Functional metatranscriptomics of Antarctic biological soil crust algae: Identification of key genes for the survival under the extreme conditions of Antarctica

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Terrestrial green algae are typical and abundant components of biological soil crusts (BSCs) in the Polar Regions. These communities form water-stable aggregates that have important ecological roles in primary production, nitrogen fixation, nutrient cycling, water retention and stabilization of soils. Although available data on green algae are generally very limited for the Arctic and Antarctica, their functional importance as ecosystem developers in nutrient poor environments is regarded as high. Recently, the biodiversity of algae and cyanobacteria has been determined by us for the first time using classical and molecular methods (Metatranscriptomics and Metabarcoding). In the new project, we want to use metatranscriptomes of Antarctic BSCs to determine the physiological status of the microalgae within the BSCs. To achieve this goal, we will assign the sequences within the metatranscriptomes to biological species (genera, families or other suitable categories). For functional analysis of the submetatranscriptomes we will compare (qualitatively and quantitatively) the sequences with several public databases (KOG; GEGG; GO) and the available transcriptomes. For further analysis, we will compare the submetatranscriptomes with transcriptomes obtained for cultures, of Antarctic Klebsormidium and Coccomyxa strains, under laboratory conditions (liquid culture/plate culture, desiccation, temperature stress and light stress). Several laboratory transcriptomes are available for Klebsormidium. For further comparison with the Arctic submetatranscriptomes we will establish transcriptomes in the laboratory from two additional Klebsormidium and two Coccomyxa strains isolated from the Arctic. The obtained data will allow for the first time to address the physiological status of polar algae in situ in their natural habitat at the time of sampling using molecular data. Furthermore, the comparison of the submetatranscriptomes for Klebsormidium and Coccomyxa will allow the identification of key genes for the survival within the Antarctic.