Abstract
Photosynthetic organisms use sunlight, carbon dioxide, water and mineral nutrients to produce biomass and molecular oxygen, also supporting the growth of heterotrophic organisms through the food web. Microalgae are responsible for about half of global C fixation and enclose an exceptionally variegated group of species, characterized by both phylogenetic and metabolic diversity, which is a precious source of biodiversity both for ecophysiological studies and biotechnological applications. Microalgae growth and productivity are continuously challenged by perturbations in the physico-chemical parameters of their habitat, like light intensity, nutrient chemical form and concentration, temperature. Thus, changes in microalgae distribution and abundance have been predicted also due to climate change. In INPHOMARE, 3 research units from UNIVPM, UNIBO and UNIPD will cooperate to deepen our understanding of the physiological and molecular mechanisms of nutrient uptake, assimilation and resources allocation in marine microalgae. Seven species of marine microalgae have been selected based on their phylogenetic position, environmental role, and potential applications. INPHOMARE will focus particularly on Nitrogen and Sulfur assimilation metabolism and on the characterization of photosynthesis, the primary energy source for photosynthetic cells, by challenging selected microalgae with nutrient limitation, various light intensities, and by mimicking temperature variations due to climate change. INPHOMARE aims at deciphering the molecular mechanisms regulating nutrient assimilation and photosynthesis and the adaptations which occurred in such processes during the evolution of diverse groups of algae. Further findings will lead to unraveling how species-specific adaptations in resources assimilation and allocation contribute to shaping dominant phytoplankton communities as a function of environmental variations. Our objectives will be tackled using a combination of physiological and molecular studies, in addition to the generation of strains with altered expression of key genes involved in the processes under investigation. Project results will be widely disseminated and communicated to different target audiences, from the scientific community to the citizens and the industry sector. The added value of INPHOMARE is its relevant impact linked to the scientific, environmental and technological values of microalgae. The project will contribute to the exploration of biodiversity and to create a holistic view of photosynthesis and cell metabolism, pivotal for a knowledge-based genetic improvement to exploit photosynthetic organisms as high-quality and cost-efficient living factories in industrial sectors. Further, the project will increase the knowledge for the correct management of marine resources, also in view of climate change, aiming at limiting their impacts on coastal ecosystems, as well as on the economy.
Project details
Unibo Team Leader: Laura Pezzolesi
Unibo involved Department/s:
Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali
Coordinator:
Università Politecnica delle Marche(Italy)
Total Unibo Contribution: Euro (EUR) 67.335,00
Project Duration in months: 24
Start Date:
05/10/2023
End Date:
28/02/2026
