Antagonistic bacteria disrupt calcium homeostasis and immobilize algal cells.

Photosynthetic unicellular organisms, known as microalgae, are key contributors to carbon fixation on Earth. Their biotic interactions with other microbes shape aquatic microbial communities and influence the global photosynthetic capacity. So far, limited information is available on molecular factors that govern these interactions. We show that the bacterium Pseudomonas protegens strongly inhibits the growth and alters the morphology of the biflagellated green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii. This antagonistic effect is decreased in a bacterial mutant lacking orfamides, demonstrating that these secreted cyclic lipopeptides play an important role in the algal-bacterial interaction. Using an aequorin Ca2+-reporter assay, we show that orfamide A triggers an increase in cytosolic Ca2+ in C. reinhardtii and causes deflagellation of algal cells. These effects of orfamide A, which are specific to the algal class of Chlorophyceae and appear to target a Ca2+ channel in the plasma membrane, represent a novel biological activity for cyclic lipopeptides.

A Chemical Perspective on Microalgal-Microbial Interactions.

The exchange of chemical compounds is central to the interactions of microalgae with other microorganisms. Although foundational for many food webs, these interactions have been poorly studied compared with higher plant-microbe interactions. Emerging insights have begun to reveal how these interactions and the participating chemical compounds shape microbial communities and broadly impact biogeochemical processes.