Phenotypic plasticity and evolution of thermal tolerance in bacteria from temperate and hot spring environments

Phenotypic plasticity allows individuals to respond to the selective forces of a new environment, followed by adaptive evolution. We do not know to what extent phenotypic plasticity allows thermal tolerance evolution in bacteria at the border of their physiological limits. We analyzed growth and reaction norms to temperature of strains of two bacterial lineages, Bacillus cereus sensu lato and Bacillus subtilis sensu lato, that evolved in two contrasting environments, a temperate lagoon (T) and a hot spring (H). Our results showed that despite the co-occurrence of members of both lineages in the two contrasting environments, norms of reactions to temperature exhibited a similar pattern only in strains within the lineages, suggesting fixed phenotypic plasticity. Additionally, strains from the H environment showed only two to three degrees centigrade more heat tolerance than strains from the T environment. Their viability decreased at temperatures above their optimal for growth, particularly for the B. cereus lineage. However, sporulation occurred at all temperatures, consistent with the known cell population heterogeneity that allows the Bacillus to anticipate adversity. We suggest that these mesophilic strains survive in the hot-spring as spores and complete their life cycle of germination and growth during intermittent opportunities of moderate temperatures. The limited evolutionary changes towards an increase in heat tolerance in bacteria should alert us of the negative impact of climate change on all biological cycles in the planet, which at its most basic level depends on microorganisms.

Transcriptional and Morpho-Physiological Responses of Marchantia polymorpha upon Phosphate Starvation

Phosphate (Pi) is a pivotal nutrient that constraints plant development and productivity in natural ecosystems. Land colonization by plants, more than 470 million years ago, evolved adaptive mechanisms to conquer Pi-scarce environments. However, little is known about the molecular basis underlying such adaptations at early branches of plant phylogeny. To shed light on how early divergent plants respond to Pi limitation, we analyzed the morpho-physiological and transcriptional dynamics of Marchantia polymorpha upon Pi starvation. Our phylogenomic analysis highlights some gene networks present since the Chlorophytes and others established in the Streptophytes (e.g., PHR1–SPX1 and STOP1–ALMT1, respectively). At the morpho-physiological level, the response is characterized by the induction of phosphatase activity, media acidification, accumulation of auronidins, reduction of internal Pi concentration, and developmental modifications of rhizoids. The transcriptional response involves the induction of MpPHR1, Pi transporters, lipid turnover enzymes, and MpMYB14, which is an essential transcription factor for auronidins biosynthesis. MpSTOP2 up-regulation correlates with expression changes in genes related to organic acid biosynthesis and transport, suggesting a preference for citrate exudation. An analysis of MpPHR1 binding sequences (P1BS) shows an enrichment of this cis regulatory element in differentially expressed genes. Our study unravels the strategies, at diverse levels of organization, exerted by M. polymorpha to cope with low Pi availability.