Pondicherry University Professor Discovers Survival Mechanism of Tiny Algae in Extreme Conditions

New Delhi: In a breakthrough, Jyoti Singh, an assistant professor at Pondicherry University, has discovered the survival mechanism of Picocystis Salinarum, one of the tiniest green algae, in extremely harsh conditions.

Singh, part of the Department of Earth Science at Pondicherry University, revealed that the algae employs physiological adaptations to endure highly saline-alkaline and hyperosmotic conditions. These findings have significant implications for potential biotechnological applications, including microalgal bioproducts and enhancing salt tolerance in plants.

Singh, an Inspire faculty fellow of the Department of Science and Technology, has documented her findings in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology within the section on Extreme Microbiology.

With a research focus on extremophiles, Singh delved into microbial life, emphasizing photosynthetic cyanobacteria and microalgae thriving in carbonate-dominated environments like carbonate rocks and soda lakes. 

The researchers believe these microorganisms play a pivotal role in addressing crucial inquiries related to biogeochemistry, microbial diversity, life's evolution, astrobiology, environmental sustainability, biotechnology, and more. 

Exploring Algal Adaptation in Indian Soda Lakes 

She studies P salinarum in the hypersaline soda lake Sambhar, Rajasthan. Despite the alga being commonly found in saline-soda lakes worldwide, its presence in India was first observed in Sambhar Lake. Singh and her team delved into the molecular mechanisms of adaptation to such polyextreme conditions.

They investigated changes in protein abundances using a high-throughput label-free quantitation-based quantitative proteomics method. Their research provided insights into the proteome of the extremophilic alga P salinarum, uncovering its customized regulatory mechanisms for osmotic adaptation and proliferation in polyextreme conditions in soda lakes. 

Further, this exploration revealed the organism's resilience basis, displaying enhancements in photosynthesis and ATP synthesis, along with chaperone proteins, as key responses to high salinity-alkalinity.

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