The occurrence of positive selection on BicA transporter of Microcystis aeruginosa

Abstract

The rapid growth of cyanobacteria, particularly Microcystis aeruginosa, poses a significant threat to global water security. The proliferation of toxic Microcystis aeruginosa raises concerns due to its potential harm to human health and socioeconomic impacts. Dense blooms contribute to spatiotemporal inorganic carbon depletion, promoting interest in the roles of carbon-concentrating mechanisms (CCMs) for competitive carbon uptake. Despite the importance of HCO3− transporters, genetic evaluations and functional predictions in M. aeruginosa remain insufficient. In this study, we explored the diversity of HCO3− transporters in the genomes of 46 strains of M. aeruginosa, assessing positive selection for each. Intriguingly, although the Microcystis BicA transporter became a partial gene in 23 out of 46 genomic strains, we observed significant positive sites. Structural analyses, including predicted 2D and 3D models, confirmed the structural conservation of the Microcystis BicA transporter. Our findings suggest that the Microcystis BicA transport likely plays a crucial role in competitive carbon uptake, emphasizing its ecological significance. The ecological function of the Microcystis BicA transport in competitive growth during cyanobacterial blooms raises important questions. Future studies require experimental confirmation to better understand the role of the Microcysits BicA transporter in cyanobacterial blooms dynamics.

Keywords

• BicA transport
• Positive selection
• CCMs
• Microcystis aeruginosa
• PAML