Quantitative proteomics reveals the key molecular events occurring at different cell cycle phases of the in situ blooming dinoflagellate cells

Dinoflagellate blooms are the results of rapid cell proliferation governed by cell cycle, a highly-ordered series of events that culminates in cell division. However, little is known about cell cycle progression of the in situ bloom cells. Here, we compared proteomes of the in situ blooming cells of a dinoflagellate Prorocentrum donghaiense collected at different cell cycle phases. The blooming P. donghaiense cells completed a cell cycle within 24 h with a high synchronization rate of 82.7%. Proteins associated with photosynthesis, porphyrin and chlorophyll synthesis, carbon, nitrogen and amino acid metabolisms exhibited high expressions at the G1 phase; DNA replication and mismatch repair related proteins were more abundant at the S phase; while protein synthesis and oxidative phosphorylation were highly enriched at the G2/M phase. Cell cycle proteins presented similar periodic diel patterns to other eukaryotic cells, and higher expressions of proliferating cell nuclear antigen and cyclin dependent kinase 2 at the S phase ensured the smooth S-G2/M transition. Strikingly, four histones were first identified in P. donghaiense and highly expressed at the G2/M phase, indicating their potential roles in regulating cell cycle. This study presents the first quantitative survey, to our knowledge, of proteome changes at different cell cycle phases of the in situ blooming cells in natural environment and provides insights into cell cycle regulation of the blooming dinoflagellate cells. [Display omitted] •The blooming P. donghaiense cells exhibited high growth and synchronization rates.•Quantitative proteomics revealed differentially expressed proteins within a cell cycle.•Histone proteins were firstly identified and highly expressed at the G2/M phase.•Periodic occurrence of the molecular events guaranteed cell cycle progression.