Ammonia transporter 2 as a molecular marker to elucidate the potentials of ammonia transport in phylotypes of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium and Durusdinium in the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa

Giant clams harbor coccoid Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates that are phototrophic. These dinoflagellates generally include multiple phylotypes (species) of Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium in disparate proportions depending on the environmental conditions. The coccoid symbionts can share photosynthate with the clam host, which in return supply them with nutrients containing inorganic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus. Symbionts can recycle nitrogen by absorbing and assimilating the endogenous ammonia produced by the host. This study aimed to use the transcript levels of ammonia transporter 2 (AMT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-AMT2), Cladocopium (Clad-AMT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-AMT2) as molecular indicators to estimate the potential of ammonia transport in these three genera of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellates in different organs of the fluted giant clam, Tridacna squamosa, obtained from Vietnam. We also determined the transcript levels of form II ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcII) and nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) in Symbiodinium (Symb-rbcII; Symb-NRT2), Cladocopium (Clad-rbcII; Clad-NRT2) and Durusdinium (Duru-rbcII; Duru-NRT2), in order to examine the potential of ammonia transport with reference to the potentials of phototrophy or NO3− uptake independent of the quantities and proportion of these Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes. Our results indicated for the first time that phylotypes of Symbiodinium and Cladocopium could have different potentials of ammonia transport, and that phylotypes of Symbiodinium might have higher potential of NO3− transport than ammonia transport. They also suggested that Symbiodiniaceae phylotypes residing in different organs of T. squamosa could have disparate potentials of ammonia transport, alluding to the functional diversity among phylotypes of coccoid Symbiodinium, Cladocopium, and Durusdinium. [Display omitted] •Durusdinium is the dominant genus of Symbiodiniaceae dinoflagellate in T. squamosa.•Durusdinium phylotypes display comparable potentials of ammonia transport.•Cladocopium phylotypes display different potentials of ammonia transport.•Symbiodinium phylotypes have higher potential of NO3− transport than ammonia transport.