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A Toxic Chemical in Marine Ecosystems Turns Out to Play a Beneficial Role | |
admin | |
2019-07-18 | |
发布年 | 2019 |
语种 | 英语 |
国家 | 美国 |
领域 | 资源环境 |
正文(英文) | ![]() Diatoms like these produce superoxide in their watery surroundings for reasons that have remained mysterious until now Advocates of healthy eating often extol the benefits of adding antioxidants to one’s diet. These compounds are thought to suppress “free radical” molecules in the body that can age cells as a response to stress. These destructive free radicals – known as reactive oxygen species – also exist in marine ecosystems and are thought to degrade the cells of phytoplankton and other organisms. A new paper, however, suggests that these molecules actually play a beneficial role, upending some conventional wisdom. Julia Diaz, a newly hired marine biogeochemist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, and colleagues report that the reactive oxygen species produced by one type of phytoplankton, the diatom Thalassiosira oceanica, protects cells from overproduction of a compound that is used to power photosynthesis. In essence, that reactive oxygen species acts to protect cells’ batteries from the effects of overcharging. The study appears today in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Our findings point to a new role for reactive oxygen species in the photosynthetic health of this diatom. The next challenge is to determine whether this process also exists in other phytoplankton species.” The findings could have implications for marine organisms and their chemical environment. The type of reactive oxygen species studied by Diaz is known as superoxide, which is a charged oxygen atom. Superoxide has been identified as a probable culprit in die-offs of fish and marine animals when toxic algae blooms spread in the ocean, suggesting a need for scientists to better understand how and why it is produced in certain circumstances. The varying positive and negative roles of superoxide could be a critical factor in how marine ecosystems respond to climate change. It is possible, Diaz said, that superoxide production could mitigate stress, which is a form of ocean resilience to changing climate that has not been understood previously. Superoxide is present throughout ocean ecosystems but how it is used by diatoms like T. oceanica had been a mystery. They need sunlight and carbon to conduct photosynthesis and have a variety of ways to perform the task to adapt to either low or intense-light conditions. A compound they make called NADPH is the power source that lets them take up and “fix” carbon into carbohydrates. Very bright light can cause diatoms to overproduce NADPH. After studying superoxide production in diatoms at various light levels, Diaz and colleagues concluded that, akin to a surge protector, making superoxide protects cells at times when too much NADPH is produced and restores balance to keep photosynthesis at peak efficiency. Diaz, who joined the Scripps faculty as an assistant professor this month, performed this research as a postdoctoral scholar at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Woods Hole, Mass., and as an assistant professor at the University of Georgia Skidaway Institute of Oceanography. Sydney Plummer, who also contributed to the study, will continue this research as Diaz’s student in the Scripps PhD program beginning this fall. Other co-authors on the paper include Colleen Hansel, Mak Saito, and Matthew McIlvin of Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution as well as Peter Andeer of Lawrence Berkeley National Lab. The Ford Foundation, the National Science Foundation, and the University of Georgia Research Foundation funded the work. Note to broadcast and cable producers: University of California San Diego provides an on-campus satellite uplink facility for live or pre-recorded television interviews. Please phone or email the media contact listed above to arrange an interview.
About Scripps OceanographyScripps Institution of Oceanography at the University of California San Diego, is one of the oldest, largest, and most important centers for global science research and education in the world. Now in its second century of discovery, the scientific scope of the institution has grown to include biological, physical, chemical, geological, geophysical, and atmospheric studies of the earth as a system. Hundreds of research programs covering a wide range of scientific areas are under way today on every continent and in every ocean. The institution has a staff of more than 1,400 and annual expenditures of approximately $195 million from federal, state, and private sources. Scripps operates oceanographic research vessels recognized worldwide for their outstanding capabilities. Equipped with innovative instruments for ocean exploration, these ships constitute mobile laboratories and observatories that serve students and researchers from institutions throughout the world. Birch Aquarium at Scripps serves as the interpretive center of the institution and showcases Scripps research and a diverse array of marine life through exhibits and programming for more than 430,000 visitors each year. Learn more at scripps.ucsd.edu and follow us at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.About UC San DiegoAt the University of California San Diego, we constantly push boundaries and challenge expectations. Established in 1960, UC San Diego has been shaped by exceptional scholars who aren’t afraid to take risks and redefine conventional wisdom. Today, as one of the top 15 research universities in the world, we are driving innovation and change to advance society, propel economic growth, and make our world a better place. Learn more at www.ucsd.edu.
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来源平台 | Scripps Institution of Oceanography |
文献类型 | 新闻 |
条目标识符 | http://119.78.100.173/C666/handle/2XK7JSWQ/135881 |
专题 | 资源环境科学 |
推荐引用方式 GB/T 7714 | admin. A Toxic Chemical in Marine Ecosystems Turns Out to Play a Beneficial Role. 2019. |
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