Dynamic change of calcium-rich compartments during coccolithophore biomineralization
Coccolithophores are abundant marine phytoplankton that produce biomineralized calcite scales, called coccoliths, which sequester substantial amounts of carbon and play a substantial role in biogeochemical cycles. However, mechanisms underlying the storage and transport of ions essential for calcification remain unresolved. We used ptychographic x-ray computed tomography under cryogenic conditions to visualize intracellular calcium-rich structures involved in the storage of calcium ions in the coccolithophore species Chrysotila carterae . During calcification, we observed a range of structures, from small electron-dense bodies within larger compartments to denser and distributed globular compartments, before returning to small bodies once scale formation is complete. Nanobeam-scanning x-ray fluorescence measurements further revealed that these electron-dense bodies are rich in phosphorus and calcium (molar ratio of ~4:1). The dynamic nature of structures suggests that these bodies are part of the required cellular calcium ion transport pathways, a fundamental process critical for understanding the response of coccolithophores to climate change.
University of Edinburgh
Institut de Biosciences et Biotechnologies
Paul Scherrer Institute
Paul Scherrer Institute
École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Paul Scherrer Institute
Universität Greifswald
Akita Prefectural University
Centrale Marseille
University of Edinburgh
2025-07-25
11
30
eadv0618
REVIEWED
EPFL