Metabolomic and physiological changes of acid-tolerant Graesiella sp. MA1 during long-term acid stress

Abstract

Algae plays a significant role for the primary production in the oligotrophic ecosystems such as the acid mine pit lakes. Graesiella sp. MA1 was a new acid-tolerant photosynthetic protist isolated from an acid mine pit lake. To understand the acid responses of Graesiella sp. MA1, its physiological changes and metabolomics were studied during long-term acid stress. Photosynthetic pigments, soluble proteins, and antioxidant systems of Graesiella sp. MA1 cells displayed two phases, the adaptation phase and the growth phase. During the adaptation phase, both photosynthetic pigments and soluble proteins were inhibited, while antioxidant activity of SOD, APX, and GSH were promoted to response to the organism's damage. Metabolomics results revealed lipids and organic acids were abundant components in Graesiella sp. MA1 cells. In response to acid stress, the levels of acid-dependent resistant amino acids, including glutamate, aspartate, arginine, proline, lysine, and histidine, accumulated continuously to maintain orderly intracellular metabolic processes. In addition, fatty acids were mainly unsaturated, which could improve the fluidity of the cell membranes under acid stress. Metabolomic and physiological changes showed that Graesiella sp. MA1 had tolerance during long-term acid stress and the potential to be used as a bioremediation strain for the acidic wastewater.

Keywords: Acid stress; Acid-tolerant; Adaptation phase; Amino acids; Fatty acids; Graesiella sp. MA1.