Microalgae Adapting to Global Warming Through Light-Responsive Protein

19 Oct 2023

Context:

  • Microalgae, which form the base of the food chain in the ocean and capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, appear to rely on a unique strategy to cope with global warming, according to a new study published in the journal Nature Microbiology.

How does microalgae fight climate change?

  • As climate change reduces the availability of nutrients in the sea, marine microalgae or eukaryotic phytoplankton fire up a protein called rhodopsin. 

What is rhodopsin?

  • It is a light-responsive protein that helps the microalgae flourish with the help of sunlight in place of traditional chlorophyll. 
  • They could absorb a comparable amount of light to chlorophyll-based photosynthesis, which is responsible for harnessing light for energy and food production in marine organisms. 
What is microalgae?

  • Microalgae are organisms that can grow in aquatic environments and use light and carbon dioxide (CO2) to create biomass.
  • They are a diverse group of photoautotrophic pro- and eukaryotic microorganisms, having the capacity of light-dependent CO2 fixation to generate value-adding biomass. 
  • Examples includes,  green algae, diatoms, dinoflagellates, and coccolithophores, Nostoc commune.

Light Absorption Mechanism

  • Photosynthetic cells contain special pigments that absorb light energy. 
  • Different pigments respond to different wavelengths of visible light. 
  • Chlorophyll, the primary pigment used in photosynthesis, reflects green light and absorbs red and blue light most strongly.
  • Chlorophyll A is the major pigment used in photosynthesis, but there are several types of chlorophyll and numerous other pigments that respond to light, including red, brown, and blue pigments. 

Significance

  • Capturing light: According to the study, microbial rhodopsins play a significant role in capturing light in the ocean. 
    • The discovery holds particular significance for the Southern Ocean which is the largest iron limited aquatic ecosystem.
    • The region is inhabited by significant consumer populations like krill, fish, penguins, and whales, all reliant on primary producers like microalgae.
  • Tackling ocean warming and declining crop productivity: The finding could mitigate these adverse impacts of changing environmental factors.
  • Enhancing activity of microbes: The mechanism might be applied to enhance the activity of light-independent microbes like yeast. 
    • Scientists could modify these microbes to utilize light for growth including the production of insulin, antibiotics, enzymes, antivirals, and  biofuels.

News Source: DTE

Prelims Question (2021)

In the nature, which of the following is/are most likely to be found surviving on a surface without soil?

1. Fern

2. Lichen

3. Moss

4. Mushroom

Select the correct answer using the code given below.

(a) 1 and 4 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 2 and 3

(d) 1, 3 and 4

Ans: (c)

 

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