Microalgae Adapting to Global Warming Through Light-Responsive Protein

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. 

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