Science Advances· 2026Q1
Spatial proteomics reveals lipid droplet reorganization in symbiotic Paramecium bursaria cells
- 4citations
- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Spatial proteomics of symbiotic Paramecium bursaria reveals that host lipid droplets reorganize in size, morphology, and positioning near intracellular algae, and perturbing lipid metabolism reduces algal numbers.
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Key points
- Spatial proteomics identified protein composition of the perialgal vacuole in symbiotic Paramecium bursaria.
- Symbiosis triggers reorganization of host lipid droplets in size, morphology, and intracellular positioning near algae.
- Chemical inhibition of lipid metabolism reduced the number of endosymbiotic algae.
- Lipid droplets play a role in the host-endosymbiont interaction within Paramecium bursaria.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Abstract Endosymbiosis is an important adaptive mechanism allowing organisms to exploit novel niches. The flexible relationship between the ciliate Paramecium bursaria and green algae represents a model system for studying early endosymbiosis evolution. However, the mechanisms underlying how P. bursaria cells maintain this endosymbiotic relationship remain unclear. Here, we use mass spectrometry-based proteomics to generate a spatial proteomic atlas of the host P. bursaria cells with and without endosymbionts. This atlas defines the protein composition of the endosymbiont-containing compartment (perialgal vacuole) and reveals pronounced remodeling of host lipid droplets upon symbiosis. Imaging analyses confirm that lipid droplets change in size, morphology, and positioning, accumulating near intracellular algae. Perturbing symbiotic cells with chemical inhibitors of lipid metabolism reduces endosymbiotic algal numbers, revealing a role for lipid droplets in the host-endosymbiont interaction. Our data provide a comprehensive resource for protein localization in P. bursaria cells and elucidate how those cells remodel an existing cellular compartment to maintain endosymbiosis.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Science Advances, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics
Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and SystematicsAgricultural and Biological Sciences