engleski

Temperature alterations cause change in algal cell surface properties and behaviour

We investigate the alteration of temperature on the algal surface properties and behaviour on the single-cell level to better understand the adaptation mechanism in the aquatic system under stress. We focus on the biointerface (i.e. cell envelope) and its physicochemical properties since they are responsible for the behaviour, fate, and role of cells in aquatic systems. We employ complementary surface methods and results show that the temperature- induced response in algae is detectable and species-specific, which can be linked to the structural properties of the cell envelope. The most sensitive to temperature change are wall- less algae due to the largest mechanical and chemical change. Algae with silicified walls show pronounced chemical change in the degree of hydrophobicity. Alterations of surface properties suggest a molecular modification of the algal envelope and cytoskeletal rearrangements due to a change in cell size, while algal morphology reveals no change. The physiological activity of cells shows a different supramolecular organisation of released extracellular substances. Both types of algal responses, physiological activity, and molecular modification of the cell envelope, determine the cell adhesion and motility. This study highlights the role of surface properties in cell-substrate and cell-cell interactions, which can be applied for indicating ecosystem perturbations, formation of algal biofilms and aggregates, as well as for biotechnological applications. Acknowledgement This research is supported by the Croatian Science Foundation under the scientific project ʺFrom algal cell surface properties to stress markers for aquatic ecosystemsʺ (IP-2018-01-5840).

algae ; temperature stress ; motility ; physiological activity ; morphology ; adhesion ; surface properties ; hydrophobicity

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