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OCEAN BIOGEOCHEMISTRY

Polar algae flaunt their zinc assets

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 6, pages 851–852 (2022)Cite this article

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Whole-genome sequencing and comparative omics analyses highlight recent and parallel paths to adaptive evolution involving expansions in zinc-binding proteins in the genomes of diverse cold-adapted algae.

Zinc is unique among the d-block metal ions selected for use by biology. Unlike the transition metals, the biologically active form of zinc (Zn2+) does not naturally accept or donate electrons. Instead, this metal cofactor functions as a redox-inert Lewis acid in the catalytic site of zinc-dependent enzymes or as a structural ‘glue’ that stabilizes tertiary structures in proteins. The latter role was capitalized on by eukaryotes early in their evolution. Numerous families of proteins that contain a zinc-bound structural motif known as a zinc finger are found only in eukaryotes, which, on a percentage basis, encode more zinc-binding proteins in their genomes than prokaryotes2. Indeed, expansion in zinc-finger families and other zinc-binding proteins involved in gene regulation tends to correlate with organismal complexity (such as in humans compared to other mammals3,4). Such a trend is perhaps not surprising, as regulatory factors — many of which contain zinc fingers — are needed to expand gene expression networks and fine-tune developmental and environmental responses in a cell-type-specific manner.

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Fig. 1: Polar ocean waters are challenging ecosystems.

PHOTOALTO.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Biology Department, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY, USA

    Crysten E. Blaby-Haas

  2. Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA

    Crysten E. Blaby-Haas

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  1. Crysten E. Blaby-Haas
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Correspondence to Crysten E. Blaby-Haas.

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Blaby-Haas, C.E. Polar algae flaunt their zinc assets. Nat Ecol Evol 6, 851–852 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01721-2

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