural and laboratory-produced SAOM foamy material, rich in TEP. Although these samples are operationally classified in two distinct pools (dissolved vs. particulate) in seawater, they exhibit similar chemical and spectral characteristics. Finally, TEP concentration measurements in SAOM samples indicate that freshly-produced diatom DOM yields SAOM with TEP concentration similar to seawater and natural SAOM, but seven times higher than SAOM produced after bubble-adsorption of degraded HMW DOM.

Dynamic response of the transcriptome of a psychrophilic diatom, Chaetoceros neogracile, to high irradiance

Large-scale RNA profiling revealed that high irradiance differentially regulated 577 out of 1,439 non-redundant genes of the Antarctic marine diatom Chaetoceros neogracile, represented on a custom cDNA chip, during 6 h of treatment. Among genes that were up- or down-regulated more than twofold within 30 min of treatment (310/1,439), about half displayed an acclimatory response during 6 h under high light. Expression of the remaining non-acclimatory genes also rapidly returned to initial levels within 30 min following a shift to low irradiance. High light altered expression of most of the photosynthesis genes (48/70), in contrast to genes in other functional categories. In addition, opposite response patterns were provoked in genes encoding fucoxanthin chlorophyll a/c binding protein (FCP), the main component of the diatom light-harvesting complex; high irradiance caused a decrease in expression of most FCP genes, but drove the rapid and specific up-regulation of ten others. C. neogracile responded very promptly to a change in light intensity by rapidly adjusting the transcript levels of FCP genes up-regulated by high light, and these dynamic adjustments coincided well with diatoxanthin (Dtx) levels formed by the xanthophyll cycle under the same conditions. The observation that the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) capacity of this polar diatom was highly dependent on Dtx, which could bind to FCP and trigger NPQ, suggests that the up-regulated FCP gene products may participate in a photoprotective process as Dtx-binding proteins.