Potential of proteins and their expression level in marine phytoplankton ( Prymnesium parvum) as biomarker of N, P and Fe conditions in aquatic systems

Abstract

Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and Iron (Fe) are important nutrients for phytoplankton, and they are the key limiting nutrients in many marine systems. In the present study, growth and protein expression of marine phytoplankton Prymnesium parvum under different nitrate, phosphate and iron conditions were investigated in order to evaluate whether proteins and their expression level could be used as biomarkers of N, P, and Fe conditions in aquatic systems. The growth of P. parvum increased with the increase of nitrate, phosphate and iron concentrations in the culture medium. Protein expression levels also differed significantly (p p P. parvum is indicative of phosphate deplete condition in aquatic systems. The expression level of a 42 kDa was significantly higher (p P. parvum.