Host–virus shift of the sphingolipid pathway along an Emiliania huxleyi bloom: survival of the fattest

António Pagarete, Michael J. Allen, William H. Wilson, Susan A. Kimmance, Vargas C De

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

<jats:title>Summary</jats:title><jats:p>The interactions between viruses and phytoplankton play a key role in shaping the ecological and evolutionary dynamics of oceanic ecosystems. One of the most fascinating examples of horizontal gene transfer between a eukaryotic host and its virus is a <jats:italic>de novo</jats:italic> sphingolipid biosynthesis pathway (SBP) found in the genomes of both <jats:italic>Emiliania huxleyi</jats:italic> and its coccolithovirus EhV‐86. Here, we focus on a natural <jats:italic>E. huxleyi</jats:italic>/coccolithovirus system off the coast of Norway and investigate the dynamics of host and virus homologous gene expression for two of the most important sphingolipid biosynthesis enzymes, serine palmitoyl transferase (SPT) and dihydroceramide desaturase (DCD). Transcriptional dynamics display three defined stages along <jats:italic>E. huxleyi</jats:italic> bloom formation and decline, with the coccolithovirus transcripts taking over and controlling the SBP in stages 2 and 3. The observed patterns fit the hypothesis according to which viral sphingolipids are involved in the timing and physical processes of virion release from the host cells. This study provides a unique insight into the transcriptional interplay of homologous metabolic pathways between virus and host during temporal progression of oceanic <jats:italic>E. huxleyi</jats:italic> blooms.</jats:p>
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2840-2848
Number of pages0
JournalEnvironmental Microbiology
Volume11
Issue number11
Early online date27 Oct 2009
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2009

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