Seminar Details

What does it take for microorganisms to live in the desert

Date

10/01/2019

Lecturers

Dr. Omer Murik - Dept. of Plant and Environmental Sciences, The Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem

Abstract

Microorganisms inhabiting biological desert soil crusts (BSC) are likely equipped to cope with one of the harshest environmental conditions on earth including daily hydration/dehydration cycles, high irradiance and extreme temperatures. Of particular interest are the unicellular photosynthetic species as these acquired genes allowing them not only to survive, but also maintain active and efficient photosynthesis in such extreme conditions. From both the basic science and biotechnological/agricultural perspectives identification and characterization of these genes may contribute to our understanding of stress biology and enhance tolerance of less tolerant organisms in view of global climate changes. Our two cases of study are Leptolyngbya ohadii, a filamentous cyanobacterium able to revive even after severe dehydration, and Chlorella ohadii, a green alga presenting the fastest growth rate for a photosynthetic eukaryote and unparalleled resistance to high light. Using full genome sequencing, transcriptome analyses of isolated cultures under optimal and stress conditions, comparative genomics and correlating them with physiological data we found groups of both known and novel genes, likely to play significant role in tolerance for desiccation and to extreme high light intensities. These analyses may contribute to the identification of novel stress tolerance pathways, making them potential targets for genetically improved crop plants.

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